• "Getting Equipped for the Mountains" by Jarek Krajka

• "Inventions" by Jarek Krajka

GETTING EQUIPPED FOR THE MOUNTAINS

by Jarek Krajka

Maria Curie-Sklodowska University,

Lublin, Poland

jarek.krajka@wp.pl

I. Introduction:

1. Brainstorm students how they get dressed for the following occasions: a party, a wedding, a class.

2. What special clothes do you need to perform these sports?

swimming, boxing, karate, mountain hiking?

3. Which of these objects do you need to take to go mountain hiking?

googles, skis, sandals, boots, a vest, a hat, sunglasses, a jacket, shorts, swimming trunks/suit

II. Online work:

1. go to North Face (http://www.northface.com), then click on "Products",

- click "Products", then either "Men's" or "Women's", then go through the products and choose one jacket or vest, shirt, gloves, a hat, pants and footwear

- put down the name, the price, short description, sizes, weight

2. now you need to be equipped in some other essentials –

- to find out what, go to http://www.backpacking.net/ten-essl.html  (or http://www.backpacking.net, then click 14 Essentials in Gear Checklists menu on the left)

- put down the essentials: map, compass, flashlight/headlamp, extra food, extra clothes, sunglasses, first-aid kit, pocket knife, waterproof matches, firestarter, water/filter/bottles, insect repellent, sunburn preventatives

- now work in groups, go to Campmor online shop (http://www.campmor.com), scroll down the page, and from the list all departments choose some other equipment that might be useful on your expedition

- note down the name and the price

III. Post-Internet work

1. get back in groups and try to convince your partners to buy this or that piece of equipment. Attention! You have a limited budget of 1,000 dollars per person for all the equipment.

2. go back to http://www.backpacking.net/ and "Checklist 1 or 2" from "Gear checklists" on the left (or http://www.backpacking.net/cheklist.html) and find out if there are some other things you really need

3. if necessary, go back to http://www.campmor.com and get the prices of other equipment

4. make a roleplay of parents and almost adult children wanting to go on a backpacking trip and needing money for the gear

Note: for great backpacking links, go to http://www.johann-sandra.com/backpacking.htm and then "Backpacking links" in the menu on the left. For a list of backpacking gear suppliers, go to http://www.backpacking.com, click on "suppliers".

INVENTIONS

by Jarek Krajka

Maria Curie-Sklodowska University,

Lublin, Poland

jarek.krajka@wp.pl

I. Introduction:

1. divide the class into groups. Ask them to put the things in the order from the most to the least useful:

bubble gum, theory of relativity, printing press, Kellog's corn flakes, Hula Hoop, tea, can opener

2. now match the inventor's to the inventions:

Walter E. Diemer (bubble gum); Albert Einstein (theory of relativity); Johann Gutenberg (printing press); Will Keith Kellog (Kellog's corn flakes); Richard P. Knerr (Hula Hoop); Emperor Shen Nung (tea); Ezra Warner (can opener)

II. Internet work:

1. one part of the class go to check the answers in ex. 2 above

- go to www.ideafinder.com  - click "Enter", then "History facts and myths" on the left in the menu, "Inventor profile"; or go to http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/ 

2. now give a few names of inventions, with inventors' names and years:

To check, go to http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/inventions.html 

3. Now go to http://www.ideafinder.com, then click on "Enter", then "Idea showcase" on the left of the page, then "Idea wish list" (or directly http://www.ideafinder.com/features/wishlist.htm)

- read the wishes, find three most necessary, according to you

4. think about the things that you really like to be invented. Work in pairs and create a description

I wish I had ……

It would be a thing that we could use to ……. 

It would help us do …

5. scroll down the page "Idea wish list" (http://www.ideafinder.com/features/wishlist.htm) and click "If you didn't find it here, then tell us what consumer product you wish were available. You can enter a wish here (or directly http://www.ideafinder.com/forms/makewish.htm).

- students enter the wish in the box provided and click Agree and Submit (they do not have to put in personal information, if they do not wish so).

III. Homework:

1. collect the idea wish list from the whole class and display it on the board.