Introduction
You and three classmates have just won $8,000 to travel to France! This country has so much to explore from fashion, art, food and architecture.
You and your group will plan your dream 5-day trip with a detailed itinerary and budget. You must present your travel plan to the rest of the class as a Google Slides presentation.
L'aventure vous attendez!
Grade 8 - Core French. Intercultural Understanding.
Task
You will work in groups to plan a five-day trip for three children and one adult chaperone to France.
To keep track of your finances and itinerary, each group member will be assigned one of the four roles. Each member of the group will be responsible for research in their specific area and then bring the results to the group. You will make all final decisions together as a group. These are the four roles:
1. Transportation Expert
2. Accommodation Expert
3. Recreation Expert
4. Language Expert
Your final project will be a Google Slides presentation, which will contain information about your itinerary and budget.
Process
Step 1: I will assign everyone both their group number and role (Transportation Expert / Accommodation Expert / Recreation Expert / Language Expert).
Step 2: Meet with your group and ensure that everyone knows their role.
Step 3: See below for a description of each role.
Step 4: Each group member will research for their role to become an expert. Once you have completed your research, you will come together as a group to make your final decisions and to make sure that you come in on budget.
You will be graded on completing your role and on your collaboration with your group.
Overall Task
With your group, you will plan and create a budget for your trip to France. This plan will be presented to the class as a Google Slides presentation. Your trip must:
- Be 5 days long, including your travel days
- Your budget must include transportation from our school to Paris
- Decide if you will stay in Paris, or explore a few of the cities in France
- You need to have at least one activity planned for each day you are in France
- You need three full meals planned for each day
- You need to include a cost for each piece of your trip (travel, accommodations, recreation)
- You must include the total cost of your trip (under $8,000)
- As you are calculating costs, it must be for one adult and three children!
Role & Tasks of the Transportation Expert
- Determine how you will get from our school to Paris. You will likely need to book a flight. Will it be a round-trip flight? How will you get to the airport?
- How will you get around once you arrive in Paris? Research several different options and be ready to report to the group the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transportation (comfort, time), along with the costs associated.
- Track all transportation costs.
Role & Tasks of the Accommodation Expert
- Find accommodations for your group in France. Consult with other group members: will you be staying in Paris? Would you like to travel between cities? Be ready to present your findings to your group. Did you choose accommodations based on location? Cost? Quality?
- Research dining options in France. Pick different types of restaurants - your group has diverse tastes and you want to find something for everyone! You need to plan for three meals a day. Be ready to present your findings to your group. Did you choose your restaurants based on: location? cuisine? quality? reviews? Consider eating close to the attractions you will be seeing.
- Track all accommodation and food costs.
Role & Tasks of the Recreation Expert
- Research activities for your time in France. You must have one activity planned per day. If you plan on taking your group outside of Paris, consult with your transportation expert for getting between cities.
- Include pictures to add to your presentation. Make France come alive to your classmates!
- Be ready to present to your group why you chose those attractions. Was it: cost? Location? Interest? Fun? Educational value?
- Track all recreation costs.
Role & Tasks of the Language Expert
- Research phrases and words that your group must know to: take transportation, book accommodations, order food, get directions and view your selected attractions. French is the official language of France and it is the first language of 88% of people - English is a minority language.
- Compile your list of words and phrases and be prepared to share them with your group. Why did you think that these were words or phrases that your group needed to know? Why is it important for your group to communicate with people in France during your trip?
- Helpful videos:
Collaboration
- Once each group member has completed their research, you will meet together to make the final decisions regarding transportation, accommodations, food and attractions.
- Make sure that each decision is justified.
Presentation
- Your presentation may be no more than 10 minutes
- Each group member must present the pieces of the itinerary that they researched
- This presentation should be in English and French
- Your presentation should be made using Google Slides. You may speak with your teacher to arrange an alternate presentation format.
- Include:
- Title page
- Itinerary for each day
- Justification for your choices
- Helpful phrases to know in each situation
- Cost
- Pictures
Evaluation
| Category |
Exemplary 10 points |
Accomplished 8 points |
Developing 6 points |
Beginning 4 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creativity | All activities follow the guidelines and are highly varied. | All activities follow the guidelines. | Activities follow some of the guidelines. | Activities do not follow the guidelines. |
| Quality of itinerary | Includes detailed descriptions of each activity, as well as a detailed reason for all choices made. | Includes descriptions of each activity, as well as a good reason for all choices made. | Includes descriptions of some activities, as well as some reasons for choices made. | Does not include descriptions of each activity or a reason for choices made. |
| Quality of presentation | The presentation meets all criteria, is very visually appealing and the presenters speak very clearly. | The presentation meets the criteria, is visually appealing and the presenters speak clearly. | The presentation meets some criteria, is somewhat visually appealing and the presenters speak somewhat clearly. | The presentation meets few criteria, is lacking visual appeal and the presenters are difficult to understand |
| Collaboration | The group equally divides their share of the task and all voices are equally considered. | The group equally divides most of their share of the task and all voices are equally considered most of the time. | The group divides some of their share of the task and voices are heard some of the time. | The group does not divide their share of the work and little consideration is given to all voices in the group. |
| Intercultural Understanding | A broad understanding of the cultural and linguistic importance and offerings of France is demonstrated. | A good understanding of the cultural and linguistic importance and offerings of France is demonstrated. | Somewhat of an understanding of the cultural and linguistic importance and offerings of France is demonstrated. | Little to no understanding to the cultural and linguistic importance and offerings of France is demonstrated. |
Total score:
Comments:
Conclusion
After completing your travel itinerary and hearing the presentation of your peers, I have a couple of questions for you:
1. Name three attractions you would like to visit in France. Why do you want to see these places?
2. List two new things you learned about France. Why did these facts stand out to you?
3. Explain why it would be important to speak a second language when you are travelling? How would that impact your experience?
Credits
Images in this WebQuest:
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Source is hyperlinked on each image
Inspiration for this WebQuest:
Teacher Page
This WebQuest is designed for grade 8 Core French students. The Ontario curriculum contains expectation A3 in each strand: Intercultural Understanding. In grade 8, students are expected to explore French-speaking communities in France.
A research project is a great way to engage students and show real-life applications for learning about another culture and the benefits that speaking French would give them. I have designed this project to be completed mostly in English as an introduction to France. I find that this is a good way to ease students into presentations at the beginning of the year before asking them to speak in French in front of their peers. Sticking to a budget for the trip will tie into the Mathematics curriculum as well, demonstrating yet another connection between French and "real life".