Teacher Page

Lesson Title:            Teen Travel Experts
Curricular Areas:     Foreign Languages,  Social Studies, Technology
Grade Levels:          9-12
Length of Lesson:    2-3 weeks

Teacher Suggestions

• Go through the Internet resources to make sure that all links are working.
• Print out role projects so students can refer back to it when working offline.
• Anticipate students' need for vocabulary development before or during project.
• Have class/group discussion after each step in the process. This will help students organize their thoughts and check for understanding.

• French-speaking selections can be broadened.  We attempted to provide a contrast in areas.
• Bring in or have students bring in any kinds of cultural artifacts related to their site destinations.
• Visit a museum or contact a guest speaker to visit your class.
• Bring in children's books and music relating to the culture variances.
• Participants in this webquest could also contribute to the site by doing the research on another French-speaking country and forwarding the appropriate URL links including Lonely Planet, spectator sport information, travel advisories, etc.
• If students are not familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, it may be necessary to type out task instructions to facilitate the creative product portion of this quest.  Other software applications, such as HyperStudio, may also be used in place of PowerPoint.

For higher levels, additional critical thinking questions and activities could be added to extend the experience, in addition to making the presentation in French.

Applicable Curricular Standards:

Foreign Language:

• Standard 2.1: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
• Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.
• Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
• Standard 3.2: Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its culture.
• Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the culture studied and their own.

Social Studies:

• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity.
• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments.
• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity.
• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions.
• Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global connections and interdependence.

"Teen Travel Experts" webquest aligns with the following
Nevada State standards for education:

Foreign Language (12th grade level):

• Content Standard 4: Understand the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the foreign culture.
• Content Standard 5: Understand the relationship between the products and perspectives of the foreign culture.
• Content Standard 9: Understand cultural differences and similarities.

Social Studies (12th grade level):

• Content Standard 2.2: Compare and contrast the characteristics of places and regions from different points of views.
• Content Standard 2.6:   Analyze why places and regions once characterized by one set of criteria may be defined by a different set of criteria today, and evaluate these changes.
• Content Standard 4.8: Evaluate the changes that occur in the size and structure of cultural, political, and economic organizations.
• Content Standard 4.9: Analyze how different cultures, points of view, and self interests influence conflict and cooperation over territory and resources.
• Content Standard 6.5: Evaluate a contemporary issue using geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives.

Technology (12th grade level):

• Content Standard 2.0 Productivity Tools: Students use appropriate productivity tools including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet, database, multimedia and telecommunications.

• Content Standard 3.0 Research Tools: Students use various technology tools to research information and evaluate its accuracy and appropriateness in order to solve problems and make decisions.

• Content Standard 4.0 Tools and Processes: Students will identify, apply concepts, and manage various tools and resources to evaluate their accuracy and appropriateness in solving problems and making decisions.

WebQuest Taxonomy

• Retelling Tasks
• Compilation
• Design Tasks
• Creative Product
• Consensis Building Tasks
• Analytical Tasks
• Judgment Tasks

Author Background

• Allison Flowers holds a BS in French from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a MEd in Education from the University of South Alabama, and has taught French at LeFlore High School since 1995. Despite these credentials, the state of Alabama still does not consider her Highly Qualified.

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