Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to teach responsibility for research
and preparation on the student's part. In addition to responsibility
the
student will learn something about a country that is new to them, and
gain
insight to an unfamiliar culture. The student should come away from the
project with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Connection to the National
Geography
Standards:
No. 1: To know and understand how to use maps, globes, and other
geographic tools to acquire, process, and report information. The
students
will need to know how to utilize these tools in order to complete the
project.
No. 4: To know and understand the physical and human characteristics
of places. In order for the students to understand the culture of the
unfamiliar
country the students will need to be familiar with the population and
surroundings
within the country.
No. 6: To know and understand that culture and experience people's
perceptions of places and experiences. The students will learn that
people
in other countries do not have what they have. They will learn to
appreciate
other people's lifestyles due to their surroundings.
No. 10: To know and understand the complexity of Earth's cultural
mosaic. At the end of the project it is my hope that each student will
come away with an appreciation for other cultures besides their own.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate their ability:
1. To familiarize themselves with library resources.
2. To do independent research.
3. To use the Internet for educational research.
4. To demonstrate their creativity in how they relay information.
Overview of Presentation:
As I mentioned earlier the student will be responsible for doing
their own research. This includes going to the library and researching
and finding books that are about, or related to, this unfamiliar
country.
The student will also be required to find their country's Web site and
use that information in their research. The use of the CIA Factbook
1996
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
will
be required to gain more information. This way the student will have
some
experience using the Internet to gain educational information. The
student
must get information on the country's economic status, government,
currency,
location, culture, and if possible, diet. There will also be a
requirement
to find a color map of the region. In addition to their research we
will
do activities in the classroom that they can use in their project.
DAY 1: Introduction to vocabulary
PROCEDURES:
Sponge Activity:
Have a large world map on display for the children to see. Have
them define a "continent." Have these questions written on the board
for
them to answer:
1. Which continent(s) does the equator pass through?
____________________________________________________
2. Which continents are north of the equator, south?
____________________________________________________
3. Which border both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean?
____________________________________________________
The students should answer these questions on a sheet of note book paper to be turned in at the end of class.
Opening:
I plan to establish what the class as a whole will be accomplishing
that day. On the first day we will cover vocabulary that the students
need
to know to complete the project. I will also state my specific
instructions
for that day's activities. *This should be followed at the beginning of
each class, according to the activities planned.
Guided Practice:
I go over the needed vocabulary with the students on the overhead.
As I define each term, the students will fill out each definition on a
worksheet given to them. This way, if they are unsure of a term at a
later
time, they can have this worksheet at hand to look up the term.
Independent Practice:
At this time each student will be given a *list of countries that
they can choose from to do their project on. One student should be
assigned
to each country. After choosing the country I will want a paragraph from
each student on why they chose that specific country for their
project,
and also what they hope to learn about the country.
*Choose the countries for your class according to your library's
resources and the information available from the CIA FACTBOOK 1996. http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
Evaluation:
I will require that the sponge activity and independent practice
be turned in at the end of class. At the end of the project, or when
you
feel the time is appropriate for your class, a vocabulary quiz will be
given over what was covered during the first day of guided practice.
Closure:
At the end of each day I will review the topic that was covered
for that particular day. At this time I will also answer any questions
that may have come up during the course of the day. My last goal for
that
day is to give them a preview of the next day's activities, and to
remind
them of any work that is due.
Materials:
For DAY 1 you will need a large world map. You will need to have
access to an overhead. You will also be providing them with the
vocabulary
worksheet (attached). The students will need notebook paper and pen.
DAY 2
PROCEDURES:
Sponge Activity:
Provide a world map with time zones on it for the students. Have
this question written on the board: "If you were going to take a trip
to
your country knowing the time change would be important. If it is
10:00am
here, what time is it in your country?"
If they have time left over they should be reviewing their
vocabulary
sheet.
Guided Practice:
Discuss cultural diversity. Here are some discussion topics to help
you out:
1. Why is it good to have different cultures around the world?
2. Discuss examples in America of different cultures.
3. Let the students share experiences that they have with a
different
culture.
Independent Practice:
Pull a book from your library on the countries being researched.
Give the students a generic worksheet that can be filled out on any
country.
They will be able to use the information they fill out on the worksheet
to start their project. This will also help them to organize their
facts.
Evaluation:
The independent practice should be turned in at the end of the day.
Remind students to study their vocabulary sheet.
Materials:
You will need books on each student's country from the library.
You will also need the Independent Worksheet (attached).
DAY 3
PROCEDURES:
Sponge Activity:
Talk to the students about what they did yesterday for the sponge
activity. "Remember yesterday when you took a trip to your country? In
addition to knowing the time change you will also need to know how much
money to bring. If you had $10 of American money, how much would that
be
worth of your country's currency?"
Opening:
Today begin working on the Internet. Go over yesterday's topics.
Give any specific instructions needed.
Guided Practice: (Classroom Demonstration with a Computer and LCD
projector)
Give each student a slip of paper with the CIA FACTBOOK 1996 website
address
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
and
the approved website address to their country. Once you get to the lab
show all of the students on one computer how to get to their address.
Have
the students look through each of their sites, ask questions, and
explore.
Independent Practice: (Computer Lab)
Provide each student with a piece of white copy paper. Using the
assigned
FLAGS website http://www.interlog.com/~photodsk/flags/flags.html
they
will need to find their country's flag. They will need to draw and
color
it onto the piece of copy paper. You may need to tell them that the
flag
needs to be at least as big as half of the sheet of paper given to
them.
Their completed wil be included in their project.
Evaluation:
Have the flags checked when they are done with them. After all the
projects are completed and turned in it would be nice for the students
to be able to display their flags around the classroom.
Materials:
You will need to provide the students with a slip of paper that
contains the addresses for both of their websites. You will also need
access
to a computer lab with Internet access. White copy paper, crayons,
markers,
and colored pencils.
DAY 4
PROCEDURES:
Sponge Activity:
If all previous activities are completed the students may begin
to make a travel brochure convincing someone to visit their country.
Have
them include their favorite aspects of their country. They can make up
newspaper ads, a song, a tee shirt design, bumperstickers, etc...
Inlcuded
in the brochure there needs to be a paragraph included telling someone
why they should visit their country. This will be the sponge activity
for
the remainder of the project. This can also be included into the
project,
and like the flags you can display the finished brochure around your
classroom.
Opening:
Today they will try and finish up at the computer lab. They may
need their vocabulary sheets from Day 1 today. Go over yesterday's
topics
with the students. Give any specific instructions needed.
Guided Practice:
Discuss government with your students. Some questions you could
ask could be something like the following. "What kind of government
does
America have?" "What about the governments of other countries, what is
different between their government and our government.?" This will give
the students some idea of what to look for when they are doing their
research.
Independent Practice: (Computer Lab)
Have the students use the CIA FACTBOOK 1996 http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
to
pull up the specific map on their country. Have them write what they
observe
about the surroundings of the country. Some questions to ask could be
like
the following. "Is it near an ocean?" "Is it landlocked?" "Does it have
rivers that run through it?" " Any mountain ranges?" This will make
them
aware of the geography of their country when they are researching.
Evaluation:
Have the students turn in their independent practice.
Closure:
Wrap up loose ends. Address any questions that may have come up
in class. Let them know that they will be in the Library on Day 5. Go
over
what they learned with today's lesson. Ask students if anyone has a
piece
of clothing from another country that they could bring for tomorrow's
class.
Emphasize that they need their parent's permission.
Materials:
You will need the computer lab with Internet access. On Day 5 be
prepared with pictures or examples of clothing from other countries, in
case no one is able to bring anything in. The students will need
notebook
paper and a pen or pencil.
DAY 5+
PROCEDURES:
Sponge Activity:
The students should work on their travel guide, or any unfinished
activities that need to be done.
Opening:
Establish the goals for Day 5+. Go over yesterday's topics. Give
any specific instructions needed.
Guided Practice:
Discuss with the students the different kinds of clothing that there
are. Some questions to ask may be like the following. "Do we wear
different
kinds of clothing for different occasions?" "What about other
countries?"
This is when you would need to bring out examples. Discuss with the
students
your examples.
Independent Practice: (Library)
Have books pulled in the Library on their countries. They will go
through the books and gain more information on their country. In the
last
days of the arrange for some computer lab time if need be. Do the same
for the library. Allow for the students to take the remaining work on
their
project at home to finish up.
Evaluation:
The actual project and Travel brochure will need to be turned in.
The vocabulary quiz will be at the end of the project.
Closure:
Wrap up any final questions. Go over the goals for the day. Stress
the reasons why you chose to do the project.
EXTENSIONS:
You may adapt this project to use in subjects like math (sponge
activities). English will also tie into the project with the
actual
writing of the paper and travel brochure.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Any books pulled from the library.
2. Compton, William. The Complete Guide to Flags. New York: Grisewood & Dempsy Ltd, 1989. 136p.
3. "Flags" http://www.interlog.com/~photodsk/flags/flags.html (25 March 1997)
4. The Internet address of their country's specific web site.
5. "CIA FACTBOOK 1996"
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
(25
March 1997).
Worksheet No.1
VOCABULARY WORDS
country- _________________________________________________
continent- _______________________________________________
equator- ________________________________________________
landlocked- _____________________________________________
legend- ________________________________________________
key- ___________________________________________________
compass rose- ___________________________________________
latitude- ________________________________________________
longitude- ______________________________________________
Worksheet No. 2
INTERNET RESEARCH
Name:_______________________ Date:_________________
My Country: ___________________
URL:___________________________________________________
Latitude:_____________________________________
Longitude: ___________________________________
Government: ____________________________________________
Population: __________________________________
Major Religion: _________________________________________
Size: ___________________________________________________
Currency: ______________________________________________
Other Important Facts: __________________________________
______________________________________________________
Created 5/2/97