Standards 17.A.1a: Identify physical characteristics of places, both local and global. 17.A.2a: Compare the physical characteristics of places including soils, land forms, vegetation, wildlife, climate, and natural hazards. 17.B.1b: Describe physical components of ecosystems. 17.C.1a: Identify ways people depend on and interact with the physical environment. 17.C.2a: Describe how natural events in the physical environment affect human activities. 17.D.2a: Describe how physical characteristics of places influence people’s perceptions and their roles in the world over time. 17.D.5: Analyze the historical development of a current issue involving the interaction of people and geographic factors. 17.D.3b: Explain how interactions of geographic factors have shaped present conditions.

6 Questions Put in your own words the legend of the Loch Ness monster. How far does the legend go back? What is the first reported sighting? Based on the evidence you’ve seen, do you believe that the Loch Ness Monster is real? What is the Loch Ness Monster’s nickname and how did it get its name? How would you capture evidence of the Loch Ness Monster? How did the legend affect Scotland’s economy?

Resources http://www.loch-ness.org/ http://www.history.com/shows/monsterquest/interactives/monsterpedia-loch-ness#the-legend-of-loch-ness http://www.unmuseum.org/lochness.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lochness/ http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-08.html http://www.skepdic.com/nessie.html

Introduction You are on a dream vacation that is traveling around all of Europe. One of the stops is Scotland to see the famous Loch Ness that is believed to some to be the home of the mysterious Loch Ness Monster, “Nessie”. You prep a camera expecting to catch a photo of the evasive Nessie. Will you be the one that finally has a clear image of the monster? Can you find Nessie?

First photo of Nessie 1933

Task The students will be split up into groups of 3. Group 1: History of Nessie Group 2: Affect of Legend (Economic, other species, etc…) Group 3: Non-Fiction or Fiction? Display evidence to support either way.

#5—Process Alright legend seekers! Your expedition includes three teammates: Expedition Leader—Keeps everyone on task and helps their partners in any way they can…whatever the costs. Historian—responsible for looking up all the history they can about the beasty. http://www.history.com/shows/monsterquest/interactives/monsterpedia-loch-ness#the-legend-of-loch-ness http://www.unmuseum.org/lochness.htm 3. Information Recorder—in charge of organizing the information presented by you fellow teammates.

#6—Congratulations! Excellent job explorers. You have gathered sufficient information to continue on with your expedition in search of the elusive and wily monster of the loch.

Extension Activities Now that you know a great deal about Nessie, create a story about how it came to be and create it’s origin story. On your own, invent a device and draw a blueprint that can without a doubt prove or disprove the existence of Nessie. Create a list of questions you would use to ask witnesses who claim they saw the Loch Ness Monster. What does a monster eat? Based on what you’ve learned create a food web of what Nessie is thought to eat. How big do you think Nessie is. Using string go to the gym/outside and lay out it’s dimensions.

#7—Debate Time Inform the rest of the class of what you have learned. The class will then split into two groups and a debate will ensue. Is the Loch Ness Monster real…or not real? It is up to each person to defend their thoughts in a respectable manner against a differing opinion.

For Your Enjoyment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzMOxaqyyoE

Additional Resources The Loch Ness Mystery: Solved-By Ronald Binns The Enigma of Loch Ness: Making Sense of a Mystery-By Henry H. Bauer In Search of Ogopogo: Sacred Creature of the Okanagan Waters-By Arlene B. Gaal Monster Quest, Season 1, Episode 1-3