Introduction
Travelling to Léon - Spain!
¡Bienvenidos!
You are a travel blogger working for an international magazine. You have been sent to explore the historic Spanish city of León, located in the region of Castilla y León.
Your mission is to discover what makes León special—its culture, history, people, and traditions—and create a guide that will inspire others to visit.
Task
Your task as a group is to create a detailed cultural travel guide for the city of León, Spain.
You will act as a team of travel planners designing an engaging and informative guide that could be used by tourists visiting León for the first time.
📍 City Focus
City of León, Spain
🗺️ Details
You will explore the cultural, historical, and social aspects of León in order to design a high-quality travel guide.
Your guide must include:
- A clear introduction to the city of León
- Key landmarks and historical sites
- Cultural experiences (food, festivals, traditions)
- A famous person connected to León
- Recommendations for visitors
You must organise your information in a format that is clear, visually appealing, and easy to follow, as if it were being used by a real tourist.
🧠 Group Challenge
You and your team will present your travel guide to a panel (your teacher/class).
Multiple teams will compete, and the best guide will be selected based on:
- Quality of research
- Creativity
- Clarity of presentation
- Use of Spanish language
The winning team will have created the most engaging and informative guide to León.
🎨 Creative Element
Your project must also include:
- A visual collage or poster representing León
- Images of landmarks, food, and culture
- A design that captures the atmosphere of the city
🎯 Skills
After completing this WebQuest, you should be able to say:
- I can explain key features of Spanish culture using León as an example
- I can analyse information from different sources to build understanding
- I can describe how culture, traditions, and history shape a city
- I can compare Spanish culture with my own
- I can use maps and geographical tools to locate and understand places
- I can gather and organise information from multiple sources
- I can present information clearly and creatively
- I can use basic Spanish vocabulary in context
Process
🔄 Process
The WebQuest is a collaborative and inquiry-oriented project. There is a wide range of information available about León, and it would be difficult for one person to find and organise it all. Therefore, before working as a team (collaboration), each group member must first carry out individual research (inquiry) using the Resources page to become an expert in a specific aspect of León.
🧠 Inquiry-Oriented Roles
(one role per student in the group)
- Identify who in your group will assume each of the following roles. Not all roles must be used, but each group member must have a unique role.
🎭 Cultural Explorer
Beautiful buildings are important, but you want to understand the true spirit of León.
- What is daily life like for people in León?
- What traditions and festivals are important?
- What do people eat (e.g. tapas culture)?
- What are typical customs and social behaviours?
You will research cultural experiences such as festivals, food, and lifestyle. Consider how Spanish culture in León is similar or different from your own.
🏛️ Historian
You are fascinated by the rich and complex history of León.
- What are the most important historical events in León?
- Which landmarks represent this history?
- How has León changed over time?
You will research museums, monuments, and historical sites (e.g. cathedrals, basilicas) and identify the most significant events that shaped the city.
🛍️ Lifestyle & Leisure Planner
You are interested in how visitors can enjoy their free time in León.
- Where can tourists shop or explore local markets?
- What cafés, restaurants, or social spaces are popular?
- What makes the experience enjoyable for visitors?
You will explore places where visitors can experience local life, including food, shopping, and social spaces. Compare these with your own country or town.
📸 Sightseer
You are responsible for capturing the visual experience of León.
- What are the most photogenic places in León?
- What architecture stands out?
- What natural or scenic areas can visitors explore?
You will analyse maps and images of León, focusing on key sights such as the city centre, parks, and famous buildings. Look for images from different seasons or perspectives.
🔍 Individual Research
- Conduct your own research on León based on your role. Use the Resources provided to find relevant and reliable information.
- Make a list of places or experiences linked to your role. Include:
- Location
- Opening hours
- Costs (if applicable)
- Any useful visitor information
- A backup option (Plan B) in case of bad weather
- Locate each place on a map of León so your group can understand distances and plan routes efficiently.
- Begin organising your ideas. You may start suggesting how your information could be included in the final travel guide. Clearly label your contributions so your group can track ideas.
👥 Collaborative Process
- Meet as a group and begin planning your travel guide together.
As a team of travel planners, you must first share your research and create a combined list of places and experiences. You must then agree on:
- What to include
- What is most important
- How to organise your guide
Discuss:
- “Must-see” attractions
- Cultural highlights
- Alternative options if plans change
- Organise your ideas into a clear structure for your travel guide. Consider how information will be presented to make it easy to follow.
- Consult additional sources if needed. Your teacher may provide further materials or guidance to support your research.
- Draft your travel guide using your combined research.
- Decide what additional features you will include to enhance the guide, such as:
- Images
- Cultural tips
- Maps
- Videos or websites
- QR codes linking to extra information
- Design your final travel guide. The format (PowerPoint, poster, video, or website) will be chosen by the group.
🎤 Final Presentation
- Present the following to the judges (teacher/class):
- Your completed travel guide on León
- A visual collage/poster representing the city
- A list of places researched by each group member
Remember: this is a group project, so your final guide must include contributions from all roles and reflect a wide understanding of León’s culture, history, and lifestyle.
Evaluation
📊 Evaluation
You will be assessed based on both your individual contribution (inquiry work) and your group collaboration and final project.
👤 Individual Performance (35 points possible)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Engagement with Role | 0–8 points |
| Completion of Research | 0–20 points |
| Collaboration Skills | 0–7 points |
Details:
- 0–8 points
Student actively engaged in their assigned role (e.g. Cultural Explorer, Historian, Sightseer, etc.) and demonstrated independent inquiry skills - 0–20 points
Student submitted a clear and detailed list of researched places/ideas using the collaboration tool - 0–7 points
Student worked effectively with the group (respect, communication, participation, positive attitude)
👥 Group Project (95 points possible)
Your group will be assessed on the quality of your final León travel guide.
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Organisation & Planning | 0–20 points |
| Quality of Research | 0–15 points |
| Language Accuracy | 0–10 points |
| Use of Resources | 0–10 points |
| QR Code Integration | 0–15 points |
| Design & Presentation | 0–15 points |
| Team Collaboration | 0–5 points |
| Final Presentation | 0–5 points |
Details:
- 0–20 points
The guide is well-organised, realistic, and easy to follow. It shows clear planning and logical structure - 0–15 points
Information is accurate, relevant, and demonstrates strong research skills - 0–10 points
Work is written clearly with correct spelling and grammar, including appropriate use of Spanish - 0–10 points
A variety of relevant resources are used effectively - 0–15 points
QR codes are included and link to useful, accurate, and relevant content - 0–15 points
The guide is visually appealing, well-designed, and easy for a tourist to use - 0–5 points
The group worked well together and shared responsibilities - 0–5 points
The final presentation is clear, organised, and each member contributes
🧮 Total Possible Points: 130
Conclusion
📊 Conclusion & Reflection
Now that you have completed your travel guide and are ready to “visit” León, it is important to reflect on what you have created, how you worked as a team, and what you have learned throughout this WebQuest.
Use the questions below to guide your group discussion. You will then complete a self-evaluation form provided by your teacher. (Your responses will be anonymous, so please answer honestly.)
🧭 Review Your Travel Guide
Begin by reviewing your final project:
- Is your travel guide clear, detailed, and easy to follow?
- Does it include a good balance of landmarks, culture, and activities?
- Is it realistic for a tourist visiting León?
- Have you included useful and relevant information?
- Do your QR codes link to helpful and accurate resources?
Think about whether your guide would genuinely help someone visiting León for the first time.
⚖️ Evaluate Your Teamwork
Now consider how your group worked together:
- How did you organise your work as a team?
- Did your group communicate effectively?
- Did everyone contribute equally?
- Were different ideas respected and included?
- Did some parts of the project meet more than one group member’s interests?
What did you learn about working collaboratively and making decisions as a group?
🔍 Reflect on the Process
Think about how you completed the task:
- What research strategies did you use?
- Did your role help you understand a specific aspect of León?
- What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- If you were to complete this project again, what would you do differently?
🎓 What Have You Learned?
Return to the skills listed in the Task section. Consider how much you have developed each of these skills:
- Understanding Spanish culture
- Researching and analysing information
- Comparing cultures
- Working as part of a team
- Presenting information clearly
📝 Self-Evaluation
Please complete the self-evaluation form provided below to reflect on your individual contribution and learning.
✈️ Final Thoughts
Thanks to your teamwork and effort, you are now well prepared to explore León and understand its rich culture and history.
¡Buen viaje! Don’t forget to capture your experience through photos, notes, or short videos—you may need them for your next project!
Credits
Léon Resources for Students
Léon Tourism Website - https://www.spain.info/en/destination/leon/
Lonely Planet Léon - https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/spain/castilla-y-leon/leon
Léon Historics - https://leon.es/en/leons-history/
Léon Walking Tour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG2Zv0Ql6eU
Spanish Festivals Guide - https://www.spanish-fiestas.com/festivals/calendar/
Historical sites - https://vivecamino.com/en/leon/basilica-de-san-isidoro-3287/
Teacher Page
👩🏫 For Teachers
Please feel free to use this WebQuest with your students. If you do, consider sharing examples of student work, reflections, or adaptations of this project within your teaching community.
If you have any questions or would like to adapt this WebQuest further, it can be modified to suit different class levels and learning contexts.
🌍 Topic
This WebQuest supports an interdisciplinary unit focused on Spanish culture, using the city of León as a case study.
León is a historically rich city in northern Spain, offering opportunities to explore architecture, traditions, daily life, and cultural identity.
🎓 Intended Learners
This WebQuest is designed for post-primary / middle school students studying Spanish as a Modern Foreign Language (MFL).
It is particularly suitable for:
- Students developing cultural awareness alongside language learning
- Learners at beginner to intermediate level
- Classes working on project-based or inquiry-based learning
🎯 Instructional Purpose
This WebQuest aims to develop both cultural understanding and transferable skills.
It provides students with an opportunity to:
- Explore Spanish culture through a real-world context
- Engage in inquiry-based learning
- Develop research, literacy, and collaboration skills
The task combines elements of:
- Design Task (creating a travel guide)
- Decision Task (selecting and prioritising cultural elements)
Students work individually to research a specific role and then collaborate to produce a final group product. This encourages negotiation, critical thinking, and shared decision-making.
🧠 Skills & Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Integrate information from a range of media (texts, images, videos, maps) to develop understanding
- Analyse and evaluate cultural information
- Explain how culture, traditions, and location influence people’s lives
- Compare Spanish culture with their own
- Use geographical tools (maps, locations) to support understanding
- Gather and organise information from multiple sources
- Paraphrase and summarise information while avoiding plagiarism
💻 Digital & Inquiry Skills
Students will:
- Use digital tools to research and organise information
- Evaluate the reliability of online sources
- Create a structured and visually engaging final product
- Use QR codes or links to enhance learning with multimedia
🌐 Alignment with Digital Learning Standards
This WebQuest supports key digital learning principles:
Digital Citizenship
Students develop the ability to:
- Use online resources responsibly
- Evaluate information critically
- Engage safely and effectively in digital environments
Inquiry & Analysis
Students:
- Use research strategies to locate relevant information
- Combine information from multiple sources
- Reflect on their learning through self-assessment
👥 Collaborative Learning
This WebQuest promotes:
- Active participation and engagement
- Positive group interaction
- Shared responsibility through assigned roles
- Decision-making through discussion and compromise
Each student contributes individual research, which is then combined into a group project. This ensures both accountability and collaboration.
🧰 Implementation Guide
Suggested Timeline
- Lesson 1: Introduction + role assignment + begin research
- Lesson 2: Continue research + begin planning
- Lesson 3: Create final travel guide
- Lesson 4 (optional): Presentations + reflection
Required Resources
- Internet access
- Devices (laptops/tablets)
- Presentation tools (Google Slides, Canva, etc.)
Differentiation
- Support: Provide vocabulary lists, guided questions, and structured templates
- Extension: Encourage deeper research, more Spanish language use, or additional cultural comparisons
📊 Assessment
Assessment is based on:
- Individual research and role completion
- Group collaboration
- Final travel guide quality
- Reflection through self-evaluation
A Google Form self-assessment is included to support student reflection and teacher feedback.