• Driving Question: What would a gaper want to know about Teton Valley Idaho?
• Definition of a Gaper Guide from www.gaperguide.com: gaper  (gā'pər), n. 1. Person who gapes in openmouthed surprise or wonder.   2. One who stops and stares at something and says, What is that? Our electronic audio guide tells "gapers" about the parks as they drive, it is a gaper-guide.
• Follow up questions: What are the most important historic landmarks around the valley? What are the most important historic events that occurred in Teton Valley? Why does Teton Valley look like it does today? Where would we want people to stop to find out about the geology of Teton Valley? What is a GPS coordinate? 
• Description of project: Students will create audio files that will be linked to GPS coordinates. These audio files will give historic and geologic information about Teton Valley, Idaho.

“What makes a great presentation?” This week we worked in small groups brainstorming qualities and traits that make a presentation great. From these lists we made a “to do” list to complete before our presentation next week. Throughout the week students also had a chance to practice using google earth, enjoying unread project books and exploring map making. We are excited and ready to present to you next week!

We completed our “to do” list! Our paragraphs have been recorded; photos imported and are ready to give to Los Torres with our GPS points. What a journey this has been, we are excited to spend the week after break preparing to present and reflecting on challenges and successes of these past three months. Mark your calendars, our Gaper Guide presentation will be Friday, December 6^th at 11:30am!

Our gaper guide is coming to fruition! Earlier this week, with much excitement, we learned how to use GPS devices!  The same day, students began traveling in small groups with Hilary our intern and new afterschool teacher Shannon, around the valley marking their historical and geological locations. The experiential aspect of traveling to their “location” seemed to help solidify students’ ownership of their topic, it was exciting to see. Thursday, we made up our field trip to the Jackson Hole Historical Society and worked with the museum director Barbara and education coordinator Brenda to answer the question, “how do maps help tell stories?”. While visiting both the Indians of Greater Yellowstone Museum and Homestead Museum (both part of the Jackson Hole Historical Society), we questioned how maps were designed and examined a variety of different types of maps. At the end of our two hour investigation, we proudly shared with their staff our “gaper guide” and learned that they are creating a very similar “tour” to ours in the town of Jackson! We invited Brenda to our presentation and hope to see her again!

This week we have been busy working through our checklist! Earlier in the week, we were orienting ourselves with our historical facts and geological features around Teton Valley. This planning is helping us prepare for next week.  Then, we will, in small groups of five, be heading into our valley with Hilary our intern, to mark these locations with GPS devices and cameras to take photographs. Thursday and Friday we learned the importance of a good “hook” (opening sentence!). We tried three different strategies and next week will decide the best one. Take a moment and ask your child to share one of the techniques below:

1. A question! When you begin with a question, readers will want to know the answer!
2. Tell a story. If you turn your topic into a story, your readers will want to hear how it ends.
3. Something interesting to come. Give a hint, and your readers will be curious.

Our final Gaper Guide project will be presented just before Thanksgiving break, keep an eye out for your invitation!

Last Friday’s field trip to the Museum of the Mountain Man gave us all a chance to answer first hand, “Why did the Mountain Man explore the West?”. Through meeting with the museum’s executive director, exploring artifacts and displays and a quick re-enactment movie, we learned the top hat had a lot to do with it! Take a moment to ask your child about the importance of the “top hat”. After our long day Friday, we spent Monday reflecting with Los Torres on all the work we have done and where we are going next. We worked with the Los Torres to create a class checklist of what we each need to complete to turn our Gaper Guide into a final product before Thanksgiving. Below is our checklist in the order we decided to work on.

• Select actual locations for each historical event and geological feature
• ‘Tweak’ Los Torres paragraphs
  • Add a “hook”
  • Record into audio files
• Collect GPS points and take photographs

"How did the mountain men make it so popular to come live our west?"

Updates about our Museum of the Mountain Man trip will be posted next week. Check-out our new yearlong project, "How can we learn from the tree swallow?" for updates from the week!

This week we were busy categorizing rocks, reading historical and geological nonfiction and exploring a new app, “TravelStory GPS”! In small groups, we rotated through different stations. A favorite among many of the Tiger-Wolves was “TravelStory” GPS. An app designed and created by a local Wilson woman seems to be looking a lot like something we would be interesting in collaborating our new knowledge…look forward to updates next week!

On Monday, Virginia, the Teton Soil Conservation District educational director visited our classroom and brought along some folks from local large-scale dairy and wheat farms in our valley. We had a chance to learn about these occupations through hands-on demonstrations and what life and work was really like on both types of farms. Farming and ranching are integral to the history of our valley and we all agree they need to be a part of our Gaper Guide. 

Our Gaper Guide of Teton Valley consists of both historical facts and geological features. This week the Tiger-Wolves looked first hand at how the geology of our valley helps us uncover clues about our landscape. With help from an expert geologist, (and TVCS Kindergarten teacher!) Anna Dwinell, the Tiger-Wolves spent Tuesday at Targhee and Teton Creek understanding and investigating fossils, U and V shaped canyons, uplift, the rock cycle and geological time. With this new knowledge in hand we began to refine what is important (and exciting!) to include in our Gaper Guides about the valley. 

"How can we as scientists and historians make an exciting and informational GPS audio tour of Teton Valley that can actually be accessed and used by Gapers in our valley?!"

Tiger-Wolves began to answer some of their "wonders" about their topics this week. With an informative presentation from "Los Torres" on the rock cycle, students got an opportunity to further understand their geological topic. On Wednesday we spent the morning at the Teton County Museum exploring local historical artifacts and facts. At the museum we practiced synthesizing information. The week ended with a buzz of energy and excitement as we thought about our final product. We know we have to publish all our research about historical and geological facts in our valley on audio files that link to GPS points and/or a map. Ideas about how we can make this actually happen range from creating our own app, to pitching our audio tour to Gaper Guide in Jackson...look forward to more updates next week!

We were busy this week investigating the question, “what is research?!” Through three stations students spent the week exploring different activities to get their hands into research and worked in collaboration to document their learning through captions and photographs. Enjoy the updates below in our slideshow!

“What is a GAPER GUIDE?!” Monday’s field trip helped us answer this question.  Heading over the hill, we left sunny Idaho and descended into the mysteriously inverted Jackson. Our first stop was at the Gaper Guide head quarters. There we meet a Gaper Guide expert, who explained the history and workings of a Gaper Guide (http://www.gaperguide.com/wp-index-phpabout/). Once the Gaper Guides were up and running in our minibuses, we climbed back in with our partners (The Tiger-Wolves were partner with students from Los Torres, the 5^th/6^th grade class) and began listening!  The afternoon of investigation was structured around students using cameras on a “photo scavenger hunt”. The challenge was to use the Gaper Guides, Craig Thomas visitor center and stops at Cottonwood Creek and Mormon Row to find the most unique historical fact or geological feature to photograph.  We were busy explorers.

On the ride home, the buzz already was, “What if we made a Gaper Guide for Teton Valley?...What places and events would we include?...What could we do to make our Gaper Guide even better than Jackson Hole’s?” After both classes reflected on these questions and the energy was high, all of a sudden we realized that we discovered what to do for our first project! Students are going to work with the same partners they had for the photo scavenger hunt to compile a list of historic and geologic facts about Teton Valley that they will link to GPS coordinates. After we collect and record all of our information, we will submit it to Gaper Guide and see if they are willing to upload it into their units!

Once we get a project rolling we will have weekly updates for you to read!