USF's WebQuest 

EUROPEAN EXCURSION

Created by Naomi Oliver, 7th Grade Geography Teacher at Shields Middle School in Hillsborough County Florida. Please feel free to use this website, but reference the site where appropriate.
 

Introduction:

The Social Studies Department at the school is planning a trip for a group of students next year. They are trying to decide what country in Europe they should visit. In order to make the most informed decision possible, they want to research different countries. They will want to evaluate each country for its historical and cultural offerings.

You and your group will work together to research your assigned country, using the guidelines explained in the task and process portions of this website. Remember, your ultimate goal is to determine which country would be the best place for an educational trip, and in the end, the class will vote on which country seems like the best fit.

Task:

• Research your group's assigned country.
• Each group member will have their own topic area to research for your group's assigned country.
• Put your research together as one persuasive PowerPoint presentation.
• Present your PowerPoint presentation to the rest of the class and try to convince them that your country is the best country to visit.
• Vote on the country that sounds the best to you, based on the research and presentations from each group.

Process:

RESEARCH YOUR COUNTRY

Since a trip to Europe is on the line here, your group will research, and try to persuade the rest of the class that your country is the best place to visit. To do this, you need to split into different "areas of expertise."

• One person in your group will research major historical events that are related specifically to your country. You are trying to really wow the rest of the class with how important your country is, so go for the good stuff.

• A second person in your group will research the food and culinary traits of your country. Find some unique things that they are known to eat (even if it sounds strange to you) as well as some really tasty items (do they specialize in chocolate, or pasta, or...?)

• A third person in your group will need to examine the economic and political system of your country. Is it very similar to our own? Is it democratic, communist, socialist, capitalist, etc.?

• The fourth person in your group can look for major tourist locations for that country. While you are there, it can't be all about history and culture, right? You gotta have some fun, too!!

• If you have a fifth person in your group (and only if you have a fifth person), they will need to examine the language spoken in this country as well as the leisure activities that they regularly do in their different regions.

CREATE A POWERPOINT

Your group will be responsible for constructing a PowerPoint presentation that you will show and discuss with the rest of the class. This PowerPoint should be well thought-out and put the best points forward for the country you researched. Each person will be required to create at least one slide for the presentation (at least the slide for their own topic area that they researched). Each person is required to participate in the presentation. As such, the PowerPoint needs to contain the following items:

• SLIDE 1 - INTRODUCTION SLIDE: This must contain

  • the name of your assigned country for a title

  • the names of each person in your group as the subtitle

  • you may decorate this slide as you please.

• SLIDE 2 - HISTORICAL EVENTS: You must include

  • at least four major historical events that took place in your country (Remember, we are going for the "WOW"factor here.)

  • You must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide

• SLIDE 3 - FOOD: You need to include

  • no less than four major points related to food eaten in your assigned country (You will want to try to include some things that might sound odd to your fellow classmates, as well as some tasty treats.)

  • you must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide

• SLIDE 4 - ECONOMICS AND POLITICS: You should include

  • at least four major points related to the economic and political system that are found in your country

  • you will want to explain how it is similar to the United States as well as how it is different

  • you must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide.

• SLIDE 5 - TOURIST HOT SPOTS: You need

  • to point out at least four major points of interest, selecting places that most tourists would want to hit while visiting your country

  • you must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide

• SLIDE 6 - SIMILARITIES: Here, your group needs to

  • get together and decide what things in the country you researched are similar to the United States

  • try to include one item from each of the topic areas

  • you must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide

• SLIDE 7 - DIFFERENCES: Make note of

  • interesting items that are different in your research country from the United States

  • try to include at least one item from each of the topic areas

  • you must include at least one graphic image

  • do not forget to include a title for the slide

• SLIDE 8 - CONCLUSION:

  • This is the slide where you want to summarize your thoughts.

  • It might make the perfect spot to put in that final pitch to persuade the class to select your country as the place to visit.

  • You can decide what you want to include here and how to construct the page, but you must include a graphic image.

Resources:

Evaluation:

You and your group will be graded on the following elements. You will also use this for self-assessment:

Conclusion:

Now that you have a better understanding of a few of the different cultures and countries located in Europe, you also have a better understanding of how the history and culture of Europe has impacted, and is impacted by, the United States. You can also compare similarities and differences between the culture and history of these countries compared to the United States.

 This assignment has worked to sharpen your research skills, improved your technology skills, and increased your ability to launch a persuasive argument while working with others on a group project. To extend your learning or interaction with European history and culture you may want to visit this region through an educational exchange program such as Lions International Youth Exchange,  People to People, or EF Explore America. Or, you may want to visit the following websites: The History Channel, National Geographic, PBS, Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia.