Iceman

Title: Iceman
Date: Sept 19, 2012

In today's class, students watched part 1 of a Discovery documentary about Otzi the Iceman. Otzi is a 5,300 frozen mummy that was found Sept 19, 1991 (21 years ago today) in the Italian Alps. As students watched the video, they took notes to learn about forensic science. At the end of the video, students worked with table partners to answer three questions:

1. Explain how the Iceman's body was so well preserved for 5,300 years.
2. Explain why it was "dangerous" to defrost the mummy.
3. Describe three observations scientists made about the Iceman's body that might help explain his death.

Following those questions, students used their notes to write summary paragraphs. I gave them the main idea: "The discovery of Otzi, the Iceman, has been very important for scientists."

You can find more information about Otzi through these links:
South Tryol Museum of Archaeology, South Tyrol, Italy
"Last Hours of the Iceman," National Geographic

Also, it is important for students to learn how to take notes. As students go farther in school, the ability to take good notes will become even more important. So, I try to help students get lots of practice in my classes. Here are some examples of good and not-so-good notes taken by students today.

These notes, which continue on the next page, have good details. This student would likely be able to answer challenging questions about Otzi on a test.

These notes are decent. They have some good information and would be some help on a test.

These notes, which continue on the next page, have good details. This student would likely be able to answer challenging questions about Otzi on a test.

These notes, which also continue on the next page, have good details. This student would likely be able to answer challenging questions about Otzi on a test.

These notes have only the most basic information, and the student clearly quit taking notes after about the first 5 minutes of the video. This student did the minimum in order to be able to claim he or she did some work. These notes would be very little help on a test,

These notes have lots of details, but are very difficult to read. It would be difficult for a student to use these notes for studying or for help during an open-notes test.