Weaving It Together

UNIT 4
CD 1
Track 7
Chapter
7
34 Unit 4
The Sherpas: Life at
10,000 Feet
This unit focuses on the lives of
extraordinary people. Chapter 7 describes
the Sherpas, whose lives and culture
are adapted to living at altitudes of
10,000 to 14,000 feet in the Himalayan
Mountains. Chapter 8 summarizes the
accomplishments of George Washington
Carver, an African American who became
famous for discovering 100 uses for
peanuts.
Here are some interesting facts about the
the Sherpas:
• Sherpa is actually a Western
mispronunciation of the word Shar-wa,
which means “eastern people.”
• The traditional garment of the Sherpa
people is called a chuba, an ankle-length
wool robe, tied in the middle with a sash.
The sleeves, when unrolled, go past the
fi ngertips, and the top portion is used as
a pocket.
Warm-Up
People
You may start the lesson in one of these
ways:
• The Sherpas’ way of life has changed
in some ways since foreigners began to
climb Mount Everest. Ask students to
think about ways in which their own
culture, or another culture they are
familiar with, has changed because of
contact with people from other lands.
List examples on the board and discuss.
Have students discuss if these changes
have been for the better or worse.
• The Sherpas build homes that are
adapted to their environment and
culture. Have students make a list of
features of a typical home in their
native country and describe how it is
suited to the environment and culture.
Suggest they consider building materials,
structure, and design. Have volunteers
share their ideas with the class.
Pre-Reading Activity
Before students read the passage, have
them scan to fi nd the answers to these
questions:
Where were the Sherpas originally
from?
What vegetable is the main staple of
their diet?
In what year did the fi rst Sherpa guide
reach the summit of Mount Everest?
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