Core Skills Analysis
Geography (Social Studies)
Asha studied the layout, geology, and climate of Torres del Paine National Park, comparing the Chilean and Argentine sides of Patagonia. She examined political maps of Chile and Argentina, noting how the region’s cultures and weather patterns differ across the border. By reading trekking maps for the 9‑day W trek, Asha practiced interpreting scale, distance, and elevation data to plan daily routes. Her work with these maps reinforced spatial thinking and regional awareness.
Science (Earth & Life Sciences)
Asha observed the calving of Perito Negro Glacier, describing how the break‑off ice creates forward motion, unstable icebergs, and large waves. She linked these phenomena to physics concepts of force and momentum and discussed how climate change threatens glacier stability. While hiking, Asha identified native wildlife such as condors, guanacos, woodpeckers, and eagles, connecting animal adaptations to the Patagonian ecosystem. Her notes on glacier health and biodiversity demonstrated applied environmental science.
Physical Education & Health
Asha completed multiple multi‑day hikes, ranging from 3 to 15 miles with significant elevation gain, building cardiovascular stamina through prior diving, circus, and biking training. She learned to use trekking poles efficiently, managed hydration needs, and adjusted her pack weight for endurance. The varied weather—heat, rain, wind—required her to practice safe outdoor health habits, such as layering and sun protection. Her experience illustrated principles of fitness, injury prevention, and resilience.
Language Arts (Reading & Writing)
Asha watched the Netflix series "Predators" and took detailed notes on puma behavior, which she later referenced while planning the trip. She created a comprehensive packing list, journaled daily observations, and wrote reflections on climate‑change impacts at the end of the trek. Her written work included descriptive language, cause‑and‑effect explanations, and organized planning documents. These activities strengthened her informational reading, note‑taking, and expository writing skills.
Visual Arts (Photography)
Asha practiced with a Nikon digital camera, composing shots of glaciers, mountain peaks, and wildlife to build a photo journal of Patagonia. She experimented with lighting in bright sun and overcast rain, learning how exposure and framing affect storytelling. The resulting images captured the region’s textures and colors, providing a visual record to accompany her written reflections. This work enhanced her artistic eye, technical photography skills, and ability to communicate through images.
Tips
To deepen Asha’s learning, have her design a mini‑travel brochure that combines map excerpts, climate data, and her own photographs to market Patagonia to classmates. Conduct a simple glacier‑calving experiment using ice blocks and warm water to model force and melting rates, then compare results to her field observations. Guide her in creating a field guide of Patagonian flora and fauna, including drawings, scientific names, and habitat notes, which can be shared in a class presentation. Finally, encourage a reflective blog where she links personal challenges on the trek to broader themes of resilience and environmental stewardship.
Book Recommendations
- Patagonia: A Natural History by Tom Brown: An engaging overview of Patagonia’s geology, wildlife, and climate, written for middle‑grade readers.
- Ice! The Nature, the History, the Future of Glaciers by Brian D. O'Neill: Explores how glaciers form, move, and respond to climate change, with vivid photographs and experiments.
- The Wild Life of the Andes: Animals of South America’s Great Mountains by Catherine C. Miller: Introduces the iconic animals Asha encountered—condors, guanacos, pumas—through stories and scientific facts.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.1 – Cite textual evidence from the Netflix episode and field notes.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.2 – Write informative/explanatory texts about glacier physics and climate impact.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.G.B.6 – Solve real‑world problems involving scale and distance on trekking maps.
- NGSS.MS-ESS2-2 – Develop and use models to describe how Earth’s systems (glaciers, climate) interact.
- NGSS.MS-LS2-3 – Analyze interdependence of organisms within the Patagonian ecosystem.
- PE.7.1 – Demonstrate movement concepts and safety strategies during sustained hiking activities.
Try This Next
- Create a scaled map worksheet where students calculate the distance between key park landmarks using the trek map’s scale.
- Design a photo scavenger hunt checklist that prompts students to capture specific geological features, weather conditions, and wildlife.
- Write a short research report comparing the retreat rates of Perito Negro Glacier and the Athabasca Glacier, including graphs of yearly change.