An ironing board that was abandoned on the UK’s highest mountain has sparked anger from walkers. It’s common for household items to be carried to the top of Ben Nevis as part of charity walks. However, locals aren’t pleased when things are left behind.
Oracy
It would be wrong to associate all charity stunts with the thoughtlessness of leaving an ironing board on top of Ben Nevis, but are such activities beginning to get out of control? Are crazy fundraising ideas in danger of causing more harm than good? Aren’t they just a chance for show-offs to get even more attention to make themselves feel special? Or do you think that it’s just harmless fun? Does it matter what people do to raise money, as long as they tidy up after themselves? In any case, with so many good causes competing for donations, don’t you have to do something that stands out from the crowd? What do you think?
Writing skills
Write a highly descriptive narrative extract about climbing a mountain only to find something unusual at the top. Take time to detail the surroundings and create a suspenseful atmosphere as your lead character approaches the summit, perhaps outlining their sense of confusion as they try to make out what it is.
Or
Write two different haikus (three lines: five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables) about household items left on mountaintops.
Investigate
List the highest peaks in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For each one, give its name and its height above sea level.
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