Around the World in 4 Days: A Travel Project
Created byAllison Bergeron
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Around the World in 4 Days: A Travel Project

Grade 6MathSocial StudiesGeographyOther4 days
In this project, 6th-grade students plan a 4-day trip to a destination of their choice, integrating math, geography, and cultural understanding. They will calculate travel time, budget expenses, and currency conversions, as well as identify geographical features and cultural attractions. The project culminates in a detailed travel plan that includes a budget, itinerary, and cultural guide, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a real-world context.
Travel PlanningGeographyCultural UnderstandingBudgetingTime ZonesMathematical Application
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we plan an unforgettable trip to a destination of our choice, using math, geography, and cultural understanding to create a realistic and enriching travel experience?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the distances, time zones, and modes of transportation involved in traveling to my chosen destination?
  • What is the weather like at different times of the year in my chosen destination?
  • What are the major cultural attractions and historical sites in my chosen destination?
  • What is the currency exchange rate between my home country and my chosen destination, and how does it affect my budget?
  • What are the different types of maps and how can they be used to plan my route?
  • How can I use mathematical concepts to calculate travel time, budget expenses, and currency conversions?
  • What are the major geographical features of my chosen destination, and how do they impact the local culture and economy?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Calculate travel time, budget expenses, and currency conversions using mathematical concepts.
  • Identify and describe the geographical features of the chosen destination and their impact on the local culture and economy.
  • Identify major cultural attractions, historical sites, and local customs of the chosen destination.
  • Utilize different types of maps to plan the route to the destination.
  • Understand the distances, time zones, and modes of transportation involved in traveling to the chosen destination.
  • Determine the currency exchange rate and its impact on the budget.
  • Investigate the climate and weather patterns of the chosen destination.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Travel Agency Takeover

A local travel agency announces a competition for students to design the 'ultimate' trip to a destination of their choice. The winning plan will be featured in the agency, sparking immediate interest and providing a real-world context for their project.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Destination Discovery: Geography Unveiled

Students will begin their journey by selecting a destination and diving deep into its geographical features. This activity lays the groundwork for understanding how geography impacts culture, economy, and travel planning.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a destination: Select a city, region, or country you wish to explore for your ultimate trip.
2. Geographical Research: Investigate the major geographical features of your chosen destination. Consider mountains, rivers, deserts, coastal regions, and climate zones.
3. Map Analysis: Use maps (physical, political, and climate) to identify and analyze these geographical features.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed geographical profile of the chosen destination, including identified features, map annotations, and a brief summary of how these features influence local life.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: 'Identify and describe the geographical features of the chosen destination and their impact on the local culture and economy.' Utilizes maps as per the learning goal: 'Utilize different types of maps to plan the route to the destination.'
Activity 2

Cultural Compass: Exploring Local Customs

In this activity, students will research the cultural aspects of their chosen destination. Understanding the local customs, historical sites, and attractions will enrich their travel plan and promote cultural sensitivity.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Cultural Immersion: Research the major cultural attractions, historical sites, and local customs of your chosen destination.
2. Attraction Selection: Choose at least three cultural attractions or historical sites you would like to visit during your trip.
3. Customs and Etiquette: Investigate local customs and etiquette to ensure respectful and appropriate behavior during your visit.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA cultural guide for the chosen destination, including descriptions of selected attractions, historical context, and a list of important local customs and etiquette tips.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: 'Identify major cultural attractions, historical sites, and local customs of the chosen destination.'
Activity 3

Mathematical Mapping: Budgeting and Currency Conversion

Students will apply mathematical concepts to create a realistic budget and handle currency conversions for their trip. This activity enhances their understanding of financial planning and mathematical problem-solving in a real-world context.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Budget Planning: Estimate the costs of transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, and souvenirs for your trip.
2. Currency Conversion: Determine the currency exchange rate between your home country and your chosen destination.
3. Expense Calculation: Convert all estimated expenses into your home currency to calculate the total budget for the trip.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed budget plan for the trip, including estimated expenses in both the local currency and the home currency, with clear calculations and justifications.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: 'Calculate travel time, budget expenses, and currency conversions using mathematical concepts.' Also covers: 'Determine the currency exchange rate and its impact on the budget.'
Activity 4

Timeline Trek: Charting Time and Distance

Students will focus on the logistical aspects of their trip, including calculating travel time, understanding time zones, and identifying modes of transportation. This activity enhances their understanding of geography, time management, and logistical planning.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Travel Time Calculation: Determine the distances involved in traveling to your chosen destination and estimate the travel time using different modes of transportation (flights, trains, buses, etc.).
2. Time Zone Analysis: Understand the time zone differences between your home location and your chosen destination.
3. Transportation Planning: Identify and evaluate different modes of transportation available for traveling to and within your chosen destination.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive travel plan including a timeline of the journey, estimated travel times, time zone adjustments, and a detailed list of transportation options with cost comparisons.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: 'Calculate travel time, budget expenses, and currency conversions using mathematical concepts.' Also covers: 'Understand the distances, time zones, and modes of transportation involved in traveling to the chosen destination.'
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Ultimate Travel Plan Evaluation Rubric

Category 1

Geographical Understanding

Assessing student ability to identify and describe the geographical features of the chosen destination and their impacts.
Criterion 1

Geographical Feature Identification

Evaluates students' ability to identify key geographical features of their chosen destination using various maps.

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies all relevant geographical features using various maps, providing detailed and accurate annotations.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies most major geographical features using maps with mostly accurate annotations.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some geographical features using maps, with partial accuracy in annotations.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify geographical features, with minimal or inaccurate map use.

Criterion 2

Impact Analysis on Culture and Economy

Evaluates the students' analysis of the geographical features' influence on local culture and economy.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of how geographical features influence local culture and economy.

Proficient
3 Points

Analyzes geographical features' influence on culture and economy, detailing significant interactions.

Developing
2 Points

Provides basic and partial analysis of geographical impacts on culture and economy.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to link geographical features to cultural or economic factors.

Category 2

Cultural Understanding

Assessment of students' ability to identify cultural attractions, historical sites, and local customs at the chosen destination.
Criterion 1

Cultural Attraction and Site Analysis

Measures students' research skills and understanding of cultural and historical sites.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoroughly analyzes multiple cultural attractions and historical sites, providing comprehensive details of each.

Proficient
3 Points

Analyzes key cultural attractions and historical sites with adequate detail and context.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies cultural attractions, with analysis showing limited depth and context.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides minimal identification and analysis of cultural attractions and sites.

Criterion 2

Understanding of Local Customs

Evaluates students' understanding and description of local customs and etiquette.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a deep understanding and detailed description of local customs and etiquettes, ensuring comprehensive cultural sensitivity.

Proficient
3 Points

Describes important local customs and etiquette adequately, indicating good cultural awareness.

Developing
2 Points

Mentions some local customs with basic descriptions and understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify or describe local customs, showing limited cultural understanding.

Category 3

Mathematical Application

Evaluation of students' ability to apply mathematical concepts in budgeting and currency conversion tasks.
Criterion 1

Budget and Expense Calculation

Assesses accuracy and effectiveness in estimating travel costs and expenses.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a highly accurate and well-justified budget plan, including detailed expense calculations with clear justifications.

Proficient
3 Points

Produces a mostly accurate budget with well-explained expense estimations.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a budget with some inaccuracies, showing gaps in computation and justification.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with budget accuracy and justifications, demonstrating limited understanding of financial math.

Criterion 2

Currency Conversion Skills

Evaluates students' ability to accurately perform currency conversions and impact on the budget.

Exemplary
4 Points

Executes precise currency conversions, properly explaining the impact on the overall budget.

Proficient
3 Points

Performs accurate currency conversions with adequate explanation of effects on budget.

Developing
2 Points

Performs basic currency conversions with some inaccuracies and limited impact explanation.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with correct currency conversions and impact analysis.

Category 4

Logistical Planning

Assessment of students' ability to plan the logistical aspects including travel time and transportation modes.
Criterion 1

Distance and Travel Time Estimation

Evaluates the accuracy in determining travel distances and time across various modes of transportation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides highly precise travel time and distance computations across multiple transport modes, with complete plan detailing.

Proficient
3 Points

Accurately estimates travel time and distances with thorough detailing for most transport modes.

Developing
2 Points

Estimates travel time and distances with partial accuracy, missing some details.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles with accurate estimation of travel parameters, providing limited detail.

Criterion 2

Time Zone and Transportation Analysis

Evaluates the understanding of time zones and effectiveness in planning transport itinerary.

Exemplary
4 Points

Exhibits a comprehensive understanding of time zones and produces an effective transportation plan that integrates multiple options.

Proficient
3 Points

Understands time zones accurately, creating an effective transportation itinerary with minimal errors.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a basic understanding of time zones with a simplistic transportation plan showing moderate errors.

Beginning
1 Points

Exhibits limited understanding of time zones and struggles to plan transportation.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What was the most surprising thing you learned about your chosen destination while planning this trip?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in your ability to plan a real-world trip after completing this project?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which part of the travel planning process did you find the most challenging?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Budgeting and currency conversion
Understanding time zones and travel times
Researching cultural customs and etiquette
Analyzing geographical features and maps
Choosing attractions and activities