WHAT› S UP WITH ALTITUDE

Mr. Moffat’s Class Investigates How Altitude Affects Our Bodies: Abby
Brittlefern, a world-renowned climber, visits Mr. Moffat’s class expecting to
give a lesson on altitude and the mountains, but little does she realize that
Mr. Moffat’s class knows a thing or two about the air they breath, air
pressure, and altitude. Each student has a story to share with Abby to
demonstrate the fact that although the air, altitude, and air pressure can’t
be seen around them, there are clues everywhere that help to understand how
altitude affects the human body.
A wonderfully illustrated book that combines a storytelling element with
experiments that can be done in the classroom or at home including: making an
altimeter, weighing air mass, calculating air temperature, creating a model of
the lungs, and constructing prayer flags.
Lisa Gardiner likes to hike up mountains and around the city of Denver where
she lives. She has a Ph.D. in geology and works at an atmospheric research lab
creating educational web pages about earth science and fun activities for
classrooms.