Teacher Resource

Summit Strategy Guide

Grade 3: Math & Science

Lesson: Mountain Expedition

Expedition Timeline

05

Warm-up: The Height of a Hero

Use Slide 3 to discuss Elevation. Help students visualize units: A 3rd grader is ~4ft. A meter is ~3ft. Challenge Question: "If you stacked 250 third graders, would that stack be a mountain?" (1,000ft = yes!).

05

Observation: Summit Sightings

Play video: "Earth's Landforms – Mountains". PAUSE AT 1:23. Students record the data for Mt. Everest on Part 1 of their worksheet. Height: 29,000 ft (8,848 m).

25

Activity: Mountain Math & Graphing

Students use the data table to complete Part 3 (Comparisons) and Part 4 (Ordering). Then, distribute the Peak Profile Graph Paper and Expedition Rulers.

Graphing Tip:

Help students locate 12,388 ft (Mt. Fuji) by finding the halfway mark between 10k and 15k, then going just below the 12,500 line.

10

Closure: The Imposter Reveal

Discuss Part 5 of the worksheet. Why isn't Britton Hill a mountain? (It's under 1,000ft). Share bar graphs with partners and check if the order matches Part 4.

Misconceptions

• Students often think "Hill" and "Mountain" are just different words for the same thing. Emphasize the 1,000ft rule.
• Comparing 5-digit numbers: Remind them to check the Ten Thousands place first.

Active Science

At 1:40 in the video, have students model tectonic collision by pressing palms together and pushing up. At 2:02, simulate a volcanic eruption by moving hands from a point and "exploding" outward.

Summit Discussion Anchors

Science Connection

"The narrator says lava cools into rock. How does this turn an explosion into a mountain?"

Goal: Understand that mountains are formed by adding material (lava) that hardens into layers over time.

Math Connection

"Why do we use different scales on a graph? Why couldn't we use 1 inch for every 1 foot of elevation?"

Goal: Realize that a graph for Everest would be 29,000 inches long (over 2,400 feet tall!)—scaling is necessary.