The Process
Step 1:
You will meet your Region Team and each member of the team will take on a specific job. Look at all of the roles before determining which team member is best fit for the job. The roles will be:
The Manager - The manager's job is to keep everyone on task, to make sure that everything gets done in an appropriate amount of time and also to make sure that everyone is contributing fairly to the research. The manager also helps to solve problems that might occur with the presentation or between team members.
The Clicker - The clicker's job is to stay in charge of the website browsing. The clicker is the only one who can sit in front of the computer and click on the links to find all the information. Team members suggestions must be taken into consideration when deciding where to go next and what to click. The clicker also makes sure that everyone understands the information before moving to new material.
The Writer - The writer records all of the information during the team work. This includes all note taking, completion of printable downloads, and writing for the presentation. The writer should be someone who is motivated and who has neat handwriting!
The Artist - The artist will be in charge of deciding which artwork goes along with the presentation and also collects the artwork/pictures from the group and arranges them in an attractive manner.
The Presenter - The presenter is in charge of putting together the presentation after research. This includes figuring out what is going to be said/done during the oral and visual presentations. The presenter is also in charge of displaying/playing the food and music that will be included in the region presentations.
Each specific role is very important, but remember, the most important part about being in a team is working together! Everyone has a role, but the team will not be successful unless every member takes their job seriously and helps each other out. While one person is assigned the "Artist" or the "Presenter," it is important to remember that everyone will be participating in all aspects of the project! Assigning jobs just helps to put one particular person in charge of specific tasks to make sure that everyone stays focused.
After your team has determined each member's role, the clicker will e-mail the team members' roles to your teacher. Remember to change the e-mail address to your teacher's address. The subject of your e-mail should be your region. Your e-mail should include each team member's name followed by the role that they will complete.
Step 2:
To begin your research, you should learn about each state in your region. Use the States of Our Region Worksheet to fill out information about each individual state that is located in your region. The writer may fill out the sheets in any way (with complete sentences, in note-form, etc...) as long as you can look back at them to help you put together your presentation. These sheets will be handed in at the end of the research. These are the states that will be researched for each region:
NORTHEAST REGION: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland (11 states)
SOUTHEAST REGION: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida (12 states)
MIDWEST REGION: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio (12 states)
MOUNTAIN STATES REGION: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado (5 states)
SOUTHWEST REGION: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma (4 states)
WEST REGION: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii (6 states)
You will need to print (if your teacher does not give you a copy) the States of Our Region Worksheet to fill out information about each individual state that is located in your region. Make sure to stay organized and keep track of your research.
Step 3:
Research your region by using the following links, as well as the resources in your classroom. You may use your textbook, informational texts, encyclopedias, atlases, etc. Remember to be looking for the answer to how geography affects the way people live. The information that you find will be recorded by The Writer. Also, make sure that The Artist is looking for excellent pictures for the presentation. All information that is collected will help your classmates compare regions to determine if your region is the best for a vacation.
You will meet your Region Team and each member of the team will take on a specific job. Look at all of the roles before determining which team member is best fit for the job. The roles will be:
The Manager - The manager's job is to keep everyone on task, to make sure that everything gets done in an appropriate amount of time and also to make sure that everyone is contributing fairly to the research. The manager also helps to solve problems that might occur with the presentation or between team members.
The Clicker - The clicker's job is to stay in charge of the website browsing. The clicker is the only one who can sit in front of the computer and click on the links to find all the information. Team members suggestions must be taken into consideration when deciding where to go next and what to click. The clicker also makes sure that everyone understands the information before moving to new material.
The Writer - The writer records all of the information during the team work. This includes all note taking, completion of printable downloads, and writing for the presentation. The writer should be someone who is motivated and who has neat handwriting!
The Artist - The artist will be in charge of deciding which artwork goes along with the presentation and also collects the artwork/pictures from the group and arranges them in an attractive manner.
The Presenter - The presenter is in charge of putting together the presentation after research. This includes figuring out what is going to be said/done during the oral and visual presentations. The presenter is also in charge of displaying/playing the food and music that will be included in the region presentations.
Each specific role is very important, but remember, the most important part about being in a team is working together! Everyone has a role, but the team will not be successful unless every member takes their job seriously and helps each other out. While one person is assigned the "Artist" or the "Presenter," it is important to remember that everyone will be participating in all aspects of the project! Assigning jobs just helps to put one particular person in charge of specific tasks to make sure that everyone stays focused.
After your team has determined each member's role, the clicker will e-mail the team members' roles to your teacher. Remember to change the e-mail address to your teacher's address. The subject of your e-mail should be your region. Your e-mail should include each team member's name followed by the role that they will complete.
Step 2:
To begin your research, you should learn about each state in your region. Use the States of Our Region Worksheet to fill out information about each individual state that is located in your region. The writer may fill out the sheets in any way (with complete sentences, in note-form, etc...) as long as you can look back at them to help you put together your presentation. These sheets will be handed in at the end of the research. These are the states that will be researched for each region:
NORTHEAST REGION: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland (11 states)
SOUTHEAST REGION: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida (12 states)
MIDWEST REGION: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio (12 states)
MOUNTAIN STATES REGION: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado (5 states)
SOUTHWEST REGION: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma (4 states)
WEST REGION: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii (6 states)
You will need to print (if your teacher does not give you a copy) the States of Our Region Worksheet to fill out information about each individual state that is located in your region. Make sure to stay organized and keep track of your research.
Step 3:
Research your region by using the following links, as well as the resources in your classroom. You may use your textbook, informational texts, encyclopedias, atlases, etc. Remember to be looking for the answer to how geography affects the way people live. The information that you find will be recorded by The Writer. Also, make sure that The Artist is looking for excellent pictures for the presentation. All information that is collected will help your classmates compare regions to determine if your region is the best for a vacation.
Mountain States The beautiful Rocky Mountains run through the Mountain States.
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SouthwestThe Southwest is known for the Latin influences on American culture.
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WestThe West borders the Pacific Ocean. It includes Alaska and Hawaii.
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Step 4:
At this point, you should have completed your States of Our Region Worksheets and should now be thinking...
How are the states in the region the same/different from each other?
Why are the states in this region grouped together?
What are some things that may set this region apart from the others?
Why would someone want to travel to this region?
How does geography affect the way people live in this region?
The Writer should record the answers to these questions on Thinking About Our Region Worksheet. This worksheet will be turned in at the end of your research. Make sure to stay organized and keep track of your research.
At this point, you should have completed your States of Our Region Worksheets and should now be thinking...
How are the states in the region the same/different from each other?
Why are the states in this region grouped together?
What are some things that may set this region apart from the others?
Why would someone want to travel to this region?
How does geography affect the way people live in this region?
The Writer should record the answers to these questions on Thinking About Our Region Worksheet. This worksheet will be turned in at the end of your research. Make sure to stay organized and keep track of your research.
Step 5:
Now that you have completed the research on your region, it's time to really put together something that will catch everyone's eye! This step involves assembling a presentation that will highlight everything about your region. You will present in front of the class, so make sure that it is bright, eye-catching, creative and persuasive!
Choose a way to present your information.
You may paste things on a board using any materials that are in the classroom, or that you have or bring.
You may make a brochure that represents your region.
You may make a visual slide presentation to show the class.
You may make a commercial for your region.
Be creative! Make sure that everyone contributes to the presentation and that it is a team effort! Everyone will be participating in the presentation at the end of the project, so while you are putting together the presentation, under the direction of The Presenter, discuss what each person might want to say when presenting.
Please make sure to remember that you want your region to be chosen by your classmates for their free family vacation.
The following categories may be included in your presentation:
Often, travel agencies will use certain things to "pull" in their customers and make them want to travel to a specific destination. Your Region Team should do the same! Regions are not only different because of the way they look and the people that live there; they are also unique because there are many different food products, recipes and music that belong to that specific area!
Each member of the group will be responsible for bringing an item that will be used in the presentation. This could include food products (for example a potato from Idaho for the group researching West), a recipe (for example Clam Chowder from Maine for the group researching the Northeast), or music (for example a CD with Country Music from Tennessee for the group researching the Southeast) from their region.
In addition to bringing in a food product, recipe or music, if anyone has postcards or souvenirs from the states located in their region they may include them in their presentation as well.
Sharing these items is a great way for everyone to "visit" your region and will also be helpful while trying to persuade them to take their family to that region on vacation!
Use this Regions Presentation Checklist to make sure that you have all of the requirements.
Look at the Presentation Scoring Guide to make sure that you get all points possible on your presentation.
Step 6:
Each Region Team will present their region to the class. All of you have done your best and your hard work is appreciated! Remember to be persuasive and convince your classmates that your region is the best vacation spot! You will be given a Region Team score for your presentation according to the Presentation Scoring Guide.
Step 7:
You will choose the region that will be the destination for your family vacation. You will write about the region, why you chose the region, what you hope to do while visiting the region, and you will have to write in a manner that convinces your family that they will have an excellent time. You will be given a score for your writing according to the Region Family Vacation Scoring Guide.
Now that you have completed the research on your region, it's time to really put together something that will catch everyone's eye! This step involves assembling a presentation that will highlight everything about your region. You will present in front of the class, so make sure that it is bright, eye-catching, creative and persuasive!
Choose a way to present your information.
You may paste things on a board using any materials that are in the classroom, or that you have or bring.
You may make a brochure that represents your region.
You may make a visual slide presentation to show the class.
You may make a commercial for your region.
Be creative! Make sure that everyone contributes to the presentation and that it is a team effort! Everyone will be participating in the presentation at the end of the project, so while you are putting together the presentation, under the direction of The Presenter, discuss what each person might want to say when presenting.
Please make sure to remember that you want your region to be chosen by your classmates for their free family vacation.
The following categories may be included in your presentation:
- The Name of the Region
- A Picture of the Region
- List the States in the Region
- Pictures of the States' Flag
- Major Landforms in the Region
- Major Rivers/Lakes/Oceans that are in or near the Region
- Popular Tourist Attractions
- Unique/Interesting Facts about the Region
- Culture (include Music and Food specific to the Region)
- List of Sources (Websites, Books, etc.)
- You may choose what other items to put in your presentation to make it stand out.
Often, travel agencies will use certain things to "pull" in their customers and make them want to travel to a specific destination. Your Region Team should do the same! Regions are not only different because of the way they look and the people that live there; they are also unique because there are many different food products, recipes and music that belong to that specific area!
Each member of the group will be responsible for bringing an item that will be used in the presentation. This could include food products (for example a potato from Idaho for the group researching West), a recipe (for example Clam Chowder from Maine for the group researching the Northeast), or music (for example a CD with Country Music from Tennessee for the group researching the Southeast) from their region.
In addition to bringing in a food product, recipe or music, if anyone has postcards or souvenirs from the states located in their region they may include them in their presentation as well.
Sharing these items is a great way for everyone to "visit" your region and will also be helpful while trying to persuade them to take their family to that region on vacation!
Use this Regions Presentation Checklist to make sure that you have all of the requirements.
Look at the Presentation Scoring Guide to make sure that you get all points possible on your presentation.
Step 6:
Each Region Team will present their region to the class. All of you have done your best and your hard work is appreciated! Remember to be persuasive and convince your classmates that your region is the best vacation spot! You will be given a Region Team score for your presentation according to the Presentation Scoring Guide.
Step 7:
You will choose the region that will be the destination for your family vacation. You will write about the region, why you chose the region, what you hope to do while visiting the region, and you will have to write in a manner that convinces your family that they will have an excellent time. You will be given a score for your writing according to the Region Family Vacation Scoring Guide.