A view of Everest’s summit through prayer flags
Quote of the Day:
“You must climb before you can enjoy the view” – Unknown
Did you Know?
There is 66% less oxygen in each breath on the summit of Everest than at sea level
Activity Suggestion:
Making Prayer Flags
Objective: Students will create Tibetan prayer flags that can be strung together and hung in the classroom.
Note to Teachers: Prayer flags are to be respected, meaning they should not end up on the floor. It is important to respect the prayer flags and the Tibetan culture during this activity.
What are Prayer Flags?
Prayer Flags are rectangular pieces of yellow, white, red, green or blues pieces of cloth that have mantras, deity symbols, and Buddhist scriptures on them. These flags can be found on Mount Everest and throughout the Himalayan region in homes of monasteries. When the wind gusts and blows the flags, it is believed that the prayers rise to the heavens. These messages can be carried to all parts of the world.
Meaning: The colors of the flags represent the basic elements, blue for space, white for air, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth.
Materials:
- One sheet of paper: colored construction paper using the traditional colors blue, white, red, green and yellow or white paper
- Pencil crayons, markers or crayons
- Fishing line or cotton rope
- Clothespins or Stapler
Directions:
- Ask students to reflect and think about messages they would like taken around the world. What would they like to say to the world leaders? Do they have a good message that they would like to send throughout the world? Examples could include peace on Earth or the end of world hunger.
- Students will construct a message and write it on there paper. This message can be illustrated with symbols and/or written.
- After the prayer flags are constructed the teacher may take the flags and attach them to the fishing line, or rope using the staple or clothespin.
TA Loeffler's Adventures that Move 
We are doing this activity now as a cross-curricular activity with language arts, religious education, art, health, and social studies. Thanks so much for calling us this morning and for this wonderful activity. We hope our prayers will find their way to you as we open our windows later today and throughout your journey. Ms. Baker’s gr. 5 class St. Matthew’s School.
Hi T.A! I’ve been following your journey with intense interest. Loved your book, too. I am passionate about mountains, but at 62 with health challenges, I’ll never experience the majestic power of the Himalaya. Canada’s Rockies are my personal Himalayas. Your climb, with its excellent educational outreach, is an inspiration to many. Well done! I wish you and your team great adventure, perfect conditions, superb climbing, and safe return.
T.A, we are following your journey and are extremely excited you have made it to Base Camp. We will be making a prayer flag tomorrow and will let you know when we are done. We wish you all the best and we KNOW you are trying your hardest. You are a big inspiration to all of us at Bishop Feild School. Take care! Ms. Williams’ Grade 4 Class