The island

The island created is called "High Point Island". The EH country was Singapore, so the accurate geographic qualities of the island are patterned after those of Singapore City.


Singapore City is located at 1 degree N, 103 degree E of the equator. It's average elevation is 538 ft. The average yearly rainfall total is 141.70", with it's driest month averaging 5". Because of it's location so close to the equator, the temperature varies very little, with high temps hovering right around 85 F all year long and the lows rarely dipping below 73 F.


The interpretation is in the shape of The Beast from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It is a profile shot of The Beast holding the Enchanted Rose in his hand/paw. The High Point, giving the island it's name, is a centrally located plateau. On the north and west sides of the island the elevation drops to sea level dramatically, but slopes more gradually down on the south end. There is a lake located on the plateau, which drops over falls and travels to the sea by way of 3 tributaries, all located on the south side. This graphing of elevation is very important, as in the class the students will need to be able to find water and travel a bit on the island, but in a realistic manner.


The size of the island is about 12 miles measuring W to E, and close to 20 miles N to S. The chosen flora are orchids, plush grass, rosemary pea, aloe, ru tree, and egyptian finger grass. There are alot more indigenous to Singapore, but the guidelines required the students to list no more than 6, so choices were made based on projected needs for survival, and for the travel portion. Chosen fauna are geckos, asian toads, octopus, damsel flies, starfish, flying lemurs and wild pigs. Yes, that's one more than should have been put, but she couldn't choose between pigs and lemurs! :D


That may seem confusing still, for which I apologize. It is difficult to explain the true face of the class without being in the midst of it. But you can see from this, hopefully, the hyper-tight continuity that is needed in order for this project to be successful. Add to that the fact that most of the planning is done without a clear picture of what will truly be needed, but after which no more editing can be done, and you can see the "survival" aspect come into view. No matter how badly you may want to go back and choose different flora and fauna, in order to better facilitate the need for shelter or food, you cannot. You also cannot "invent" tarps that are left, etc. The only supplies that you are allowed to have are those items that you were wearing the day that the list was made, and what was in your school backpack on that particular day. A note on that...there was absolutely no warning on which day this would be, nor was any advance notice of such a day given. There was no way to pre-plan for the list by stuffing your backpack! :D


If you end up shipwrecked, as you means of becoming stranded, the boat must sink at least 500 ft off shore and cannot be used for firewood or shelter. Whatever it is that helped you get to the island, mysteriously disappears when you step foot on shore.


3 items were gifted to the students. They each received a small flashlight, a pencil sharpener and a notepad. The notepad is important because they are supposed to be journaling their experiences. :D This is a language arts class above all, don't forget! :D


I think that's all of the criteria...it's all that I can remember at the moment at any rate. Now, onward to begin the journey.