California+Regions+Webquest

(Instructions to create a California Region PowerPoint - PPT)

Since the times of Spanish explorers, Mexican soldiers, and American pioneers, California has been found to be a land of opportunity and diversity. This is likely the reason your family lives here today. California is located on the western coast of the United States, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Due to its size and distinct landforms, geographers have broken California into four major regions. These regions include the Mountain Region, Desert Region, Pacific Coast Region, and the Central Valley Region. What makes each of these regions so unique? What are each region's distinct features and characteristics? What attracts people to live in, or visit, these regions? Get ready to take a journey, and become an expert on the Regions of California!
 * Introduction **

Your group will consist of four travel agents that are gathering information to get people to come and visit a region of California:
 * TASK **

1. Group #1 will research the Desert Region

2. Group #2 will research the Pacific Coast Region.

3. Group #3 will research the Mountain Region.

4. Group #4 will research the Central Valley Region.

Each group will create a travel PPT that sells your region to potential visitors. Your group’s PPT should include: 1. A map showing the location of each region. 2. An illustration, or pictures, of each region that may include the various animals and plants that live there. 3. Regional climate (So tourists know what clothing to pack in their suitcases!) 4. Show at least 2 tourist attractions or activities in each region in which visitors might be interested. You may want to pinpoint these spots on your map. 5. A catchy slogan to make tourists want to come and visit. 6. Bibliography of cited references.

You will each be given a travel journal to keep track of all your exciting trips and adventures. In it, you will write down the important information you gather in each stop, which will help when creating your travel poster.

= PROCESS = O.K. We've got a group, so NOW what do we do? Step 1 Each person in the group decides what part they want to research and prepare. Step 2 Use your travel journal to record the Internet sites, places visited on your trip, important facts, pictures,etc. Make sure to include your opinions, or feelings, about each stop, as well as a careful bibliography. Step 3 Create a catchy slogan to attract tourists. Record that into your Travel Journal. Step 4 Team Meeting: Get together to share facts, slogan, and ideas for the PowerPoint. Design your PPT slides on worksheet. REMEMBER: You don't have to agree, but every opinion is valuable. Step 5 Begin creating the PPT. Step 6 Include bibliography slide Step 7 Team Meeting: Finalize PPT. Plan and rehearse for presentation. Step 8 Sell your region to the class! Step 9 Hand in project and complete Reflection Log.

EVALUATION Each group member will be scored individually as follows:

(Capitalization, Usage, Spelling, Punctuation) || 5 points ||
 * A catchy slogan for the region = || 5 points ||
 * State map with region location = || 5 points ||
 * Illustrations/pictures = || 10 points ||
 * Climate = || 5 points ||
 * 5 or more regional facts = || 25 points ||
 * 2 tourist attractions, including details and location = || 20 points ||
 * C.U.P.S. =
 * Bibliography = || 10 points ||
 * Reflection Log = || 5 points ||
 * Group Presentation = || 10 points ||
 * Total || 100 points ||

Conclusion Wow, you look exhausted from your trip around the big, beautiful state of California! Welcome home, and a job well done. Self and group reflection is important, especially after such a journey. Take the time to fill in the Reflection Log, using your Travel Journal to help you.

Extra Credit ** If you would like to expand this project, and receive extra credit, consider the following options:

1. Plan a written tour guide of the region. Include at least 3 stops, and consider transportation and the money needed to visit. 2. Prepare a PPT on another region in California. Compare the two regions. 3. Write an acrostic or quatrain poem about your region, using the facts and details that you have learned. 4. Create a survey about California and it's regions. After recording at least 50 responses, graph your results.

Role 1
Travel Agency #1 - Desert Region Trip Your job is to visit the Desert Region of California. Remember, you're trying to sell potential tourists on this region, so take careful notes as you visit the places below.

Travel to the Mojave Desert. []

Native Americans that called the desert their home. [|http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth6_desert.html]

Visit Death Valley and Joshua Tree. []

Tourism in California [|http://www.visitcalifornia.com/state/tourism/ tour_inc_navigation.jsp?PrimaryCat=Regions]

Plants and animals of the desert region. []

The climate and geology of California. []

Other Resources

 * Social Studies Book * Encyclopedia (Books or World Book Online) * Interview an adult who has visited the region.

Travel Agency #2 - Mountain Region Trip
Your job is to visit the mountain region of California. Remember, you're trying to sell potential tourists on this region, so take careful notes as you visit the places below.

Internet Links
Scenic pictures of the mountains. []

Climb Mt. Whitney []

Visit Mt. Shasta []

Real letters about the Donner Party, and early living in Northern California. []

About the Donner Party []

The geography and climate of the mountain region. []

Other Resources

 * Social Studies Book * Encyclopedia (Books or World Book Online) * Interview an adult who has visited the region.

Travel Agency #3 - Pacific Coast Trip
Your job is to visit the Pacific Coast region of California. Remember, you're trying to sell potential tourists on this region, so take careful notes as you visit the places below.

Internet Links
The geography and climate of the coastal region. []

See the fish of the region. []

Enjoy your book to Big Sur. []

Ride the South Pacific Coast Railroad. []

More fish! []

Let's go to the beach! []

Visit the Sierra Club website. []

Other Resources

 * Social Studies Book * Encyclopedia (Books or World Book Online) * Interview an adult who has visited the region.

Travel Agency #4 - Central Valley Trip
Your job is to visit the Central Valley Region of California. Remember, you're trying to sell potential tourists on this region, so take careful notes as you visit the places below.

Internet Links
Climate and geography of the region. []

Pictures of the beautiful scenery. []

Have important questions about the Central Valley answered here. []

Directions, a map, and things to do in the valley. []

Let's have fun in the valley! []

The Native Americans that called the Central Valley their home. [|http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth6_central.html]

Other Resources

 * Social Studies Book * Encyclopedia * Interview an adult who has visied the region. ||


 * =Standards= ||
 * 4.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the physical and human geographic features that define places and regions in California. ||
 * 3. Identify the state capital and describe the various regions of California, including how their characteristics and physical environments (e.g., water, landforms, vegetation, climate) affect human activity. ||
 * 4. Identify the locations of the Pacific Ocean, rivers, valleys, and mountain passes and explain their effects on the growth of towns. ||
 * 5. Use maps, charts, and pictures to describe how communities in California vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation. ||
 * 4. Identify the locations of the Pacific Ocean, rivers, valleys, and mountain passes and explain their effects on the growth of towns. ||
 * 5. Use maps, charts, and pictures to describe how communities in California vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation. ||
 * 5. Use maps, charts, and pictures to describe how communities in California vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation. ||

Reference:
Many thanks to the San Juan Unified School District for developing this webquest. []