Tour America

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Tour America
Introduction Task Procedure Resources
Evaluation Conclusion
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Tour America
Introduction

• The United States is composed of 50 different
  States. Each state is unique in its own way, but
  also similar to other states at the same time.
  Your job is to work with your group to learn
  about the provided states in your groups region
  and be able to compare these states to each other
  and to the state you live in.

Introduction Task Procedure Resources
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Tasks

• Keep a journal of your travels. Include a
  writing of events, places, and personal thoughts.
  
• Mark your travels on the group map provided (1
  per group).
• Use the group information sheet to record your
  observations in each state.
• Pick one (1) of the following to complete as a
  group
• Write a newspaper article for the Travel section
  (comparing two (2) of the states you visited).
• Write and perform a play of the founding of a
  specific state.
• Create a 3-D map with landforms of states
  visited.

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Procedure

• Pick your group role
• Information recorder (records observations in the
  group travel journal)
• Mapper (keeps track of travels on the group
  map)
• Group leader (keeps the group on task, and helps
  make decisions)
• Driver (drives the groups to the next state and
  helps group explore each state).
• Send your leader to get your region from the
  teacher (New England, South, Midwest,
  Mountians/Plains, and Pacific)
• Write your first journal entry
• What are your expectations for this project?
  What do you hope to learn? What do you think
  will be your favorite state?
• Go to the Resources and begin your travels.
  Dont forget to record your thoughts and
  experiences in your travel journal.
• Next page

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• Procedure

5- Group Discussions Twice throughout this
project you will have the opportunity to discuss
your travels with people in other groups. Within
your discussion group, pick a member to help you
keep your discussion on task. 6- Final project
Once you have completed your travels, you will
need to pick a final project to do as a group.
Click on the options to find out more.
Newspaper article Play performance 3-D map
Introduction Task Procedure Resources
Evaluation Conclusion
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Resources
For any region or state www.weather.com www.50st
ates.com www.americaslibrary.com

• New England
• South
• Midwest
• Mountains and Plains
• Pacific and Southwest

Travel Journal Map Recording Information
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Evaluation

• You will be graded on the following
• Completion of your information sheets and map
• Completion of your travel journal
• Participation in group discussions
• Your contribution to the group (did you fulfill
  your group role)
• Quality of your final project
• Creativeness of your final project
• If you get your work in on time

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Conclusion

• Congratulations travelers! You have had a
  successful journey! Thank you for all your hard
  work on your projects they are looking superb.
  Now that you know where to go to get information
  on different states, I hope you continue travel
  to other states and see what you can learn.

Introduction Task Procedure Resources
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Newspaper Article

• As a group chose two states you visited.
• Write a newspaper article comparing and
  contrasting the two states. Look for
  similarities, differences in various areas that
  you looked at.
• Dont forget to proof read and peer edit.
• Make sure every person in the group writes at
  least one paragraph.
• Be creative and use your imagination!

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Play Performance

• Using the information you have collected, write
  and perform a play about
• Your travels, the road trip, include at least 5
  states and some important information about them.
  Be creative. Feel free to run your ideas by the
  teacher.
• The founding of a specific state. You will need
  to gather a little more information (see the
  teacher). Include important dates, people, and
  events.
• The play should be about 10 minutes long and
  everyone in the group needs to have a speaking
  part.
• Please hand in a written form to the teacher
  before you present to the class.
• Use your imagination and creative juices!

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3-D Map

• Using the information you collected you have two
  options for this project.
• A- Create a 3-Dimentional map of the entire
  region (mountains, major rivers, forest, desert,
  special landmarks- Yellowstone National Park for
  example, state borders, and state capitols).
• B- Create a 3dimentional map of only one state
  within your region. This option would include
  more details (major cities, more rivers, forest,
  desert, special features/landmarks, perhaps a
  special town that a president was born in, etc).
  
• Materials You may use whatever materials you can
  think of. You have a limit of 8.00 of supplies.
  See teacher for further information. (Some
  possible materials students could use include
  paper mauche, play dough, clay, egg cartons,
  etc).

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South
Pre-travel video- view BEFORE you start your
journey.
Alabama Mississippi Arkansas Louisiana Tennessee

• Virginia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Florida

For any state www.weather.com www.50states.com
www.americaslibrary.com Books in the classroom
or library
Travel Journal Map Recording Information
Introduction Task Procedure Resources
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Map of USA
Example of a map students will be able to record
their travels on.
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Discussion

• Students will meet twice (with 2 different
  groups) to discuss the states they have
  encountered, and learn about other regions. Each
  group will be given some questions to aid
  discussion.
• Questions
• Tell 5 things you have learned
• Which state would you like to visit? Why?
• Which state would you not like to visit? Why?
• Explain what people are like in one of your
  states?
• Have you found any states to be similar or
  different to the one you live in? Explain.

Introduction Task Procedure Resources
Evaluation Conclusion
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Collecting Information

• State
• Date founded
• Capitol
• State nickname
• State Population
• Ethnicity of the population
• Climate
• Bordering states/bodies of water
• Attractions (entertainment)
• Highest and lowest elevation points
• Famous people from the state
• The state slogan
• Main agriculture produced
• Economy- where do people work?
• On your map, draw some major landforms. (rivers,
  mountains, etc)
• Print a picture of the state flag (to keep with
  your map).
• Explain one current issue facing the state

Introduction Task Procedure Resources
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Journal Prompts

• What are your expectations for this project?
  What do you hope to learn? What do you think
  will be your favorite state?
• What states have you been to so far? What have
  you learned? Did anything stand out to you as
  being different, or interesting?
• Following your first group discussion, what stood
  out about the other states they traveled to? Did
  you see any big differences or similarities with
  the states you have seen? Also please tell me
  whether you liked the discussion time or not?
  Was it helpful to you?
• Now that you have completed your travels, what
  state was your favorite? Why? Did you find any
  states you would want to visit but not live in?
  Were there any states you now want to know more
  about?

South Region
Introduction Task Procedure Resources
Evaluation Conclusion
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Virginia

• http//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51000.html
  
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/virgin
  ia/
• http//www.wvec.com/news/

North Carolina

• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/northc
  arolina/
• http//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37000.html
  
• http//www.ncnn.com/

South Carolina

• http//www.sciway.net/facts/ (make sure you
  scroll all the way down.
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/sout
  hcarolina/index.shtml
• http//www.wspa.com/

Georgia

• http//www.educationamerica.net/facts/index.phtm
  l?sidga
• http//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13000.ht
  ml
• http//www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/

Florida

• http//www.educationamerica.net/facts/index.phtm
  l?sidfl
• http//ap.emeraldcoast.com/
• http//dhr.dos.state.fl.us/facts/stats/quick/

South Region
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Alabama

• http//www.pe.net/rksnow/allinks.htm
• http//archives.state.al.us/aaa.html
• http//www.al.com/mobileregister/

Mississippi

• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/miss
  issippi/
• http//www.mississippi.gov/about_ms.jsp
• http//www.wlox.com/Global/category.asp?C53083

Louisiana

• http//www.web-holidays.com/mardi/louisiana.asp
  
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/loui
  siana/
• http//www.nola.com/

Arkansas

• http//www.anythingarkansas.com/arkansas/facts.h
  tml
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/arka
  nsas/
• http//www.katv.com/

Tennessee

• http//www.educationamerica.net/facts/index.phtm
  l?sidtn
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/tenn
  essee/
• http//www.wkrn.com/

South Region
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South East video from www.unitedstreaming.org To
start video, click the box.
Return to South Region