Elizabeth Gurney
Introduction Task Sources Process Guidance Conclusion
Karibuini! That is Swahili for “Welcome!” Get ready, for you are about to set off for the adventure of your life … a SAFARI in Kenya! The safari you will participate in is designed for you to become more familiar with the culture of Kenya, in particular its people, places, climate, art, and daily life. On your journey you are responsible for observing and collecting facts about the country. You should record your findings on the “Safari Fact Sheet” provided. Have a peaceful journey. And, of course, watch out for lions! (Go directly to the process to begin your safari.)
This web quest assignment is designed to address the 5th grade content standard 1 of social studies.
Content Standard: 1.0
Culture encompasses similarities and differences among people including their beliefs, knowledge, changes, values, and traditions. Students will explore these elements of society to develop an appreciation and respect for the variety of human cultures.
Learning Expectations:
1.01 Understand the diversity of human cultures.
1.02 Discuss cultures and human patterns of places and regions of the world.
1.03 Recognize the contributions of individuals and people of various ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic groups to the development of civilizations.
The purpose of this activity is to introduce and familiarize students with information concerning the geography and culture of Kenya. The students will obtain information by completing the WebQuest and using the links provided to gather information for the “Safari Fact Sheet.”
The following are websites used to obtain information for the WebQuest Safari Kenya:
www.christoph-grandt.com/kenya_front.html
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/kenya/
You have been hired by Sun Rise Safari Tours to write their travel brochure for the tours they will provide in Kenya. They are flying you to Kenya to experience the culture, to take notes of important information, and to take pictures that will be presented in the brochure. You are expected to have an informative, organized, and colorful brochure printed out and prepared for them to look over. Get started by going to the link to connect you to your “Safari Fact Sheet.” Use this information as helpful information to include in you finished published product. After you have obtained your “Safari Fact Sheet,” take off for you very own adventure by visiting each stop in your safari. Get on your way by pressing on the GO link. When you have returned from your trip, begin to organize your collected information into an organized and colorful brochure. Bon voyage!
1,2,3 .... GO !
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to a culture and geography outside of their own experience in Tennessee. The goal is for them to experience, understand, and compare their culture with the culture of a Kenyan. The introduction of this cultural experience will be in a form of a WebQuest. So a second underlying purpose of this activity is for students to obtain skills in using the computer in searching and gathering information from the World Wide Web. Finally, students will be asked to participate in problem solving by synthesizing information they have gathered into a presentation.
Preceding and Ensuing Events
Before students participate in this activity, students will participate in a review and brainstorm session discussing aspects of culture. The discussion will revolve around their personal experience of culture in their community, and then build off their experience to start thinking of other cultures. The teacher will also go through a presentation to demonstrate how to use the computer and search the World Wide Web. Following participation in the WebQuest, the students will present their finished published travel brochure to the class. The presentations will lead into the next lesson. The next lesson will be a discussion looking at cultural differences, in particular how these differences are not wrong. This will lead into a unit on citizenship.
Improving Learning
This lesson and its activities touch many fields of learning. First, the lesson begins by tapping into the reserves of a student’s own knowledge and experience and helps them to apply this new knowledge. Second, the language arts are addressed. The students must write responses to questions, but then synthesize this information into a presentation. Third, students are encouraged to tap into their creative reserves when they must design a brochure. Finally, students are challenged to engage technology by working on the computer to complete the WebQuest as well as create a publication. This activity not only addresses issues of social studies but art, language arts, and computer technology and skills.
Improving the Activity
This activity is a wonderful way to integrate many learning disciplines including the language arts, art, and technology skills. This activity could be improved by including a collaborative or cooperative group work to complete the assignment. This would foster and improve cooperation and problem-solving skills. It would also be helpful to have more adult help in the classroom. A foreseeable problem would be questions and problems regarding the students using the computer. More adult help would allow students’ questions to be addressed and answered quickly. Finally, this activity could be improved by providing students with a choice of countries to visit, not just limiting the cultural experience to Kenya.
In this activity, you were able to research information concerning the people, culture, and geography of Kenya. And, in doing so, you even created and published a travel brochure ! I hope this safari has been exciting for you and has even given you a desire to travel and experience first-hand for yourself the country of Kenya, or another country of your choice. If you are interested in traveling, here is a web site for you to visit to learn more about the country of Kenya or another country: http:/www.lonelyplanet.com
I hope you have safe travels and adventures in the future!
Rubric for Travel Guide
|
|
Fair (0-2 points) |
Good (3-4 points) |
Excellent (5 points) |
|
Appearance |
Not complete. Or completed brochure, did not use the computer to generate brochure. Needs to be redone. |
Completed computer generated brochure. No use of graphics. Good use of color and fonts |
Completed and computer generated brochure. Good use of graphics, color and fonts |
|
Grammar/Spelling |
Many spelling and grammar errors. Needs to be corrected. |
Some spelling and grammar errors. |
Proper spelling and use of grammar. |
|
Use of Information |
Looks like student did not gather information on the WebQuest or use this information. Parts are missing. Needs to be redone. Given information is not organized. |
Some missing critical information. Good organization of information. |
All information is included. Good organization of information. |
|
Oral presentation |
Poor eye contact. Poor use of vocabulary. Poor inflection. |
Some eye contact. Misuse of some vocabulary. Good inflection. |
Good eye contact. Good use of vocabulary. Good inflection. |
Click on the picture to get your Safari Fact Sheet.
Stop 1: GEOGRAPHY
Click on the map of Kenya, and discover more about the country's geography.
Stop 2: CLIMATE
Click on the picture of the Kenyan sunset to discover more about the country's weather.
Next click on the weather cloud to discover the climate today at this very moment in Nairobi, Kenya.
Record the current time and temperature in Nairobi.
Stop 3: CULTURE
Click on the picture below, labeled Kenyan People, to discover more about the population, religion, and languages of Kenya.
Stop 4: LEARNING SWAHILI
Click on the group of school children from Kenya to learn how to speak their language.
STOP 5: The KENYAN FLAG
Every nation has its own flag to symbolize its history and culture. Click on the Kenyan flag to discover the symbolism of its colors and design.
STOP 6: TRAVEL INFORMATION
In order to travel to Kenya, there is certain information a tourist must have. This information may include documents needed to travel, airport information, or money exchange information. Click on the airplane to note this information.
Be sure to look under the useful facts for more information.
STOP 7: TRANSPORTATION IN KENYA
Every city and country has a transportation system. Click on this link to discover a unique system of transportation which Kenyans use to get around town.
STOP 8: THE BIG 5 !
Find out what the BIG 5 is by clicking on the picture of the question mark!
USE WHILE VISITING THIS SITE!
STOP 9: POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IN KENYA
Visit this site to discover popular places for tourist to visit in Kenya. Pick three places that are of interest to you and include at least three sentences to describe the location. Include in your description where it is, what you would see there, and why you would visit this place.
Skyline of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya !
STOP 10: YOUR PICK OF PICTURES OF KENYA
Every travel brochure needs beautiful and colorful pictures of the place it is describing and its people. Go to this site and download at least four pictures of your choosing to use in your brochure!
FINAL STOP !
Congratulations, you have come to the end of your safari! Sorry, but it is time to go home and begin your work on creating and publishing your travel guide for Sun Rise Tours.
Click here for the details of your project.
STOP 1: Geography
1. How many square kilometers is Kenya?
2. What is the highest peak in Kenya?
3. What ocean is on Kenya's east coast?
4. What lake is located on Kenya's "west coast?"
STOP 2: Climate
1. What type of climate is Kenya, typically?
2. What is the average temperature?
3. When is the hottest time of year?
STOP 3: Culture
1. What is the population of Kenya?
2. What is the largest tribe in Kenya?
3. What is the official language of Kenya?
4. What is the unofficial language of Kenya?
STOP 4: Learning Swahili
1. How do you say "Hello" in Swahili?
2. List at least 10 helpful Swahili words or phrases and their English definition.
STOP 5: The Kenyan Flag
1. What do each color on the Kenyan flag represent?
2. What does the shield on the Kenyan flag represent?
STOP 6: Travel Information
1. What special documents do you need to visit Kenya?
2. Do you need to be careful of drinking tap water in Kenya?
3. Do you need to get any special vaccinations to visit Kenya? If so, describe.
4. What is Kenya's currency?
5. What is the exchange rate for the dollar?
STOP 7: Transportation in Kenya
1. What does the Swahili word "matatu" mean in English?
2. Describe who rides the matatu, how much it costs, and what the vehicle looks like.
STOP 8: The Big 5 !
1. List and describe what each of the Big 5 are.
STOP 9: Popular Attractions in Kenya
Pick three places to visit in Kenya. For each place, write at least three sentences to describe it.
STOP 10: Pictures
Pick at least four pictures from Kenya you would like to include in your travel brochure.
Now that you have your fact sheet take off for your very own safari to Kenya.
Just click on the elephant link!
Be sure that you visit all 10 stops!
Your travel brochure must be created on the computer.
It may be a two- or three-panel pamphlet.
Information from each stop you visited must be organized and included in your brochure.
You must include at least three pictures in your brochure.
You must include a title for your brochure.
You must include the name of the travel agency - Sun Rise Tours, in your brochure.
Be creative and have fun !
