California Regions Project

Introduction

Since the times of Spanish explorers, Mexican soliders, and American pioneers, California has been found to be a land of opportunity and diversity. This is likely the reason your family lives here today. California is located on the western coast of the United States, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Due to its size and distinct landforms, geographers have broken California into four major regions. These regions include the Mountain Region, Desert Region, Pacific Coast Region, and the Central Valley Region. What makes each of these regions so unique? What are each region's distinct features and characteristics? What attracts people to live in, or visit, these regions? Get ready to take a journey, and become an expert on the Regions of California!

Task

Your group will consist of four travel agents that are gathering information to get people to come and visit the state of California.

Your roles are: 1. Travel agent #1 visits the Desert Region

                         2. Travel agent #2 visits the Pacific Coast Region.

                         3. Travel agent #3 visits the Mountain Region.

                        4. Travel agent #4 visits the Central Valley Region.

Your project is to create a group travel poster that sells California to potential visitors. Your poster should include:

                       1. A map showing the location of each region.

                       2. An illustration, or pictures, of  3 animals  that live there.

                       3. An illustration, or pictures, of  3 plants  that grow there.

                      4. Regional climate (So tourists know what clothing to pack in their suitcases!)

                      5. Show at least 2 tourist attractions or activities in each region that visitors might be             

                          interested in. You may want to pinpoint these spots on your map. 5. A catchy slogan to 

                           make tourists want to come and visit.

                       6. List of books, websites used for your research.

 You will each be given a travel journal to keep track of all your exciting trips and adventures. In it, you will write down the important information you gather in each stop, which will help when creating your travel poster.

Process

Step 1 Each person in the group decides what role # they want - NO PEEKING AT THE REGION!

Step 2 Now, go to your role assignment on the task bar above to discover your region and task.

Step 3 Use your travel journal to record the internet sites, places visited on your trip, important facts, pictures, etc. Make sure to include your opinions, or feelings, about each stop, as well as a careful bibliography.

Step 4 Create a catchy slogan to attract tourists. Record that into your Travel Journal.

Step 5 Team Meeting: Get together to share facts, slogan, and ideas for the poster. REMEMBER: You don't have to agree, but every opinion is valuable.

Step 6 Begin creating your part of the poster on construction paper. When you're finished, glue it to the final poster paper with the other 3 regions.

Step 7 Complete bibliography final draft and glue on to the back of the poster, behind your individual region.

Step 7 Team Meeting: Finalize poster. Plan and rehearse for presentation.

Step 8 Sell California to the class!

Step 9 Hand in project and complete Reflection Log.

Evaluation

Each group member will be scored individually as follows:

A map showing the location of each region.                                              5 Points

An illustration, or pictures, of  3 animals  that live there.                           6 Points

 An illustration, or pictures, of  3 plants  that grow there.                           6 Points

 Regional climate                                                                                        3 Points

Recreation                                                                                                 6 Points

 A catchy slogan                                                                                        5 Points 

 List of books, websites used for your research                                        4 Points

Neatness                                                                                                   4 Points

Grammar(capitals, spelling , punctuation)                                                6 Points 

Reflection Journal                                                                                     5 Points

Scoring as a group:

Poster                                                                                                      15 Points

Oral Presentation                                                                                     15 Points

Teamwork                                                                                                 20 Points

                                                                                                                 100 Points

 

 

Conclusion

Wow, you look exhausted from your trip around the big, beautiful state of California! Welcome home, and a job well done. Self and group reflection is important, especially after such a journey. Take the time to fill in the Reflection Log, using your Travel Journal to help you.