Our Vacation to México

A Web Quest for 8th Grade (Español)

Designed by

Sr. Ortman

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

Your family has decided to take a trip to México. It's the first time you have been to México and you are all excited. This is your one chance to absorb as much of México and what it has to offer in just one week. The problem is that each one of you has different interests and likes so you must make an itinerary that fits all of your interests and needs. Once you are in México you have to visit all of these fun and exciting places and bring back information and pictures for a scrapbook. You want to have a great trip and bring back plenty of memories!


The Task Back to Top

Your task as a "family" is to search the internet for places in México that fit your interests, "visit" these places, gather information, and take "photos" of the places you visit. When you get back "home" you will put all of the information and "photos" into a scrapbook so you can have a place for all of your family's memories of your trip to México.

Resources Back to Top map of México - (Use this to pick cities to visit!)


On the internet there are many resources to find information about México and what it has to offer. Here is a listing of these sites for you to "visit" and gather information from.

Travel Guides:

§  Go2mexico.com- Guide to travel in Mexico.

§  México.com- Online magazine about to México.

§  Plan a trip- Information on hotels, restaurants, monuments, museums, and transportation.

§  Where in México do you want to go?- News, Information, Maps, Travel Tips and more.

City Guides:

§  Acapulco – Official site includes info on restaurants, top attractions, and mucho mucho mas.

§  Cancun – Visit the Mayan ruins, ecological parks, swim with the dolphins or go scuba diving.

§  Cozumel – Visit the beach, shops, vacation rentals and much more.

§  Mérida – Museums, cathedrals, haciendas, and Mayan ruins.

§  México City – General information, tours, nightlife, ect.

§  Cabo San Lucas - Sport fishing, snorkeling, boating, wave runners, and windsurfing

Other Sites of Interest:

§  About Mexico - All you want to know about México

§  Lonely Planet – guide to worldwide travel

§  Rough guides - travel

You may also use search engines, such as Yahoo or Lycos, to find additional information or other places of interest that you may think of on your own.

As an added bonus, click here to download and listen to Mexican Spanish travel scenarios recorded by native speakers, for your Mac, PC or iPod.

Process Back to Top


You will be assigned a "family" of four people- a dad, a mom, a sister, and a brother. Decide on a last name for your "family". Pick which role you want to play. Each member has different interests and wants to "visit" different places. Let me introduce you to your family:

o  el padre- Papa is a big history buff. He loves anything related to ancient civilizations. He also is an architect so he loves old houses and interesting architecture. He also loves sports.

o  la madre- Mama loves shopping and spending money. Put her in a mall and she's happy. She also loves good food and trying new things.

o  la hija- La hija wants to see all the hot spots! She has learned all about México and wants to see the famous monuments! She also loves art and wants to see the famous artwork of México.

o  el hijo- El hijo just wants to have fun! He also likes to surf and loves the beach.


After you've decided on a role, you need to start your voyage. Each person should "visit" the places that fit your interests. Gather information and "take" pictures (by printing them) of the sites you visit.

(Limit your choices to 7 sites.) Once you have gathered all of the information and "returned" home to the United States, you will need to make a scrapbook of all of your "memories". Use the pictures you took and write a couple of sentences about each location from the information you gathered.

You may divide the scrapbook up by place or any other way you want to do it. For example, you could divide it by city and have all of the places you visited within that city all together or do one page per place you visit. BE CREATIVE! The finished product will contain memories of your trip for your "family" to enjoy forever. Make sure the scrapbook is fun, colorful, and creative!


Evaluation Back to Top

Your scrapbook will be evaluated based on creativity, content, and how well your group worked together. The purpose of this project is to learn more about México and to work together as a group. Because this is a fun scrapbook, creativity is key, too!

There will be one grade for the whole group.

Content will be 30% of the grade, creativity will be 20%, and working together as a group will be 20%, neatness 10%, finishing on time 10%, and presentation 10%.

You will also present the finished product to the class once you are finished.

They will evaluate your work as well and will choose the best scrapbook for a class prize! (Not a trip to México! Lo siento!)

Conclusion Back to Top

México is a wonderful country with so much to offer. It is rich with culture, history, and tons of fun stuff to do! Now that you have completed your adventure to México, you have learned about the hot spots to visit if you ever take a real voyage south of the border.

Rubric
Score / Exemplary
3 / Average
2 / Needs Improvement
1 / Score
Content
(30%) / Covers topic in-depth with details and examples. Subject knowledge is excellent.
30 29 28 27 / Includes essential knowledge about the topic. Subject knowledge appears to be good.
26 25 24 23 22 21 / Content is minimal OR there are several factual errors.
20 19 18 17 16 15
Creativity
(20%) / Several of the graphics or objects used in the project reflect an exceptional degree of student creativity in their creation and/or display
20 19 18 / One or two of the graphics or objects used in the project reflect student creativity in their creation and/or display.
17 16 15 14 / The student did not make or customize any of the items on the scrapbook.
13 12 11 10
Teamwork
(20%) / The group functioned exceptionally well. All members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group (all members) was almost always on task!
20 19 18 / The group functioned pretty well. Most members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group (all members) was almost always on task!
17 16 15 14 / Some members of the group were often off task AND/OR were overtly disrespectful to others in the group AND/OR were typically disregarded by other group members.
13 12 11 10
Time and Effort (10%) / Class time was used wisely. Much time and effort went into the planning and design of the project. It is clear the student worked at home as well as at school.
10 9 / Class time was used wisely. Student could have put in more time and effort at home.
8 7 / Class time was not used wisely and/or the student put in no additional effort.
6 5
Neatness and Quality
(10%) / The scrapbook shows considerable attention to construction. The items are neatly trimmed. All items are carefully placed. There are no stray marks, smudges or glue stains. Nothing is hanging over the edges.
10 9 / The scrapbook shows attention to construction. The items are neatly trimmed. All items are carefully placed. A few barely noticeable stray marks, smudges or glue stains are present. Nothing is hanging over the edges.
8 7 / The scrapbook was put together sloppily. Items appear to be just "slapped on". Pieces may be loose or hanging over the edges. Smudges, stains, rips, uneven edges, and/or stray marks are evident.
6 5
Presentation
(10%) / Interesting, well-rehearsed with smooth delivery that holds audience attention.
10 9 / Relatively interesting, rehearsed with a fairly smooth delivery that usually holds audience attention.
8 7 / Delivery not smooth and/or audience attention lost.
6 5
Total (out of 100 points)

Printable version of rubric


Credits & References Back to Top

www.go2mexico.com http://www.cancun.com/

www.mexicofile.com http://www.islacozumel.net/

www.fodors.com http://www.yucatantoday.com/destinations/eng-merida.htm

http://www.roughguides.com/ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.acapulco.com/en/index.html

http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/about/html/home.htm

http://www.roughguides.com/store/details.html?ProductID=124#audio#audio

Teacher Page Back to Top

Foreign Language Standards

Content Standard: Cultures: Gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures.

Students demonstrate an understanding of insights gained into another culture through the examination of its practices (behaviors), products (tangibles such as monuments, food and literature, and intangibles such as laws and music) and perspectives (attitudes, values, ideas, world views).

Content Standard: Connections: Connect with other disciplines and acquire information.

Students reinforce and expand their knowledge across disciplines through the target language. Students acquire information and viewpoints that are directly accessible only through the target language and its cultures.

·  Gather, organize and present information (e.g., historical, geographical) on selected target language countries or communities.

·  Present reports orally, visually and/ or in writing on interdisciplinary topics.

Content Standard: Communities: Participate in multilingual communities and cultures at home and around the world.

Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting. Students show evidence of becoming lifelong learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. Students use the language, knowledge of cultural influences and skills acquired in the classroom to interpret events of the modern world from multiple perspectives and to increase career options.

·  Present information about the target language and culture to others.

·  Explore opportunities to live, travel or study in a target language country and report findings to others.