let’s take a hike
TRANSCRIPT
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Andra Beames
Sawgrass Springs Middle School
12500 West Sample Road
Coral Springs, FL 33065
754.322.4500
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 1st floor
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
754.321.2030
www.BrowardEdFoundation.net
IMPACT II is a program of the Broward Education Foundation
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Pony Express NHT
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Captain John Smith Chesapeake NHT
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Trail of Tears NHT
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Lewis and Clark NHT
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Iditarod NHT
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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.
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• 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
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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
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Evaluation and Student Achievement
Rubric:
Educational Brochure Components
Overview of the trail which includes history and culture 10 points
Site map which includes location of trail 10 points
Elevation of region 10 points
Climate of region 10 points
Physical features/plant fauna of region 10 points
Fun Activities of trail 10 points
Clay Model Components
Elevation layers (includes key) 10 points
Compass Rose 5 points
State that trail lies in 5 points
Markers to highlight fun activities to do 20 points
Total 100 points
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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.