Andra Beames Sawgrass Springs Middle School 12500 West Sample Road Coral Springs, FL 33065 754.322.4500 andra.beames@browardschools.com Let s Take A Hike For information concerning IMPACT II opportunities such as interschool visits, staff development, workshops and Adapter and Disseminator grants, please contact: Broward Education Foundation 600 SE Third Avenue 1 st floor Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 754.321.2030 www.browardedfoundation.net IMPACT II is a program of the Broward Education Foundation 1
Table of Contents Goals and Objectives 2 Course Outline 3 Lesson Plans/Sample Worksheets 11 Evaluation and Student Achievement 14 Resource List / Materials 15 Outcome 15 2
Goals and Objectives The goal of this research project is to teach concepts in geography during a unit on the United States. This hands-on activity energizes the classroom. The theme of physical fitness is introduced to encourage students to think about ways to exercise and have fun to improve their own health. The first objective is to motivate students to learn about United States geography and hopefully propel them into using hiking trails for a lifetime of physical fitness. Using the theme of our nation of trails, the National Scenic, National Historic and National Recreation Trails created in 1968 by Congress, students will discover that trails can be more than routes to destinations. Ancient and new, they re living reminders of how our land was discovered and our culture built. The second objective is to have students read informational text using internet sites designed by various departments of our United States government, design an educational brochure using Language Arts skills, and understand the concept of elevation and topography features like river systems and mountainous regions. The third objective is to have students create a topographic model of their assigned trail using craft materials. Many parks today have a model featured in their welcome center which provides a three dimensional map that helps tourists decide what parts of the park they want to explore. The fourth objective is for students to review their peers, brochures/models and contemplate ways to exercise by listing fun activities that they can enjoy by using these trails to improve their physical fitness and fight obesity. 3
Course Outline First, students research our nation of trails, the National Scenic, National Historic and National Recreational Trails created in 1968 by Congress. Group students and assign them one trail to research. 4
Next, students design an educational brochure that features one of the eighteen National Historic Trails (NHTs) that commemorate routes of historic or prehistoric importance from ancient Hawaiian settlements to the 1965 voting rights march. 5
Then they design the topographical model of the trail to complete the visual component commonly found in our national or state park displays. This creative hands-on project energizes students and is a great way to promote physical activities like hiking, biking or kayaking while learning United States history and geography. Use craft materials like Stickit Kits or modeling clay to create elevation and physical features like river systems or lakes. 6
Pony Express NHT 7
Captain John Smith Chesapeake NHT 8
Trail of Tears NHT 9
Lewis and Clark NHT 10
Iditarod NHT 11
Lesson Plans / Sample outline Title of Project: Let s Take A Hike Quote: Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. John Muir Subject Areas: Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Fine Arts Duration: Five 45-minute classes Setting: Classroom Skills: Gathering information, analyzing, synthesizing, developing critical thinking Vocabulary: National Park System, natural resources, topography, geography, tourism, conservation Essential Question How does the National Park System encourage physical fitness? Summary Transform a classroom into a department of the National Park system where students design informational brochures and create topographical models that educate people about the recreational trails in the United States. First, students research the National Scenic, National Historic and National Recreation Trails created in 1968 by Congress. Next, using these facts, they design a five sided brochure using the Five Themes of Geography designed by the National Geographic Society. Location List the State that the trail lies in. Include the internet URL and any contact information found on websites. Place Using reference maps, list climates, landforms and bodies of water that border the trail. Human Environmental Interaction List five history facts about the trail. Include any environmental concerns facing the site today. Movement Include unique facts about the trail including the total length, rest areas and points of interest. 12
Region This will become the Legend for your model. Include title, elevation key and any points of interest that are listed in the Movement Section of the brochure. Include activities that improve physical fitness and interaction with nature such as hiking, canoeing or swimming. OBJECTIVES Students will: Use the research process to read for details, develop critical thinking when organizing facts, and design a brochure that highlights our nation of trails. Design and create a model, using clay and craft materials that represent the topographical features of the trail, which could be featured at a National Park or State Park Welcome Center. Materials: Large construction paper. Colored markers and pencils. Scissors and glue sticks needed to design brochure. Use almanacs, atlases, or thematic maps to gather information to facilitate research. Purchase clay in various colors to represent topographical features like elevation, natural vegetation and infrastructure used to facilitate tourists who visit the trail. Envio-BLOX X-Treme Builder Sets can be used for all kinds of items in model. Stock paper to support the clay model. Warm Up Ask students where or how they exercise to maintain optimum physical fitness. Next ask them if they have ever hiked. Share examples of parks or trails that they have explored as a large group. Activities Days 1-3 Students will be assigned a specific national trail to research. Create a brochure using outline featuring 5 Themes of World Geography 13
Day 4 - Make clay model. Day 5 Display models with brochures in classroom. Have students complete a chart while they are reading and analyzing representative models. See below: Name of Trail Location Most Interesting Historical Fact Fun Activity 14
Evaluation and Student Achievement Rubric: Educational Brochure Components Overview of the trail which includes history and culture Site map which includes location of trail Elevation of region Climate of region Physical features/plant fauna of region Fun Activities of trail 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points Clay Model Components Elevation layers (includes key) Compass Rose State that trail lies in Markers to highlight fun activities to do Total 10 points 5 points 5 points 20 points 100 points 15
Resource List / Materials Resources: Use of media center and Internet sites that feature trails to facilitate research. Examples include www.blm.gov ( Bureau of Land Management ), www.nts.gov (National Park Service) National Geographic Magazine, October 2008, Celebrating 40 Years, A NATION OF TRAILS Materials: Cardboard stock paper, construction paper, clay and various arts and craft materials that can include popsicle sticks, yarn, beads or beans. Vendor School Specialty SAX 2010 Catolog Phone 1 888.388.3224 Card Stock 12 by 12 paper (model lies on top) $16.29 Modeling Clay for models physical features $110.00 Construction Paper for Brochures $59.99 Enviro-BLOX Builder Set (for model items, 52 sets) $313.42 Total $499.70 Outcome: Promote physical fitness by encouraging students to take advantage of our nation of trails by implementing this research project in your classroom. Introduce United States history that highlights early explorers who wore the first trails into the landscape with moccasins, boots, and bare feet hiking along rivers and coasts, though forests and over mountains, learning the flora and fauna as they went. Encourage your students to follow in their footsteps, finding pleasure and enlightenment along the way as they grow and become citizens who might become trail advocates, or volunteers who build and maintain trails that are worthy of our national investment illustrated by our National Trails System. 16