This week we are learning about Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The children were excited to hear about this location, as many have been to Colorado, and several to Pikes Peak. We watched a video about Zebulon Pike, the explorer who traveled into the relatively newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory and discovered Pikes Peak. Despite this accomplishment, Zebulon was not able to reach the top of the mountain due to poor weather conditions and deep snow. Today, there are various ways to reach the summit; by vehicle, cog train, climbing, or steep walking trails.
Pikes Peak is one of Colorado's 53 "fourteeners." These are all mountains that reach over 14,000 feet above sea level. Pikes Peak is also the most visited mountain in the United States and the second most visited mountain in the world, next to Mount Fuji in Japan.
For our first activity related to Pikes Peak, students did a giant cup stacking activity, making a mountain. They started off with a 2-1 pattern, moved to a 3-2-1 pattern, and got progressively taller, until finally reaching the 6-5-4-3-2-1 pattern. They did this as a relay and some students were quite competitive. This was a fun math activity, as well, as children had to pay attention to pattern and progression.
Later this week, we will do another exciting activity for Pikes Peak. The students are looking forward to it. Be sure to check out my blog later in the week or ask your child about what they did in Physical Education.
