The Curriculum Through ICT Program
Ideas Bank

The George Mallory Mystery
Years 3 - 7Years 7 - 10

THE TASK

In 1999, the discovery of George Mallory's body near the summit of Mount Everest sparked international debate over whether Mallory had been the first person to summit Everest, nearly 30 years before Tensing and Hillary.

This learning activity required students to collect, organise and evaluate the available evidence for and against the hypothesis that Mallory reached the summit. A range of graphic organisers proved useful for this part of the task. They selected a variety of appropriate ways to present their arguments, using ICT where expedient. Finally the arguments and presentation methods were evaluated and students invited to reconsider their positions.

ICT ENRICHMENT

  • Students used the Web to collect up-to-date information and evidence. Different sources of information enabled the students to compare points of view.
  • Much of the Web-based information came from primary sources (members of the 1999 expedition that found Mallory's body).
  • Photographs of the evidence and quotations were downloaded, referenced and were used by students to support their arguments.
  • The variety of ICT available to complete the task required the students to select and justify their choices.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT

  • Learning outcomes were monitored by reviewing the notes, documents and graphic organisers produced by the students during the process, and assessment of final products.
  • A checklist was used to monitor the Investigation,
    Communication and Participation outcome over the course of the project.

LEARNING AREA OUTCOMES

English
Processes and Strategies
Speaking
Reading
Writing

Society and Environment
Investigation, Communication and Participation

Based on a learning program developed by Lesley Chennell.
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