Into Thin Air Everest Climbing Simulation Unit Activity

After years of tweaking, I have finally gotten to the point to share this great activity. Teaching Into Thin Air can be difficult, and I was in search of an activity that could catch my students attention. I decided to put the students in a fictional mountain climber setting.

After breaking the class into at least five expeditions, the students are responsible for a variety of activities over the course of the unit. They begin by studying the importance of advertising by designing items that will be judged by their peers. The major expectation is an Oregon-Trail-like supply list that uses Excel or Google Docs for students to decide what supplies they need at each area of Everest. With over 120 different supply choices that are accurately priced and feature instantly-calculated formulas, the students need to buy intelligently. These purchases will be put to test with random (book related) events that pop up four times on their journey.

The culmination of the unit features a multi-disciplinary game day that features math, physical geography, and vocabulary. On the following day, the students enjoy Nepalese-inspired food (9 delicious recipes included!) while collecting points for trying mountain climber physical activities. I usually bring the kids down to our weight room/fitness center to end it.

I have included all the necessary instructions in a calendar format as well as all handouts and signage necessary. This addition to my unit has saved Into Thin Air for my students. They look forward to the weekly interactive games, and the end of the unit is usually very dramatic!

Included in the zip are the following:
Everest Budget Spreadsheet (copies to Google Sheets easily**)
Everest Simulation Packet (18 pages. Includes all handouts, rules, calendars, hallway signs, etc.)
12 Authentic Nepalese Recipes (These easy to make one page recipes have taken many years to compile. The taste great and are regionally accurate!)
Four Simulation Random Events (interactive pages using 24 book-related events that put their supply choices to the test.)

**I typically use the spreadsheet in Google Sheets instead of Excel, but I had to put it in Excel to post it on TPT. I would suggest copying the Excel file into Google Sheets to start (it copies very well with all formulas active). Then, make one copy for each team in your class and name it after the team name. Share that copy with only the students on the team. That way, the students can see each other's purchases as well as work together online versus a standalone program like Excel. I open each sheet during the Random Event Drawings to show the class what they have purchased**

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, please email me at schneza@masd.k12.wi.us. I can email you additional items or clarify if there are issues.

I hope you enjoy! It took me many trial and error years to put this together, but it was worth it in the end!