{"product_id":"my-side-of-the-mountain-novel-study-stem-project-design-a-wilderness-camp","title":"My Side of the Mountain Novel Study, STEM Project, Design a Wilderness Camp","description":"\u003cp\u003eLooking for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy Side of the Mountain activities\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat give students a creative way to apply their learning? This wilderness camp project challenges students to think about Sam’s needs, draw a labeled blueprint, build a 3-D model, and explain how their design would help him survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBring\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy Side of the Mountain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto life with a hands-on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNovel Study Project\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat connects reading, research, explanatory writing, and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTEM!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eStudents design a wilderness survival camp for Sam Gribley using information from the novel and research about the Catskill Mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat’s Included in Project:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Student project directions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Wilderness camp checklist with nine required elements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Catskill Mountains research sheet with seven guiding questions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Sources Used recording sheet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Blueprint planning page\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Camp Designer Explanation sheet with six writing prompts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ 100-point project rubric\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResearch Before Building\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudents investigate the setting to make thoughtful design decisions. Research questions explore:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClimate and weather throughout the year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLandforms and environments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvailable water sources\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful plants and natural resources\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnimals, food sources, and wildlife concerns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFactors that make a camp location suitable for Sam\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlan a Wilderness Survival Camp\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudents create a labeled blueprint that includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Shelter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Fire and cooking area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Food storage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Water source\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Hunting and fishing area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Garden or food-growing area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Wildlife safety\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Tools\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✅ Sleeping area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a 3-D Camp\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudents use their blueprint to construct a model of Sam’s ideal camp. The directions suggest materials such as craft supplies, LEGO blocks, figurines, shoeboxes, boxes, and natural materials. The required camp elements provide structure while allowing students to make their own creative design choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplain the Thinking Behind the Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe learning continues beyond the model! Students write complete-sentence responses explaining their camp location, shelter, food and water plans, and wildlife safety. They also justify an important survival design choice and describe an improvement they would make.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkills Students Practice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApplying information from a novel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eResearching a novel’s setting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecording research sources\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanning a design around a character’s needs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolving problems within a design task\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWriting explanations and supporting choices with details\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflecting on possible improvements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy Teachers Will Appreciate This Project\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe included directions, research questions, planning page, and checklist help guide students through each stage. A\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100-point rubric\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esupports assessment of planning, work process, required camp elements, written explanations, and overall effort and creativity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse this\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy Side of the Mountain STEM activity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eas a culminating novel study project, a literature extension, or a connection between ELA and science. Students create a camp with a clear purpose: helping Sam live safely and independently in the wilderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis smaller resource is perfect for teachers who want a focused, highly engaging\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMy Side of the Mountain\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTEM Wilderness Camp Project\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand an easy way to add science, writing, and project-based learning to their existing novel study.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Obsessed with Learning","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53707418272033,"sku":null,"price":2.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1004\/3605\/0209\/files\/wildernesscamp1_55c245b2-2112-48e7-b037-043edd45c943.avif?v=1791833067","url":"https:\/\/obsessedwithlearning.myshopify.com\/products\/my-side-of-the-mountain-novel-study-stem-project-design-a-wilderness-camp","provider":"Obsessed with Learning","version":"1.0","type":"link"}