[nobe-l] Looking for Advice and Ideas for Mountain Project

[Tina Hansen]

My name is Tina Hansen, and I'm writing to this list for advice.

 

Although I'm not an educator by profession, I have a small team working with
me on a project for this summer's BELL X Academy in Oregon.

 

My team and I want to create a model of Mount Everest to teach something
about geography and topography. Since we want to integrate this with
blindness skills, my team and I want to use Eric Weihenmeyer's story as a
kind of backdrop for our lesson.

 

My team and I want to find creative ways to show them what Mount Everest
looks like. We also want to find a map of the Himalays region so they can
get a sense of where Mount Everest is.

 

My team and I would like to use 3-d models of Everest and the Himalays
region, but we're also thinking of using 2-d map tools to highlight Eric's
route. However, we also want the students to get a feel for what the
mountain looks like. Face it, you could try to describe it, but, like the
residents of Missouri, I think they need to be shown. I know I want to get a
feeling of it for myself, which is partly why I've conceived this project.

 

We have tried to find a 3-d model of Everest that was already made, but most
of the ones we've seen are too small. We want to notate certain features of
the mountain and have the students really get their hands dirty. As a
result, my team and I have decided to create a model. There is an art studio
in my apartment building that may be able to offer my team space to work on
the model.

 

We also want this model to be durable, since it's going to be transported to
and from the BELL location, and the students will be touching it.

 

What kind of material is best for creating a model of Everest, and where can
we get this material? What is the best width, depth and height for such a
model so we can annotate key features, particularly as it relates to Eric's
route? What is the best way to annotate features that is clear but leaves
the model intact? How can we make this model visually attractive and
tactually appealing?

 

My team is also looking for a 3-d map of the Himalayas region. This one may
need to be already made, since we want to have the project finished by June
1. Does anyone know where we can find any map like this? What about 2-d maps
or creating one ourselves?

 

Finally, we wish to give the students literature to read after the program
is over. We also hope to ask them questions about it.

 

Does anyone on this list have any suggestions for improving this idea? Any
advice you can give would be a great help to my team. Thanks.