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Overview:
In this lesson, students will research and learn about the culture, physical geography, and history of select countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Acting as "tour operators," small groups of students will create an imaginary tour group itinerary that highlights interesting and important destinations as well as characteristics of their selected countries.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, history (world), social studies
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 5: "That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity"
Time:
Three to five hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
Objectives:
Students will
- research cultural, geographic, and historical information about select countries;
- create an imaginary travel plan to visit those countries;
- create a tour guide brochure to highlight areas of their imaginary trip; and
- identify each of the countries of Asia, South America, or Africa.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Explain to students that they will be "tour operators" for the next several classes. Explain that they will be divided into groups, each of which will be assigned one of three continents. Students in each group will have to develop a three-week tour of that continent. They will have to make sure that their tour follows particular rules, and to do so, they must first learn about the geography, culture, and history of each country on their assigned continent.
Development:
Divide students into groups of three. Assign each group one of the following continents to study:
- Africa
- Asia
- South America
Explain that they will become "tour operators" and they need to develop a three-week tour itinerary (or plan) for their customers. Explain that their ultimate product will be a brochure that describes the tour in detail, and that they will share it with the class.
Have students use the GeoExplorer to learn basic information about several countries in their assigned continent. As they work, have them take notes on aspects of each country they would like to have represented in their tour.
After students have finished their review of their continent, have them explore the following websites to learn more about the countries they are researching:
National Geographic Traveler Magazine: Africa Travel Planner
Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Country Watch
Ask students to compare and contrast several of the countries. Ask them to consider:
- What do these countries have in common?
- How are they different?
- What impact does the geography of the land have on regional differences? For example, does a range of mountains separate two countries that are very different? Does an ocean separate two countries that are very different? Are countries that are separated by a political border less different that those which are separated by a geographical feature such as a river?
Have students plan their tour by filling out the details on their Tour Operator Planning Guide (PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader required). Remind them that there are rules for their tour, which are listed below:
- You must visit at least three countries.
- You must use a variety of transportation methods (plane, bus, car, train, etc.).
- You must visit cultural landmarks, geographic landmarks, and historical landmarks during the trip.
- The places your tour group visits must be safe and politically stable.
- Your three countries must have unique characteristics and represent the diversity of that region.
Closing:
Have students develop a brochure of their three-week tour with a complete itinerary using the Print Press. Tell students to choose either "Brochure" or "Booklet" and to use the Tour Operator Planning Guide (PDF, Adobe Acrobat Reader required) as a guide. Have them print out their final brochures when they are finished.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students present their tour brochures in small groups, explaining how their tour will provide customers will an accurate representation of the wealth and breadth of the diversity of the continent. Understanding will be demonstrated in the following:
- diversity in country selections;
- accurate selection of historical, cultural, and geographic landmarks; and
- ability to convey how each of the countries is different from the other countries on their tour.
Extending the Lesson:
- Have students complete the GeoSpy country identification game for Africa, Asia, or South America. If time allows, have students play until they have a perfect score.
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