Looking for a practical project for students? Join me as we plan a virtual roadtrip!

I started by getting online and ordering free brochures from areas all over the United States.  They have trickled in over the winter holidays, but I hope more arrive as we get into January.

I will do the ELA parts of these lessons.  My math partner will set up math questions, such as travel budget, cost per day, distance between attractions, gas mileage, etc.

Another teacher offers bright ideas:
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/Create Bochure Lesson.html
 

My writing prompts for this unit will include:

1) Give detailed instructions for getting from your house to the grocery store nearest you.

2) In one of the brochures, read the map and tell a partner how to get to the attractions.  Use terminology such as north, south, east, and west.

3) Make a brochure of our hometown attracting visitors.  Use the brochures as models.  Note that they all include photos, slogans, enthusiastic descriptions, and maps.

4) Research an area that interests you.  Find an online map.  Write down the descriptions of places you would like to go.

5) Write up your "journey" in a fictional road trip diary.  Include driving directions.

6) Use Google's world map feature to show travel from one destination to another.

Update:

2/3/06

I began the lessons today.  As I suspected, most of my students (in the senior high, mind you) did not know how to give directions.  I'm going to have to get creative. 

A lot of them don't "get" north, south, east, and west.  To be honest, I struggle with these also--not the concept, but applying to everyday directions.  This will take some effort!


 Next week, we will have a "treasure hunt."  Each class will prepare a map for the following class. I'll hide gummy worms or something. 

The students got maps from Yahoo. They were beginning to "get" planning a road trip.  I had to halt such nonsense as, "I'm going to fly my private jet to New York." Or, "I don't have to worry about food, I'm taking my Mama and she'll pay for everything."  Gosh, I worry about these students! 

I will also encourage everyone to bring in family photos of past trips.  This is good language practive and extension, especially for my ESL kids.