Quest Materials

The Quest Materials show you how to use the Quest, provides the Quest Lessons, gives you the background on the Quest location and answers some frequently asked questions.

How the Quest Works

Each day for two weeks students direct our scientists as they travel to a new Blue Zone to identify common threads in lifestyles, diet, outlook and stress-coping mechanisms found in the world's oldest and healthiest people. Daily content includes videos, written dispatches, photographs and opportunities to vote to direct the team’s logistical, ethical and storyline decisions.

How to Use the Quest in the Classroom

Use the program as little as 15 minutes a day, spend about an hour or create a whole unit with the content. Blue Zones provides an interactive Web site, curriculum guide, lessons and activities for you to use as it fits into your schedule.

Quest Curriculum Guide

The Quest Curriculum Guide will provide more information on how to use the Quest in your classroom

Quest Curriculum PDF (81 KB)

Quest Lessons

Each of the Quest's features is designed to be used in about 10 minutes. Even if you have just one or two holes in your daily schedule, your students can still learn with us as we explore and uncover the factors that contribute to the Blue Zone’s amazing longevity. Once you do one of these three introductory lessons, your students will be able to follow the Quest with minimum time taken out of the classroom’s day.

Pre-Quest Lessons

Lessons to be completed before the latest Quest begins. We suggest you do these two lessons prior to the April 20, 2009 launch of the live Quest.

Skills Covered

Reading Comprehension
Media Analysis
Collaborative Learning

PDFs:

Evidence Tracker (34 KB)
KWL Chart (51 KB)

Reading Lessons

Skills Covered

Reading Comprehension
Media Analysis

PDFs:

Writing Lessons

Skills Covered

Reading Comprehension
Writing to Persuade
Writing to Inform
Conventions of Writing
Process Writing–Outlining/Pre-Writing

PDFs:

Longevity Editorial (44 KB)
Writing to Persuade (47 KB)

Math Lessons

Skills Covered

Graphing
Word Problems Solving
All operations

PDFs:

Graphing Longevity (52 KB)
Operation Word Problem (54 KB)

Health & Science Lessons

Skills Covered

Using Math in all aspects of Scientific Inquiry
Nutrition
Using Scence in Personal and Social Perspectives

PDFs:

Geography & Social Studies Lessons

Skills Covered

Human Systems
The Uses of Geography
Environment and Society

PDFs:

Quest Background Piece

The Blue Zones Quest team is excited to embark on the Zone III adventure to Ikaria, Greece. We believe our team has found another cluster of the longest-lived people and you’ll be helping us discover their secrets.

Here’s some background on Ikaria, Greece that you and your students might find helpful for this Quest.

Quest Background PDF (25 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use the Blue Zones program with my students?

Dan Buettner and his Quest Network are pioneers in online, interactive learning. We bring a proven track record of developing engaging opportunities that compel students to apply and practice a wide variety of skills across many learning disciplines. We believe when kids are challenged and put in control of their learning environment, they learn and retain more. More importantly, this model of teaching has been proven to enhance critical thinking skills and improve test scores.

Our goal is to give your students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for academic success now and to a vital old age. We also understand the multiple priorities and conflicting interests that compete for your time and your students' attention. All of our free, ready to-go classroom activities require minimal preparation, are flexible to fit any amount of time you have in your schedule, and correlate with national standards in Language Arts, Math, Geography, Science and Health. We're confident we'll attain our goal while providing you with phenomenal opportunities to teach your students.

How do I use Blue Zones?

Our program is broad and provides many opportunities for research and application of basic skills. Consider starting with just the Quest and maybe add the Blue Zones Challenge or do the ePALS project at www.epals.com. Each of these modules can be used with your students for as little as 10-15 minutes a week, or as a longer thematic or interdisciplinary unit. All of our learning activities are designed to complement common curricula and correlate with national academic standards in Reading, Writing, Math, Geography, Science and Health.

When is the best time to teach with the Blue Zones program?

Each Blue Zones module may be used when it best fits your schedule. However you should plan to devote at least 15 minutes, several times a week during the Quest, to make the most of the interactive features provided. The Blue Zones Challenge and Legacy Project can be taught at any time throughout the year.

Who produces the Blue Zones program?

Blue Zones is a production of the Quest Network, Inc., the same people who brought you award-winning interactive explorations like MayaQuest, AmericaQuest, and AfricaQuest, among others. Our team is advised by the world's leading experts on healthy aging and longevity. We are guided by a group of creative, passionate, forward-thinking teachers and administrators.

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