Survival in Antarctica - "Do we really need a billiard table on an iceberg?"

The grade 7s have started reading Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, the true story of Ernest Shackleton's expedition with Endurance with 27 other crew members who set out to be the first ones to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. The novel portrays a perilous journey that involves an almost unbelievable story through stormy seas and hardships that one can only imagine. 

As we begin our unit, the students were broken into groups and given a list of 20 items. All of these items were taken on the Endurance by Shackleton and his crew. Once their ship was stuck in ice and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, the men had to decide what items to take for survival and which ones to leave behind. It was up to the students to decide which items were the most important and which ones they could part ways with. They needed to list their items from 1 (being the most important) to 20 (being the least important). It was interesting to see and hear what rationale and explanations the students came up with to make their lists. While some felt that taking a rifle and ammunition was the most imperative for survival, others felt that having matches and lumber would help far more than anything else. 

This activity took an entire 40 minute class. The students had time to decide as a group which items they needed and then as a class we discussed which groups made the best list by going over the top 10 and eliminating lists that we thought needed work or were missing key items. 

I cannot wait to get started on this novel. Along with reading the book, the students will be viewing the documentary about the Endurance as well. Keep checking out the blog for updates!