Project Whistlestop: Missouri Vacation Learning Unit

Title: Missouri Vacation Planning

Teacher: Mrs. Ruth Hays

School: William Bryant Elementary

Grade Focus: Fourth Grade, Missouri Studies

Time Frame: One Week

Supporting Material: Map of Missouri

Contents:

 

1. Unit Introduction
2. Standards
3. Goals
4. Activities
5. Resources
6. Assessment
7. Conclusion
   

 

Unit Introduction:

As a culminating activity in my classroom's study of Missouri, we plan a vacation in our state. This project based activity involves cooperative learning, map reading, mathematical calculations, the economic principles of scarcity and opportunity cost, and the use of technology to gain information and make calculations.

Missouri Standards:

• Social Studies 4, 5, 7
• Mathematics 1, 3
• Communication Arts 1, 6
• Fine Arts 1
  

Goals:

In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of recreational opportunities in our state, analyze information gained through the study of geography of regions, and utilize historical reference points in particular locations, the students will plan a fictitious vacation to a region of Missouri

• By working collaboratively to research an assigned area using The Missouri Official Travel Guide, Missouri State Highway Map, pamphlets, brochures, and the Internet
• By utilizing map skills to read, locate, and determine highways and distances
• By using Math skills to figure, plan, and make decisions based on a predetermined budget and travel constraints
• By using the Economic principles of opportunity cost, scarcity, and decision making, and
• By learning to use a computer spreadsheet to keep a running tally of costs.

• Activities / Procedures:

  1. Students will be paired to examine one of ten vacation regions in our state (asdetermined by the Missouri Official Travel Guide).

  2. The students use map-reading skills in figuring out the roads and distances to reach a chosen "starting city" in their travel region. Mileage distances (based on actual miles) are determined from the Missouri Highway map provided. Mileage is figured to determine the cost to travel to this city from Blue Springs, Missouri.

  3. Once the "starting city" is determined, students are allowed to "explore" the region using the Missouri Official Travel Guide, pamphlets obtained by the teacher from each area, and by using the Internet to contact cities within their region.

  4. Requirements are explained as outlined in the attached sample packet. Students are shown that economic decisions must be made regarding food, lodging, entertainment, and travel. Students are required to stay within their allotted "budget" of $1500.

  5. A record of each day's activities is kept. (See plan attached) The cost of each day's plan is figured. Then a total is determined for the 5-day imaginary journey.

  6. Students are taught to use a spreadsheet on the computer (see attached plan) in order to keep a running tally of each total.

  7. A scrap book/photo album is created using pictures either drawn, cut from pamphlets, or obtained from the Internet.

  8. An oral presentation is made to the class describing their adventure.

  Resources and Technology used:

  The Missouri Official Guide (obtained from: The Missouri Department of Tourism) [one per pair of students]

  Missouri State Highway Maps [one per pair of students]

  Teacher-obtained pamphlets and brochures from each area

  Internet information gained from Chambers of Commerce in the vacation area

  Teacher-created spreadsheet [students use to fill in cost amounts]

  Teacher-created outline page and worksheets

  Assessment:

  Student assessment/reflection of own work

  Accurate Mathematical calculations on the worksheet

  Collaboration efforts with partners based on daily "score" of cooperation

  Production of the photo album/scrap book

  Oral Presentation to classroom persuading others to visit their region

  Conclusion:

  Last year's students enjoyed this activity immensely. They were amazed at the complexity of planning a vacation. They were also overwhelmed by the cost involved in such a venture. Many eyes were opened to the number of economic decisions that must be made to stay within a budget. Several students indicated that they wanted to present this information to their parents to "actually go" on their fictitious vacation just to see if itwould work! They learned that there is a lot to see and do in each region of our state.

  Missouri Vacation Planning	_________________________________________________________________________
  Score	_________________________________________________________________________
  Self-Score	_________________________________________________________________________

  During my work with the Missouri Vacation Planning Unit, I have learned:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  My favorite part of this project was:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  My least favorite part of the project was:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  On a scale of 10 (best) to 1 (worst), I would rank my behavior during this project as:

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  because:

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Missouri Vacation Plan Oral Presentation Score sheet

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Score of 5	Score of 4	Score of 3	Score of 2	Score of 1
  Excellent Volume	Good Volume	Adequate Volume	Fair Volume	Poor Volume
  Excellent Persuasion Techniques	Good Persusasion Ideas	Some Persuasion Used	Few Persuasives	No Persuasion used
  Excellent Fact/Opinion Mix	Good Fact/Opinion Mix	Some Opinions and Facts	Few Facts/Opinions	No Fact/Opinion statements
  Excellent Visuals Used		Some visuals used		No visuals

   

  Score of 5	Score of 4	Score of 3	Score of 2	Score of 1
  Excellent Volume	Good Volume	Adequate Volume	Fair Volume	Poor Volume
  Excellent Persuasion Techniques	Good Persusasion Ideas	Some Persuasion Used	Few Persuasives	No Persuasion used
  Excellent Fact/Opinion Mix	Good Fact/Opinion Mix	Some Opinions and Facts	Few Facts/Opinions	No Fact/Opinion statements
  Excellent Visuals Used		Some visuals used		No visuals

   

  Missouri Vacation Planning

  You are going to plan a vacation! You and a friend will be traveling to a region in our state of Missouri. A road map and the Missouri Official Travel Guide will be used to plan your summer vacation. (You may choose your dates based on the events you wish to enjoy.) There are certain requirements you will have for your journey. You will be gone a total of 5 days and 4 nights. Meals, lodging, travel, and entertainment will need to be planned, as will the cost of these items.Record your choices in the blanks below. Then figure the total cost per day. Add each day's totals to determine the Grand Total spent. You have $1500 to spend. You cannot spend more than this amount. If you spend less, you may record the amount that you will be able to spend on souvenirs on the appropriate line at the end of this project. Good luck, and HAVE FUN!

  Food: Spend no less than $20 per day per person (this totals $40 for the two of you.) You may divide this any way that you want for each day. This includes breakfast,lunch, dinner, and any snacks that you eat during the day/night.

  Lodging:

•  Hotel: Choose your location (name and place). Record the price (If there is a range of prices, given, record the highest price.
• Camping: You may camp for not more than 2 of the four nights you are gone. Figure an average of $20 per camp site per night.
• Bed & Breakfast: Choose the location (name and place) Record the price. (Record the higher price of the range.) You may take $10 off the price if you consider this to be your breakfast place and cost the next morning.

• Entertainment: Plan to attend at least one event/location per day. You must attend at least 3 events/locations during your 5 day stay.
  

  Travel: You may travel to different cities in your region or you may stay in the same city. Figure your mileage by adding the distances between cities as found on a map. Then multiply the number of miles times $0.20 per mile to find the cost of moving around.

  Region: ________________________________________________________________________________________

  City in the region from which you will begin:_________________________________________________________________________

  Roads/highways traveled to arrive at this city from Blue Springs:_______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Distance traveled from Blue Springs to arrive at this city:__________________________________________________________________________

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Supplies to pack for your trip: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

  ___________________________________
  
  

  Day 1 (date) ___________________	Cost
  Breakfast ______________________	__________
  (destination)__________________________________	__________
  Lunch ______________________	__________
  (destination)__________________________________	__________
  Dinner ______________________	__________
  (destination)__________________________________	__________
  Lodging at ______________________	__________
  Mileage: ________ miles * 0.20 per miles	__________
  TOTAL COST for today:	__________

   

 

 

 

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