Introduction
Create a Country - Imagination and Improvisation Project is a project that will challenge you to create a fictional country that you will present to the class to be recognized as an official country with the United Nations (your classmates). This project will give you the opportunity to work with your peers and create and improvise as citizens from your respective "countries." You will try to create the "perfect" country by researching countries and cultures and creating your own unique culture. This project will culminate in a performance/presentation of your country to the class.
Task
You will create a powerpoint presenation along with a 10 minute oral presentation on a country that your group creates. The country will be one that defines your ideal culture and society. You will explore cultures and countries from around the world and discover what you like about other societies. The presentation will be about the country that your create and the unique culture that you design.
Process
Step One
You will be placed in groups of five for this project. Every person will be assigned a task.
Director - The person who is directing will be responsible for the layout of your presentation. They will be able to chart out the movement and presentation that you give of your dances. speeches and activities.
Artist - The person who will create your money, your flag and all items that are necessary for the art work.
Props - The person who will create or coordinate items for the project. This includes costumes and articles that demonstrate your country.
Team Leader - This person keeps everyone on task. If someone is absent, this person fulfills the duties of the person missing. This person coordinates how the presentation will be see by the class and the logistics of the presentation.
Spokesperson - The spokesperson will be the liason between the group and the teacher. This person will know what everyone is doing in the group and will be a main speaker in the group presentation.
Step Two
After your team is created you will name your country and create your country by visiting sites that will give you the opportunity to explore other cultures and countries to determine what you want your own country to look like. You will utilize each one of the sources and find a minimum of 4 items from each site that will help you build your presentation.
Sites to Explore
1. Did-You-Knows Website (www.did-you-knows.com/countries.php) - this site will provide you with information about countries from around the world. There are a lot of unique facts that could help you to determine what your culture will be like.
2. Explore and More - Cultures for Kids (www.exploreandmore.org) - this site gives your facts and interesting information about countries in the world. You may find items of interest here for your country.
3. LiveScience - (www.livescience.com/28954/american-culture.html) - this site will give you information about cultures in the United States and how they relate to other cultures around the world. This site will give you information that will help you create your slide show.
4. Around the World - Time - (www.timeforkids.com/around-the-world) - this site will give you another opportunity to learn more about the countries in our world. You will be able to take some items from this to develop your own culture and identity.
5. Every Culture site - (www.everyculture.com/wc/) - this site will provide information about cultures found around the world and the reasons it is unique. The ideas and discoveries you find on this site will help you develop your own unique culture for your country.
6. Smithsonian site - (www.smithsonian.com/arts-culture) - this site provides articles on what make a culture unique and different and will help you to further develop your presenation.
Step Three
Take the information you gather to create a slide show presenation and an oral presentation on your country. The country presenation can be about anything you feel is necessary for the class to know about your country.
For example - National Song, National Dance, National Bird, National Mammal, what kinds of foods do you eat there, when do people get married in the country, do you go to school in your country, what holidays are celebrated there, what type of government do you have in place, where do you live, these along with what you find relevant about your country should be presented in your slide show and presentation.
Evaluation
The project will be evaluated in the following ways:
1. The project assignment - did you work well in your group and did you fulfill your duties as you were assigned. (10 points)
2. The finished product - did the project use the sources and did you create a unique environment and culture to share with the class. (25 points)
3. The presentation - did the project last the appropriate time, did you speak clearly and create a presentation that was entertaining and informative. (25 points)
4. The performance - did you portray characters that were from your country, were you believable (20 points)
5. Reflection - a written two page reflection about your country project group and the presentation, how do you think it went and what did you learn about working with groups and developing cultures. (20 points)
This project is worth 100 points and will be a group and an individual grade.
Conclusion
The goal of this webquest is to help you understand cultures and societies around the world by taking ideas and beliefs from numerous sources and creating your own country. You learn about other cultures and countries in our world to develop your own idealistic society. This webquest helps you to understand that there are great ideas and views everywhere in our world and we as citizens in this global society should keep our minds open to the world around us.
Credits
Credits
1. Did You Knows Website. Retrieved from URL - www.did-you-knows.com/countries/php.
2. Explore and More - Cultures for Kids Website. Retrieved from URL - www.exploreandmore.org.
3. LiveScience Website. Retrieved from URL - www.livescience.com/28594/american-culture.html.
4. Around the World - Time Website. Retrieved from URL - www.timeforkids.com/around-the-world.
5. Every Culture Website. Retrieved from URL - www.everyculture.com/wc/.
6. Smithsonian Website. Retrieved from URL - www.smithsonian.com/arts-culture.
Teacher Page
Introduction
The concepts that are used in the webquest that are culturally responsive are the following:
1. The teacher is a facilitator. This project is about the students and it is created so that the students can be led to learn more about other cultures around them.
2. The lesson is student centered and student led. Each student is given tasks in their respective groups. They are given the freedom to develop their own project and to create a unique and interesting country.
3. Exploring the world around them, brings new perspectives. This lesson is built around the student researching other countries, beliefs and cultures that are not like their own and pulling what they think are the best qualities to create a better society.
4. Developing interpersonal communication skills. This project allows the students to present their countries and show their interpersonal communication skills.
5. Cooperative learning. The groups have accountability and the ability to work in various ways with each other; from research to presenting to creating a performance.
Learners
The learners for this project are students from 9th-12th grades who are taking Beginner Theatre Arts. The students are comprised of ELL, ESL, AIG, and Honors students. The students come from various backgrounds.
Standards
B.C.1 Use movement, voice and writing to communicate feelings.
B.C.2 Use performance to communicate feelings and ideas.
B.CU.1.2 Exemplify history, culture, geography from a global perspective through the creation of theatrical works.
Process
1. Divide the class into groups of five and give them tasks.
2. Discuss the project.
3. Allow the students to work independently with their groups in order to create their project/presentation.
4. Give the students the opportunity to present.
5. Allow the studetns to reflect on their work and submit a paper about this activity to you.
Resources
1. Did-you-knows Website. Retrieved from URL - www.did-you-knows/countires/php.
2. Explore and More Cultures for Kids Website. Retrieved from URL - www.exploreandmore.org.
3. LiveScience Website. Retrieved from URL - www.livescience.com/28594/american-culture.html
4. Around the World - Time Website. Retrieved from URL - www.timeforkids/around-the-world.
5. Every Culture Website. Retrieved from URL - www.everyculture.com/wc/.
6. Smithsonian Website. Retrieved from URL - www.smithsonian.com/arts-culture.