Destination: Earth

Introduction

Welcome: Destination: Earth

Description: You are part of a team of travel agents whose job it is to attract tourists to planet Earth. Astronauts from all over the universe have lots of planets they could visit, so why should they choose yours? Your group of agents will create a brochure to persuade intergalactic visitors to come visit Earth!

Grade Level: 3-5

Curriculum: English/Language Arts

Keywords: Earth, travel, geography, oceans, land, fun

 

Introduction: Imagine you are a travel agent. Your job is to convince intergalactic travelers to come and visit planet Earth! If you think about it, residents of other planets sure do have a lot of planets they could go and visit. Why is Earth the dream destination? You and your team will come together to create a brochure containing information that will persuade visitors from elsewhere in the universe to come to Earth. Think of it like a sales pitch or an advertisement. You will be given a series of topics to research in order to pack your flyer with the coolest and most exciting information possible. Earth has a lot to offer...so choose only the best and most interesting facts!

Task

Task: Your team of travel agents consists of four people: a land specialist, a water specialist, a hospitality specialist, and a fun specialist. You will be assigned to a team, then you and your teammates will choose who will play which role. You will each complete research on specific topics according to your role. You will all work together to create a brochure demonstrating your findings. By completing this WebQuest, you should achieve the following goals: 1) formulate relevant, self-generated questions based on interests and/or needs that can be investigated; 2) interact and collaborate with others to communicate your own ideas; 3) cooperatively participate in group conversations and investigations to seek answers to questions and create original artifacts to demonstrate learning.

Process

Step 1: Determine who from your team will take on the following roles (one per person so that all four are filled):

 

Land Specialist: The Land Specialist is in charge of noting facts about Earth’s land- whether that be continents, countries, islands, etc. For example, each continent offers interesting formations, like mountains or canyons, each with unique residents! Earth even has natural wonders that occur on land, like the Grand Canyon!

 

Water Specialist: The Water Specialist is in charge of noting facts about Earth’s water- whether that be oceans, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, etc. For example, Earth offers lots of different water formations, each with unique plants and animals that live there! Earth even has natural wonders that occur in water, like the Great Barrier Reef!

 

Hospitality Specialist: The Hospitality Specialist is in charge of noting facts about places for visitors to stay during their trip to Earth. For example, each country offers unique lodging options- whether that be hotels, cabins, or even igloos! There is even a hotel in Costa Rica located inside a grounded airplane!

 

Fun Specialist: The Fun Specialist is in charge of noting the facts about interesting attractions tourists can visit on Earth. For example, each country offers unique and fun things to do- whether that be riding roller coasters, sailing, watching movies, or snorkeling. You can’t find that on Mars!

 

Step 2: Browse the websites provided, or any other pertinent written material you find in the classroom or library (do not browse any websites other than what is provided for you) to find information for your travel brochure.

  • Remember your role and look for pertinent information from these resources.
  • Browse these resources on your own Chromebooks, but sit together and discuss your findings as a group as you go so that you don’t record duplicate information. Work together to determine what information fits best with each role.
  • Take notes as individuals so that each of you has information to contribute to the travel brochure.

 

Step 3: Work together to create a travel brochure.

  • You will need to submit only one brochure per group.
  • You may use Word, Google Docs, or Canva to create your brochure.
  • Be sure that you have at least six facts per person (six from each Specialist) and some images.
  • Be sure that your brochure is persuasive. Remember, you are trying to convince intergalactic travelers to visit planet Earth!

 

Here are the links to browse. Use the search feature on each website to refine your research.

 

https://www.tripstodiscover.com/

 

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

                                                                                                                  

https://www.planetware.com/

 

https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/

 

Evaluation

Here is the rubric by which you will be graded.

 

 

0-1

2

3

Teamwork

Group argued or did not communicate at all.

Group lacked good teamwork and communication.

Group demonstrated excellent communication and teamwork to accomplish the task.

Content

Group brochure does not demonstrate understanding of the assignment.

Group brochure demonstrates some understanding of the assignment but lacks persuasion.

Group brochure demonstrates comprehension of the assignment by including relevant and persuasive information.

Completion

Brochure is more than two days late OR is not submitted at all OR includes less than 3 facts from each specialist/no images.

Brochure is 1-2 days late OR includes 3-5 facts from each specialist and some images.

Brochure is turned in on time and includes at least 6 facts from each specialist and some images.

Total

 

 

 

___

9
Conclusion

Conclusion:

By completing this WebQuest you have:
 

1) Learned to formulate relevant, self-generated questions based on interests and/or needs that can be investigated.

2) Learned to interact and collaborate with others to communicate your own ideas.

3) Learned to cooperatively participate in group conversations and investigations to seek answers to questions and create original artifacts to demonstrate learning.

 

Now you can continue your work as a travel agent on your own!

Credits

All web links are external websites that are used to complete this WebQuest.

Teacher Page

Focus

This WebQuest focuses on the attractions Earth has to offer to theoretical intergalactic visitors. Students gain information through browsing several websites or other print materials. Students communicate their findings through written and oral communication with one another by working together to create an original artifact, a brochure, to persuade travelers to visit Earth.

 

Objectives

  • Students will collaborate cooperatively within their assigned team.
  • Students will use approved online resources to conduct research in order to answer self-generated questions regarding the assignment’s topic.
  • Students will create an original artifact as a team to present their findings in a persuasive way.