Name: __________________________

Advisory: ​PC HU TC ​Date​: June 7, 2018

PEAK ​Culminating Project Options and Brainstorming Packet

Overview​: To wrap up the school year and our reading of PEAK, you will complete a project of your
choice​! You will create a digital project to present to the class. Twelve project options are provided in
this packet, two each for the following topics: social/emotional behavior, life skills, Social Studies,
Science, ELA, and Math.

Brainstorming

Directions​: ​Read the descriptions of each project and its corresponding expectations. After careful
consideration, record your top three project choices and your reasons for selecting them in the space
below. Be sure that you are prepared to share the reasoning behind your selections.

Rank Option # and Project Title Explanation/Reason for choosing

3
 Option 1: ​Perceptions
Topic: Social/Emotional Behavior

Description: ​Consider the question, “How and why do people perceive places in different ways?” In the novel
Peak​, the characters in the novel have contrasting views of Mount Everest. Some view Mount Everest as
recreational, while others, such as the sherpas, Sun-Jo and Zopa view them as sacred grounds. Some people think
New York City is the greatest place on Earth, while others think it’s the worst. Interview 5-10 people about a
specific place. Define the word “perception.” Write a paragraph describing your perceptions of that specific place.
Write words describing how the interviewees felt about that place. Compare your notes to find out the variety of
ideas and feelings others have about the same place. Do they all share the same feelings and opinions? Summarize
your notes in an presentation that compares and contrasts the varying points of views you have discovered about
this place. Your project will need to meet all the criteria on the rubric below.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Slides

Criteria For Success

❏ An accurate meaning of the word “perception” is defined.
❏ An introductory slide describes the student’s perceptions of a specific place.

❏ After interviewing 5-10 people about the student’s chosen place, a description of the perceptions others
had of that place are noted.

❏ The student has analyzed the opinions and perceptions of others.

❏ The presentation compares and contrasts the varying points of views that have been discovered about this
place.

❏ The conclusion of the presentation evaluates the reasons perceptions vary from person to person.

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.
 Option 2: ​Mountaineering Resume
Topic: Life Skills

Description: ​There are many jobs that need to be done on the mountain in order for an expedition to run
smoothly. Some examples are the expedition leader, sirdar (lead sherpa), team physician, climbers, base camp
managers, camp cook, camp baker and pastry chef. Research the requirements and compensation for each of these
jobs. Choose one of the jobs that would be most interesting to you. Research how to write a professional resume.
Create a resume the job you would like to apply for. Your project will need to meet all the criteria below.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Doc

Criteria For Success

❏ The resume is indicative that concepts and ideas obtained from research and various sources were located,
analyzed, and synthesized to determine critical information about mountaineer occupations.

❏ Accurate descriptions, requirements, and compensation for a chosen mountaineer occupation are applied
to the written resume.

❏ The resume layout includes, but is not limited to, elements such as name, address, phone numbers, email
address, job objective, education, employment history, professional societies and organizations, personal
history, and references.

❏ The resume is relevant and telling. Quality details give the reader important information that goes beyond
the obvious.

❏ The presentation compares and contrasts the varying points of views that have been discovered about this
place.

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.
 Option 3:​ Guilty or Innocent?
Topic: History/Law

Description:​ In the beginning of the novel, Peak, the main character Peak is charged with criminal
trespass, vandalism, and reckless endangerment for climbing a skyscraper. Research the definition, and
possible punishments for these offenses according to New York City, state and federal laws. Form an
opinion on whether you think Peak is guilty or not guilty for these criminal charges. Pretend you are
either the defense or prosecuting attorney and write a closing statement for a mock trial including facts
from your research and details from the story. Address all of the charges against him in your speech.
Prepare and deliver your findings via digital presentation to your classmates and have them vote on his
innocence or guilt for each charge.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Slides

Criteria For Success

❏ Closing argument defends or condemns the actions of Peak for the charges of criminal trespass, vandalism,
and reckless endangerment.

❏ Closing argument includes facts from research and details from the novel.

❏ The argument clearly explains whether it is felt that Peak’s actions were justified or not.

❏ Word choices in the argument are convincing and help shape the reactions and beliefs of the listeners.

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.
 Option 4:​ Body Breakdowns
Topic: Science

Description:​ The medical symptoms encountered at high altitudes all come down to the body’s
response to the decline of oxygen pressure. Research the physical risks associated with climbing to high
altitudes. Create a flowchart to explain the stages of altitude sickness. You must include pictures or
graphics throughout your flow chart. Describe the symptoms of the illness, effects these changes have on
your respiratory, circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems, and treatments for each symptom, if any.
Explain how you can prepare your body for a climb to high altitudes. Your digital presentation should
explain your reasoning as to whether or not you think the benefits gained from climbing outweigh the
health risks involved. Support your reasoning. Your project will need to meet all the criteria on the rubric
below.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Slides

Criteria For Success

❏ The research paper includes a complete explanation of the stages of altitude sickness, including the
symptoms, effects on body systems, and available treatments if any.

❏ The presentation includes a flowchart to explain the stages of altitude sickness. The flowchart includes
pictures related to altitude sickness throughout.

❏ Presentation includes evaluative reasoning as to whether the benefits outweigh the health risks involved
with climbing to high altitudes.

❏ Reasoning is supported using facts and details obtained through research.

❏ An accurate explanation of body preparation before a climb to high altitudes is included in the research
presentation.

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.
 Option 5:​ Breaking News Story
Topic: ELA/Writing

Description:​ Holly Angelo wrote freelance articles and went to Mt. Everest looking for a hit story about
Peak’s climb to the top of Mt. Everest. Throughout the novel she continually asks Peak for an interview
when his experience was over. Think about the “big story” she would publish in a leading New York
newspaper. Create, layout, and produce your own digital newspaper front page with Peak’s story as the
headline article reported by Holly Angelo. The newspaper should include the name of the newspaper and
reporters covering the stories, city the newspaper is from, and a date. Include a feature article and
pictures or graphics with captions. Synthesize details from the novel as well as quotes from the story and
quotes from the “interview” she would have finally gotten from Peak. Create quotes from Sun-Jo and at
least one other character from the novel. Apply the who-what-when-where-why writing technique. Your
newspaper cover will need to meet all criteria below.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Doc

Criteria For Success

❏ A newspaper headline had a proper layout and included Peak’s story as the headline article reported by
Holly Angelo.

❏ The newspaper includes a creative name for the newspaper, the names of the reporters covering the stories,
the city the newspaper originates in, and a date.

❏ The front-page newspaper includes a feature article and pictures or graphics with captions

❏ Details from the novel Peak are synthesized into the newspaper headline story.

❏ The who-what-when-where-why writing technique is evident

❏ Quotes from characters in the story and quotes from the “interview” Holly would have gotten from Peak
and Sun-Jo are included in the headline story

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.
 Option 6: ​Weight Challenge
Topic: Math

Description:​ You have to deal with many physical challenges when mountain climbing. One task
requires you to carry equipment and climb at the same time. Figure out how much weight you will be
“carrying” up a fictional mountain in both metric and customary units. Visit the website: mnteverest.net.
Click on “Equipment List.” Write the estimated weight of each item. Convert these weights from
customary to metric units. Create a table on a word processing program to display your results. Find out
how much you weigh in pounds and then convert the results to metric units. Add the total amount of the
items to your weight. Express all metric terms in fractions and decimals. Determine the ratio between
your weight and the total weight of what you would be carrying. Is it realistic for you to carry this amount
of weight up a mountain? Design an experiment that could help you determine the answer to that
question. Present all of your findings to your class. Your project will need to meet all the criteria below.
Suggested Format: ​ Google Slides and/or Sheets

Criteria For Success

❏ A complete list of mountain climbing equipment was compiled and used throughout the project.
❏ The weight of each item and of the student conducting this experiment was measured or logically
estimated.

❏ Estimations of mountain climbing items were accurately recorded in customary units of weight, and
converted to metric units of weight.

❏ Metric units are accurately expressed as fractions and decimals.

❏ The data was accurately recorded on a table and was labeled correctly.

❏ The final amount of weight was accurately calculated and recorded on the table.

❏ The ratio of student weight to the items being carried was accurately determined and recorded in fractions
and decimals.

❏ A creative experiment was designed and tested to answer the question, “Is it realistic for you to carry this
amount of weight up a mountain?”

❏ Higher-level vocabulary is used throughout the project.

❏ The project has no grammatical, spelling, capitalization, or punctuation errors.

❏ The project is labeled with a title, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, and the date.