Home > Technology Channel > Tech Lesson of the Week > History, Interdisciplinary, The Arts, Social Science > Tech Lesson of the Week

Subjects

• Arts & Humanities
  --Architecture
  --Art History
  --Foreign Language
• Social Studies
  --Geography
  --Regions/Cultures

Grade

• 3-5
• 6-8

Brief Description

In this foreign language or social studies lesson, students work individually or in small groups as they research a travel destination, set up a four-day itinerary, and then use iWork’s Pages program to create an illustrated travel journal detailing their “experiences.” They then printed their journals and share them with their classmates.

Objectives

• Demonstrate understanding of another culture.
• Correctly cite Internet sources.
• Analyze online information and determine what is accurate and appropriate for the assignment
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and time management skills.

Keywords

foreign languages, travel, cultural studies, iWork

Materials Needed

• Student access to the Internet.
• Student access to iWork's Pages program.
• Student access to a printer (black and white or color)

Lesson Plan

To complete this lesson, students should have basic Internet and word-processing skills. Previous experience with the Pages program is not necessary.

Before beginning this lesson, open iWork's Pages program and select the Travel Journal template (found under Journals). This template is just one page. To add a second page, click the Pages button, and then click "Body Page with Photos Side." Print a copy of the 2-page journal, or be prepared to display a copy on a projector or TV monitor.

Begin the lesson by asking students to share what they think might be in a travel journal. Responses might include: details of the trip, places visited, photographs of the sights, and so on.

Display a print or electronic copy of the Pages travel journal and ask students to point out the features that make it a travel journal. Students should mention:

• Name of the travel destination.
• Dates of the trip.
• Daily entries about the trip.
• Personal comments by travel companions. (Notice on the second page, where Maecenas and Hasellus have added comments under Monday, March 7.)
• Fun titles at the beginning (Look just under Italy 2005) and at the end of the journal.
• Photographs and captions.
• Postage stamp (cultural artifact) on the second page.

Announce to students that for two class periods, they will research, either individually or in groups, a travel destination and create a travel journal. Based upon your curriculum, assign or have students choose travel destinations.

Provide students with the following directions on a chalkboard or in a student handout:

• When you have been assigned or have decided on your travel destination, write down everything you know about that location. List 3-5 sites you'd like to see or things you'd like to do while at that location. Submit your work to your teacher for approval. Note to teachers: Students either can write their notes with pen and paper or use a word processing program -- including iWork Pages (choose the Blank template).
• Research your location using a search engine and information from books in the classroom, school, or town library. Focus on sites you can see and activities you can do during a 4-day visit. Take notes on what you find, making sure to write down the complete Web site address for each fact you find online. Also, write down the addresses of Web sites containing 8-10 photos or other images that might be included in your travel journal. Have your teacher approve your research.
• Open the iWork Pages program and choose the Travel Journal from the Journal templates. Click any text to type your own text. Be sure to change the title as well as dates. When typing entries, be sure the activity you're describing can be done at the time of day you've indicated. (A moonlight cruise, for example, wouldn't be held at 9 a.m.!). Save your work.
• Add photos and other images to the Travel Journal: Right click the photo or image you want to use (or press the CTRL key while clicking), select "Copy image" or "Copy Image to Clipboard," and then click once on the photo or image in the Travel Journal that you want to replace. Right click (or CTRL and click) and choose Paste. Save your work.
• Proof your travel journal carefully, and then ask your teacher for further instructions. She or he might want you to print your journal, e-mail it, or move it to a server or other location. Hand in your notes to your teacher.

When all the travel journals have been saved and possibly printed, you might want to use a rubric at 4Teacher's Rubistar to evaluate students' work. (Note: You don't have to sign up for Rubistar to print a rubric, but the tool is free, and signing up allows you to save and edit your work for future classes.)

At Rubistar (whether you sign up or not), click Products and select Making a Brochure. Follow the instructions for selecting criteria for your rubric, then print your work.

Be sure to save class time for students to share their travel journals. To make the sharing more festive, invite students to bring in food native to the locations they "visited" and play music from other cultures. Enjoy!

Assessment

• completion of a travel journal with accurate and interesting details of the assigned destination.
• ability to work with others and manage time wisely.
• ability to follow directions.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Lorrie Jackson

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: Foreign Language
GRADES K - 12
NL-FL.K-12.2 Cultures

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions
NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society

Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World