Intro to Journey Unit: Grade: 8

From the moment of birth until the last breath of life, human beings are in movement. Though our travels are often across the surface of our world, we also find ourselves experiencing emotional and mental movement in our daily lives. Journeys of the soul may lead to personal development, just as a leap of faith may move the spirit; life continues to teach us that journeys take on many forms.

In this look at journeys we will see journeys take on many different forms. We will learn from a variety of sources including words, people and numbers. Our explorations will range from important historical movements to the realms of the mind, myths and mathematics.

This unit will revolve around the theme of journeys of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Social Studies will examine the historical period of the Abenaki Indians of the White Mountains. Language Arts will explore the ancient myths of the Abenaki Indians and the way in which these myths explained nature and morality of the tribe. The Mathematical focus of this unit will examine both the spatial and real world applications that deal with distance, volume and space. In Science, the students will learn about land formations and the journey of the earth's formation of the White Mountains. In Health and Physical fitness, the students will perform walks and small hikes in order to prepare themselves for the hike that they will be taking up the White Mountains.

As explained in every subject area lesson, in each subject, the students will be preparing themselves for their final culminating activity. The students will hike a trail in the White Mountains. While on this hike, the students will also be cleaning the trail.

We hope that at the end of this Unit the students will have experienced their own personal journeys. It may be a physical, intellectual or spiritual journey that the students experience but it is important that the students apply the lessons and strategies learning within this unit and as they embark through their own journeys through life.