Learning Goals: Travel USA and Oregon Standards
The Travel USA project addresses Oregon grade 5 benchmark standards in the areas of English, mathematics, and science. Technology-related activities are aligned with the "Guidelines for District Technology Skills for Students", produced by the Oregon Educational Technology Consortium, 1997. The visual arts are in evidence in this project as well, but state standards have yet to be set for this area. For each subject area, activities and corresponding benchmarks are listed below.

English (Reading)

In this project students read for information from reference sources including: encyclopedias and atlases (both in traditional and electronic forms), promotional materials from states visitor packets, nonfiction texts, and Web pages. These sources frequently contain the text organizers and graphic illustrations listed in the first reading benchmark below.

Benchmarks
    • Locate information and clarify meaning using illustrations, tables of contents, glossaries, indexes, headings, graphs, charts, diagrams, and/or tables.
    • Analyze and evaluate information and form conclusions.

English (Writing)

Students follow the steps of process writing to complete a state report of three pages. They write a business letter requesting information from state tourism bureaus. They also write a draft of an oral presentation. The following benchmarks will be used to develop a planning and scoring guide for the report.

Benchmarks

    • Convey clear main ideas and supporting details in ways appropriate to topic, audience, and purpose.
    • Structure writing by developing a beginning, middle, and end with clear sequencing of ideas and transitions.
    • Use sentence structures that flow and vary in length.
    • Use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing.
    • Write in a variety of modes (in this case persuasive and expository).

Communication (Oral Presentation)

Each team of three students makes a persuasive speech about one region of the U.S.

Benchmarks

    • Convey clear, focused main ideas with supporting details appropriate to audience and purpose.
    • Demonstrate organization by developing a beginning, middle and end with clear sequencing of ideas and transitions.
    • Use descriptive and accurate words appropriate to audience and purpose.
    • Demonstrate control of eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and gestures appropriate to audience and purpose.

Math

Students collect, manipulate, synthesize and present mathematical data as they plan their virtual "trip". They calculate mileage, monetary exchange rates (dollars to Deutsch marks), and expenses related to travel including airfare, car rental and hotel rates and admission prices. They compare pricing schemes to find cheapest rates for travel expenses and prepare a budget. Additionally, students develop schedules for a day-by-day travel itinerary.

Benchmarks:

    • Perform calculations on whole numbers, fractions and decimals using paper and pencil and calculators.
    • Estimate solutions to problems and determine if the solutions are accurate and reasonable.
    • Make and use estimates of length, (*distance) weight, capacity, angles, *money and *time.
    • Collect, organize, display and analyze data using number lines, *bar graphs, line graphs, stem and leaf plots and histograms.
    • Select and use appropriate mathematical strategies. Apply graphic and/or numeric models to solve the problem.
    • Review the work (calculations and strategies) to verify the accuracy and reasonableness of the results.

*Items of this benchmark addressed in the unit

Social Science

Through the Travel USA portion of the project students learn what makes the region they are studying different from other regions in the US Research on Individual state reports affords the opportunity to take an in-depth look at a single state, and to contrast it to Oregon.

Benchmarks:

    • Examine and prepare maps, charts, and other visual representations to locate places and interpret geographic information.
    • Locate and identify on the maps the continents of the world, the *50 states of the United States and the major physical features of Oregon.
    • Identify physical and human characteristics of regions in the United States and the processes that have shaped them.
    • Understand the processes of earning, saving, *spending, *budgeting, and *record keeping in money management.
    • Gather, use and document information from multiple sources (e.g. print, electronic, human)

* items of this benchmark addressed in the unit

Technology

In this project students carry out the activities listed in the technology Content Standards. Goals are based on the content and benchmark standards from the Oregon Education Technology Consortium, 1997. The benchmarks are for grade 5.

 

Content Standard 1: Use technology to create age-appropriate curriculum based projects.

Benchmarks:

    • Perform input device functions using correct techniques (e.g. keyboarding)
    • Produce word processed documents that have been drafted, revised and edited electronically and which incorporate graphic images
    • Print save, and retrieve files
    • Create graphic images using developmentally appropriate software
    • Create an electronic presentation that includes text and graphics
    • Create audio/visual presentations using a variety of existing/emerging technologies 
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Content Standard 2: Use technology to gather, organize, analyze, synthesize and evaluate data

Benchmarks:

    • Use technology to access retrieve, and evaluate information
    • Use simulation software (e.g. Oregon Trail) to study, analyze, and explain systems
    • Use graphing tools to organize and display data
    • Use spreadsheets to organize and calculate data
    • Use databases to access and organize information

Content Standard 3: Students will use existing and emerging technologies responsibly and appropriately

Benchmarks:

    • Select and use appropriate technology devices
    • Use software independently and cooperatively
    • Demonstrate safe use of technology
    • Troubleshoot common technology problems
    • Demonstrate awareness of ethical use of information, including using appropriate citations and adherence to copyright regulations and fair use guidelines

The Arts
 The arts will be in evidence in several ways.
The state poster includes drawings of landmarks, maps, and state symbols.
The state report has an artistic cover. Students develop a visual display to illustrate their travel agency presentation, or "sales pitch". This may be in the form of a brochure, poster, videotape, song, roll "movie", or multimedia slide show. Additionally, students may choose to present their projects through a performance such as a song or skit. Students are have an unlimited choice in media when they complete the "burning question" section of the project.