Today was the third step in getting ready for our Spring Trip coming up on June 12, 13, and 14, 2013. The June 2013 Spring Trip Survey is here and was completed in class and passed in today. Here’s a link to A Video Tour of AMC’s White Mountain Huts. All surveys need to be in to Viens on or before Friday, February 22, 2013.

Remember, Friday, February 22, is the final day for all spring trip paperwork to be handed in to your basecamp teacher. Here’s a link to the blog where all of the paperwork is found.

If you were absent from class today, here’s a copy of the Spring Trip Survey 2013.

 

Here’s link to National Geographic’s 7 Billion video. On your white-lined paper from earlier in the week, you were supposed to write down the one big idea that was the most important point from the video.

 

Here’s what we have doing this week:

Monday, February 11

1. Information about taking a retest on the North & East Africa Memory Test and/or Map Reading Test was announced on Monday.

The retest will be given on Thursday, Feb. 14. Remember, you have to complete an Action Plan for Retest and have it signed if you want to take either test again, and you have to complete the two checklists (1-Check list North Africa Map Project 2013 and/or 2-Checklist East Africa Map Project 2013) if you want to take the map reading test again. Turn in both of them on Thursday.

2. Handout was given out “Rift in Paradise”; it was the lead article from the November 2011 National Geographic. The article is about the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. It will be used to build background knowledge about this region. Nothing was assigned to read from it at this point.

3. Notes were given and a discussion followed about what is meant by “the air being thinner” as one climbs Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest; both of these peaks were compared to our own Mount Washington.

4. A new Weekly Work Grade Self-Assessment (purple sheet) was passed out and filled out. Make sure your sheet is neatly done and be specific in filling out both columns. A second one will be given out on Wednesday, February 13.

Tuesday, February 12

4. We completed the 2nd column on the Weekly Work Grade Self-Assessment (purple sheet), what have you learned since yesterday.

5. We viewed a short video on Africa’s Great Lakes (click on the third icon from the left)from National Geographic and student’s were asked to write down on a sheet of white-lined paper, three big ideas learned from the video about the Great Rift Valley. We also viewed and discussed a photo gallery from National Geographic about the same place.

Blizzard Bag Day 2 Assignment

Quinzee Shelter Observation

For today’s blizzard bag assignment, you will research information about Quinzee temporary survival shelters and develop a manual to build one.  Then you will use your manual to build one on a future Friday hike.

Note: You may earn an E for today’s assignment if you go outside and build one at home; record your attempt with photographs and/or video.

Resources for information:
How to build a quinzee snow shelter — Boys’ Life magazine

How To: BUILD A QUINZHEE – YouTube

How to Build a Quinzee — Washington Trails Association

How to Build a Quinzee

HINT:  Also, try “Quinzee” in the Google search box, not a lengthy question!

Answer all of the questions below in your nature journal; don’t forget to update your table of contents. Start on a clean, left-hand page. Answer all questions thoroughly and in complete sentences. Proofread for GUMS and read your response aloud in your head to see if it makes sense.

1. What is the purpose of a Quinzee shelter?  Under what conditions would someone build a Quinzee shelter?

2. Where is the best place to build a Quinzee shelter (ex:  under hemlock trees?   Out in the open?  Under hardwood trees?)  Also,
in which direction should you face the entrance?  Why?

3. What are the steps to build a Quinzee shelter?  List the steps in order and include diagrams.  Be sure to be specific – you are creating a Quinzee shelter manual!

4. List ALL of the sites you used to gather your information.  Which site was the most helpful and why?

5. BONUS:  Explain alternate methods of building Quinzee shelters. Which method is best and why?

6. List the materials your group will use to build your shelter.

7. Quinzee Questions:  (NOT BONUS – REQUIRE!)

 A. If the snow is very cold and dry, will the setting up time or  “sintering time” take longer or shorter than if the snow is warmer and wetter?  Why?  Define sintering as it relates to Quinzee  building.

B. What is the purpose of designing the entrance in the particular Quinzee way?

C. What is the origin of the Quinzee shelter?  What are alternate spellings?

Future Hiking Group Challenge:  Build the most accurate and functional Quinzee shelter. It must be large enough for all group members to stay in it comfortable overnight.