Hiking

Lesson Objectives: Students will understand some basic tips for day hiking about speed, clothing and water.


Instant Activity:Juggle Time
Grade Level: 3-8
Equipment: Juggling scarves, bean bags, plastic grocery bags, yarn balls, tennis balls, tape/CD player, music of your choice
Directions:
Before students arrive at class set out all of the equipment mentioned above in the "equipment" section. We suggest you put them in hula hoops outside of the playing area. Best to put in hula hoops so students can see the choices of equipment they have.
When students arrive at playing area tell them that they can choose whatever equipment they want to juggle with.
Instruct them that juggling does not have to be done with 3 pieces of equipment. They are free to use two pieces but it is best to choose like pieces of equipment to juggle with (i.e., two grocery bags as opposed to a scarf and a tennis ball).
On the teachers signal they are to walk and choose their equipment, find a good self space in the playing area, and start practicing their juggling skills. Please inform them that it doesn't matter your skill level, we are just practicing for now. If some have experience they may want to try the yarn or tennis, otherwise choose the grocery bags or the scarves. Put on some quiet music (upbeat music usually doesn't work in this case) while they practice.
Teaching Tips:
After checking to make sure they are following instructions move around the area looking to see their skill level.
You need not have done juggling before for this activity to work--you are just seeing where they are at.
Use teaching by invitation to allow them to choose another piece of equipment if they want. For example: "Freeze.
When I say go if you are finding this piece of equipment pretty easy to juggle then choose another piece that may challenge you."
Do not allow students to run in this environment due to the large amounts of equipment around the area.
Don't worry about your own juggling skills. This will be a nice time for you to learn through some of the students. It is a nice skill to learn together.
Submitted by Mark Manross who is a doctoral student in the Health and Physical Education Program at Virginia Tech.

Lesson:
    * pack is appropriate weight for individual
    * clothing adjustments
    * stop for hot spots
    * drink lots of water
    * rest accordingly, pace yourself

Instruction to class:
    It is important that you find a pack that is going to fit you comfortably.  When you go to the store to buy one, they usually  have some sort of weights, like bean bags that weight 20 pounds.  You should put some weight into the pack and wear it around the store for some time.  This will give you some sort of idea how it will feel after you have had it on your back going down the trail for a while.  A general rule is that you should never carry anything over one third of your body weight.  Day packs usually weigh about 20 to 30 pounds.
    Clothing adjustments can be made whenever you feel you need to.  When you first start you may have on more layers than you need.  It may be a good idea to take the extra clothes off before to sweat too much in them.  When you stop for a break, you may want to put something back on so you don't get too cold.  Depending on the weather too.  It may change throughout the day and so you may want to adjust accordingly.
    When ever you or someone in the group is experiencing a 'hot spot' on their foot somewhere the group needs to stop so they can take care of it before it turns into a blister.  Mole skin and mole foam are good items to have with you for such cases.  If you catch the hot spot in time it shouldn't turn into a blister.  Some people tape their heels before they even start hiking to prevent hot spots from forming on the back of their heels or toes.
    It is important to stay hydrated.  Drink lots of water all day.  Take 2 quarts with you and either a pump to get more, or iodine pills to treat water.  It is not safe to drink out of the streams with other people and animals around.  If you begin to feel thirsty your body is telling you to drink more, and that it is already dehydrated.
    Pacing yourself is also important while hiking.  If you go too hard at the beginning you may run out of steam before you get to the end of hike.  Go a good steady pace that you can keep up for an extended amount of time.  2 mph is about an average time for hiking, depending on the terrain.  You may want to rest every hour, or few miles to drink and eat a snack.  Keep track of time and making it back to the trail head before dark.

Assessment:
    The students need to be able to calculate how much weight they should carry.  There will be a work sheet for them to fill out.  They will then be asked some questions about the materials covered in class for that day.  Things dealing with when they should rest and how often.

Equipment:
    There won't be much equipment needed for this class time.  Some items to treat a hot spot or blister, types of water pumps or pills.
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