Let's+Take+a+Trip+WebQuest

= A WebQuest for 8th Grade Language Arts = Unit Plan "Let's Take a Trip" Designed by Sheri Henningsen  http://mvsd.mtnview.k12.ca.us/groups/shenningsen/

** Essential questions: **
Do you need a vacation? Where can you travel on a specific budget?

** Invitation: **
This lesson unit requires students to plan a trip on a specific budget. Students, working in pairs, will be responsible for researching airfare, rental car, accommodations, food, and entertainment.
 * Let’s Take a Trip! **

** Situations: **
This lesson will take place in the classroom and computer lab. The entire lesson will take roughly three weeks (or 15 days) from start to finish. Timeline: Day 1 – select partners and choose budget cards Day 2 – trip planning page brainstorming (partner work) Day 3 – (computer lab) research websites (partner work) Day 4 – (computer lab) finalize research (partner work) Day 5 – fictional narrative planning page (individual work) Day 6 – write fictional narrative rough draft (individual work) Day 7 – peer edit rough draft (partner work) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Day 8 – (computer lab) type final draft of fictional narrative <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Day 9 – (computer lab) finalize final draft and print <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Day 10 – (computer lab) begin PowerPoint project (partners) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Day 11 – (computer lab) finalize PowerPoint projects <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Days 12 to 15 – classroom presentation of PowerPoint projects.

** Tasks: **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Students will randomly choose cards with different budget amounts, to decide the budget amount for each pair (ranging from $1,000 to $4,000).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The goal will be to ultimately plan the best trip with the money they have allotted. This “real world” skill will help students to recognize the level of research needed to realistically plan a vacation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">There is no specific destination, so creativity is essential in planning.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Students will write a five paragraph fictional narrative (using Microsoft Word) describing what they did on their trip.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Enrichment: Pairs will present a two-minute PowerPoint presentation to the class, outlining the trip. The PowerPoint presentation must include a minimum of 10 slides, transitions, clip art, relevant photos, and one sound clip.

** Interactions: **

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students will be responsible for working with one or more partners when planning and researching their trip (ideally they will work in pairs, but there may be some triads. In the event of a group of three, students may add $500.00 to the overall budget). They will also work in pairs when creating and presenting their PowerPoint presentations.
 * Students will work individually when working on the fictional narrative paper, but will peer edit prior to typing the final version.
 * Teacher will facilitate partner selections, assist with computer lab directions, be available for assistance/input on all parts of lesson.

** Standards: **
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The California Language Arts Content Standards: Grade 8

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1.0. Writing Strategies: Students write clear, coherent, and focused <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">essays. Writing exhibits awareness of audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, bodies of supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students successfully use the stages of the writing process, as needed.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Revising and Evaluating Writing: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1.6. Revise writing for word choice, appropriate organization, consistent point of view, and transitions among paragraphs, passages, and ideas.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Research and Technology: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1.4. Plan and conduct multiple-step information searches using computer networks and modem-delivered services.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1.5. Achieve effective balance between researched information and original ideas.

** Assessment: **
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Students will be assessed using project rubrics in addition to teacher observation. The class will assess the PowerPoint presentations and each student will be responsible for a peer review of the fictional narrative rough drafts.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Collaborative work rubric: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Fictional Narrative rubric: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">PowerPoint rubric: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

** Tools: **
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Planning page: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Budget cards: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Fictional narrative: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Narrative peer review:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Equipment needed: **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Internet connection
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Computer lab
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Microsoft Office (specifically Word and PowerPoint)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Fictional narrative outline
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Budget planning sheet
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Trip budget cards
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Projector and laptop


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Useful websites: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Orbitz [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Travelocity [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Expedia [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Trip Advisor [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Yahoo Trip Planner [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Kayak []
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Travel Websites **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">American Airlines [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Southwest Airlines [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">US Airways []
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Air Travel Websites: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Hotels []

** Student samples: **
Student example of technology reflecting the Directed Approach <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Students will use an outline and teacher guidance to write a 5 paragraph fictional narrative about their "virtual vacation." Student example of technology using the Inquiry-Based Approach <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Students will be given the opportunity to guide themselves through the research links and make decisions about their "virtual vacation."