Mount Everest Topic

Here are a variety of activities you can have fun with. You can try most of the

tasks in any order you wish, but maybe start with the first one as it’s a good

introduction.

I look forward to seeing any photos of your work.

Have fun

Task 1

Watch the following video links first

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/0000014c-7a69-

d234-affd-feeb2f7c0000

Can you now research online or in books any interesting facts about Mount Everest and

make a fact-file page or powerpoint about this incredible mountain. Maybe think about

the following areas -

Name

Location (country and continent)

Height

Mountain Range

Climate

Animals / Plants that live there.

People

Tourist Attractions

Climbing Attempts

Fascinating Facts

The following helpful animation will help get you started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqkgKHu1gt0&feature=emb_logo

Task 2

Learn how mountains are made and why Everest is so tall in the following link-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=198&v=uy9GFAOGGXU&feature=emb_l

ogo

You can now go on Google maps and search for Mount Everest to get a good look at the

mountain. Now you know how it got there.

Task 3

Mount Everest has a ‘Basecamp’. It is situated at the base of the mountain where

climbers prepare to attempt climbing the mountain. You can find out a little more about

it here - https://kids.kiddle.co/Everest_Base_Camp

You can also get a better view here on Google maps -

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/the-

worlds-highest-peaks/

Imagine you were at Basecamp, about to climb the Mount Everest. Write a short diary

entry sharing your thoughts and feelings about the adventure ahead.

Task 4

Here is a link showing the different equipment needed to climb the mountain. It shows

equipment used years ago and the more modern versions used today.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/features/everest/call-of-everest-

gear-then-now/

Which items do you think are the most important? Can you design a special backpack

that these items could be kept in? Try and add some other special features to your

backpack that you think would be useful when climbing the mountain. Colour and label

your design.

Task 6

Here’s an activity to make some actual climbing equipment. You may want to do a little

Google research on this activity to get some ideas.

Think about these questions when you have finished your shoes.

Task 7

Mount Everest is between Nepal and Tibet. Can you research and write out 5

interesting facts about each of these countries.

Task 8

Here’s a detailed picture of a climber ready to ascend Mount Everest. Can you design

your own climber outfit?

Task 9

Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. Here is a fact file about him.

Can you research Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who travelled with Edmund and write out

a similar information report about Tenzing.

Task 10

The following webpage has links that take you through the journey Edmund and Tenzing

took up the mountain. At the bottom of each page is a short activity. Work your way

through the pages and try as many of the activities as you wish.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hillary/climb/climb01.htm

Task 11

Here is a picture of Edmund Hillary’s family coat of arms. It is a specially designed

picture which has symbols important to the family and usually a motto. Can you design

your own family coat of arms? You could design in on paper or the computer.

Task 12

Here’s another model making challenge!

Design and cut out your own climber. You can use this design if you wish.

When you finished think about the following questions

Task 13

What kind of animals live on Mount Everest? Find out about some of the animals below.

Draw a picture of them and write a brief description of each animal.

Black Bear

Himalayan Yak

Himalayan Marmot

Himalayan Tahr

Red Panda

Griffon Vulture

Langur Monkey

Tibetan Crane

Musk Deer

Black Jumping Spider

Himalayan Wolf

Bar-Headed Goose

Chough

Snow Leopard

Task 14

Speaking of creatures. There is a mythical beast that was thought to exist in the

Mount Everest region. It was called the Yeti. Here’s some info -

You can research this strange creature even more if you wish. Can you draw what you

think the yeti might look like?

Task 15

Read the instructions. Research the people and match their names to the correct

achievement colour. The answers are below.

Answers

Task 16

Nicholas Roerich was born in Russia in October 1874. He was a painter, scientist,

philosopher and writer. He painted around 7000 pictures in his lifetime and wrote 30

books. He was nominated several times for a Nobel Prize for his work protecting and

defending the arts and culture.

He is known for painting fantastic mountain scenes. Get you paints, pastels or coloured

pencils out and try to produce a mountain scene in the Nicholas Roerich style.

There are some examples below to inspire you.

Task 17

This is a big challenge. Think about the following roles for people climbing Mount

Everest. Using the web-links below the roles, can you answer the task questions?

Role: Leader

Responsibilities: Communication, keeping everyone on your team informed and up to

date

Task: What will the weather be like? When is the best time to go and how will you get

there?

Role: Climber

Responsibilities: Clothing and equipment

Task: What clothing and equipment will you need? What were they made out of? What

materials are clothing made out of today?

Role: Climber

Responsibilities: Eating and drinking

Task: How can you make water safe to drink? What types of food can be easily

carried, cooked and eaten? How will you pack your food so you don’t have lots of

rubbish?

Role: Doctor

Responsibilities: Keeping the team fit and healthy

Task: What happens to the body in high altitude? How does the bottled oxygen

equipment work? How does this compare with modern equipment?

Role: Reporter/Photographer

Responsibilities: Keeping your newspaper informed of the team’s progress

Task: How will you make sure that no-else gets news of your team? Think of a code so

only your newspaper can understand your messages

Role: Lead Sherpa

Responsibilities: In charge of all the Sherpa porters, contributing local knowledge and

experience

Task: How will you make sure that the porters are properly clothed and equipped?

What happens if one of the porters becomes ill? What words of Nepali can you teach

your team?

Use these links to help you answer the task questions

Climate

http://www.travel-himalayas.com/about-himalayas/climate-himalaya.html

Clothing

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/exposure/gear.html

Equipment

www.mounteverest.net/page/gearandstuff.htm

www.mounteverest.net/expguide/gear.htm

www.mounteverest.net/expguide/equip.htm

www.mounteverest.net/expguide/campgear.htm

Food

www.mounteverest.net/expguide/food.htm

Altitude + Oxygen

www.mounteverest.net/expguide/wwoz.htm

http://www.mos.org/Everest/exhibit/physiology.htm

http://www.mos.org/Everest/howhigh/howhigh.htm

Sherpa people and language

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/history/sherpasworld.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/history/nepalese.html

Porters and impact of tourism

http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/campaigns/campaigns_porters.htm

http://tv.oneworld.net/tapestry?story=97

Task 18

Just grab your popcorn and enjoy watching a video about an ordinary teacher who tried

to climb Mount Everest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=884&v=2_ybcAWTLeE&feature=emb_l

ogo

Task 19

Here’s another ‘making’ challenge! Climbers up Everest have to clamber across ladders.

Can you make the safest, strongest ladders using paper?

Task 20

When climbers reach the top of Mount Everest, they often plant a flag at the summit.

Here are some flags from around the world.

Using paper or your computer, can you design your own flag that you would plant at the

summit of Mount Everest.

Task 21

Digimaps is a brand new online mapping resource. Mrs McArthur will have already sent

your parents/carers the log in details.

It’s a great app and there are many things you can do with it. So enjoy navigating it and

learning how to use it.

A note for parents, who may not be as digitally minded. This link will take you to a

Youtube video that may help, although it is probably best to let your child take the

lead, they seem to pick things up very quickly where technology is concerned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb1nIOyjU_g&feature=youtu.be

Log in to Digimaps for schools at

https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/roam/map/schools.

Then type in the school’s postcode NE9 5TU into the search bar which is above the map

in the left. Now select the magnifying glass next to the search bar.

The map should show St Peter’s. To remove the red marker click on the x next to the

search results.

Let’s zoom in on school. You can select the plus button on the scale bar or double click

or double tap where you want to zoom in.

Let’s measure how long it is to walk all the way around your school.

1. Open the Measurement Tools – you’ll find them on the left of the map.

2. Select Distance:

3. Now let’s draw a line around the school grounds.

• Tap or click on a point on the screen to start.

• Keep tapping or clicking to add new points. Work your way around the school grounds.

• Double click at the end.

• You should see a measurement on the screen AND in the measurement tools box.

4. Make a note of the measurement. Round it up to the nearest whole number.

So for the map above, which shows 431.7 metres, we will note down 432 metres.

Task 22

Sadly you aren’t able to climb Mount Everest today, but maybe you could plan a journey,

just like the climbers did, using Digimaps. When you get out to enjoy your one walk a

day why not use Digimaps to plan your route. If you can, take photographs of the human

and physical features as you walk.

Human features are things that are built by humans for example bridges, paths,

buildings etc

Physical features are natural features of the earth for example rivers, lakes, hills etc

- Plan your route

- Measure your distance

- Document your route (take photos of human and physical features)

- When you return from your walk you can upload your photographs onto the map of

your walk.

Task 23

Here’s the last challenge! You may need to work with a parent, carer or older brother

and sister on this one to work out your scale for the model.

When you finish, think about these answers

I hope you have enjoyed these topic tasks. Don’t forget to send me any pictures of your

wonderful work.

Take care and stay safe!

Mr C