DIY Zombie- Apocalyptic Summer Learning Camp, Phase I, part A: Zombie Migrations

Although I am referring to the antagonists of this scenario's story "zombies", we are actually going to do some sort of vampire-zombie hybrid. You may use zombies, vampires or any creature you wish. The only requirement for this story is that they be humanoid because much of the science part of this camp revolves around human mutations.


The Story Unfolds

The story of the invasion practically writes itself as your students become involved in the solving of these puzzles we have put forth to them. All you have to do, as the leader of the scenario, is guide them if they get off track and paint a picture of the scenario as they need it with descriptive events.

Zombies Appear: Data of migrations

In the initial phase, students become aware of the zombie attack. I suggest that your students go through through the WebQuest Zombie Apocalypse-Survival Plan. Have your student complete one step during this session. (Steps 2-3 during phase II and steps 4-6 during phase III.)

Alternatively you could use the activity at Will YOU be safe when zombies attack? Interactive map reveals how the undead could spread across the USIf you have high school students doing this you, could complete some activities on Exponential Growth and Decay. Another lesson, which looks simpler, can be found here at The Enlightened Elephant. For younger students, you can complete the activity at Maximizing Learning, or the activity we did when we studied the Middle Ages, The Plague Spreads.


Literature Study:  Apocalyptic Novels

Your students should be reading the Apocalyptic novels of their choice on their own time. Each week your students will be meeting as a literature discussion group to discuss these novels. You will help guide them by having a topic for them to think about each week, but have the discussions go off topic as long as they are still discussing the novels or the genre. For the first week, you might want to discuss the elements of the genre and encourage them to cite examples they can remember from their text to illustrate these elements. If you are not sure how to do this, a good source for help is Dystopia Literature Circles for Any Dystopian Fiction. Dystopian Fiction is really more Post-Apocalyptic, but there are some general themes that are similar. Dystopian themes include:
what it means to be human
corruption
abuse of power
authority
injustice
class system
freedom and the price of freedom
oppression

Apocalyptic Literature tends to have these themes:
what it means to be human
survival
civility
rebuilding civilization
starting over
learning from our mistakes

If you need some additional help, you might want to read Dystopian Elements and Characteristics - Basic Building Blocks of Dystopia.

Additional Activities

Write an Evacuation Plan

“Plan your evacuation route. When zombies are hungry they won't stop until they get food (i.e., brains), which means you need to get out of town fast! Plan where you would go and multiple routes you would take ahead of time so that the flesh eaters don't have a chance! This is also helpful when natural disasters strike and you have to take shelter fast." -U.S. Center for Disease Control
Older students can write an evacuation plan. How would you evacuate and where would you go?

Math Project

For high school students, they can complete the first section of Zombie Apocalypse from 21st Century Math Projects.  Students (or teams) answer the exponential function and logarithm questions and develop mathematical models and make predictions. Using regression functions on TI-Graphing Calculators or Excel is necessary. Along the way they will explore inverse exponential and logarithmic functions.


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