Learn The Great Basin
Brian Crosby
Nevada Vacation Project
Time for project: Several days to a week or more.
Description of project: Working in groups of 3 to 5 students, students will plan and design a virtual vacation trip through Nevada. They will keep track of mileage, costs of trip, report back to the class by designing and writing postcards about what they see and experience during their trip (both factual information about places, history and physical sciences of Nevada and creative information of experiences during their vacation), give an oral and graphic presentation to the class about their trip.
Objectives: Students will demonstrate knowledge of: map skills, places and cities in Nevada, history and physical sciences of Nevada, writing, creative writing, editing, oral, graphic and written presentation, reading for information, drawing, art, using reference sources, research skills (including the Internet), report writing, math, working effectively with a group.
Materials: Highway map of Nevada (I get these from AAA) for each group (on the Internet www.mapquest.com will print out maps of trip routes), cardstock cut to "postcard" sizes, large paper for putting together graphic presentation, AAA travel guide for Nevada for each group (if possible), travel brochures about Nevada (from travel agencies - also Internet pages about tourist destinations in Nevada).
Procedure: I usually start out by reading to the class STRINGBEANS TRIP TO THE SHINING SEA by Vera and Jennifer Williams. The story is told via the postcards that two brothers send home each day during their trip across the country. During the reading we examine the parts of a postcard including the stamps. We then brainstorm where in Nevada the students have been or know about that anyone might visit during a vacation here (this might be a good time to assign some internet searches and other research to locate vacation sites throughout Nevada - I've also brought in guest speakers from travel agencies or local tourism boards).
Then as a class we design a postcard about our school (I have also done the city we live in) What would be a good picture to show on the front? What should the little blurb on the back say about our school (or city)?
Then I hand out 2 pieces of postcard size paper for each student to make their own postcard about our school (or city). I give them 2 pieces of paper because they draw the picture on one sheet, and the blurb, stamp, letter and address on the other. That way you can see both sides of the postcard when they are tacked on the wall or glued on paper for presentation. When they are done we look at the students' postcards and point out what makes a good postcard. As a class we write ourselves a postcard on the board that everyone then copies on their postcard. We also then address it to me at the school's address so that students have an example.
Next pass out and go over the requirements of the project listed below with the class.
Nevada Vacation Project
*In your group of 3 to 5 students plan a one to two week vacation through Nevada.
1) Map out your agreed upon route through Nevada. You must visit 4 to 7 main destinations and mark your route in yellow marker on the road map provided.
2) List at least 15 other towns, cities, parks or other interesting places that you travel through on your way.
3) Keep track of and record the mileage you drive each day. Each day's travel must be a realistic amount to drive, but still have time to visit sites along the way. Add up and record your total mileage for the trip. Also you must figure out how much it costs for gas and food for the day and how much to stay in a motel. You must make this information part of your report. (Teachers you can also require other math such as average miles per day, average speed traveled per hour etc.)
4) Design 4 to 5 or more postcards for the different locations you will visit. Research (using the Internet, travel brochures, encyclopedia, books, and other sources) information about the places you see and visit during your trip. Use this information to design and write your postcards (addressed to your teacher at the school's address) to tell me about what you did and saw. You can include information about the flat tire you got, or how you got lost or carsick or whatever, but you must include facts (scientific, historical or just of general interest) you have learned about each place in your postcard.
5) Write a report and make a graphic presentation (on butcher paper or other large paper) about your trip to present to the class orally like if you had returned from a real trip and were going to share what you did with the class. Include your postcards, map(s), photographs, and other information in your presentation.
6) Include "photographs" that you took during your trip. You can do this by drawing pictures, or downloading and printing out pictures from the Internet, or from travel brochures and pretend they are pictures you've taken during your trip. Be ready to tell the class what the pictures are of and some facts about the subject of the picture.
7) Also, if you can get them, bring in real souvenirs (or make some of your own) of Nevada you might have at home from trips your own family has taken and show them during your presentation as if they were items you purchased during your vacation.
8) Do your best work - Be Creative - Have Fun!!!
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