WebQuest

Cultural Differences:How The World Got To Be So Confusing

Process

Follow these steps to complete the WebQuest.
Also don't forget to check the evaluation page before each step
to know exactly what you will be graded on.

1)Decide who will be what in your group. Each person will be an "expert" on one topic. That person will be responsible for taking notes and sharing ideas about each topic. However each person is still responsible for understanding each category. As a reminder these are the positions.
          Cook-All aspects of food, including meals, specialty dishes and preparation.
          Teacher-Responsible for language information such as idioms and hand gestures.
          Tour Guide-Covers the broad idea of culture and customs.
          Explorer-Records information about the geography and landmarks.
Don't worry if some of the information is covered by another expert, many aspects will overlap.

2)For the first part of your quest everyone will be taking notes so get out your notebook and split up into groups of two. Head to this site to learn about Idioms.
3)Read the the book The King Who Rained by Fred Gwynne for some more fun and silly examples.
4)In your notebook brainstorm idioms that you know. Have one column for the idiom and the other for its meaning.

Have you heard you parents use any?
What about on TV?
Sometimes even you use them and don't realize it!

5)Now head to this site and look at a more extensive list of idioms. Choose your favorite and write in down in your notebook. Next on a piece of white paper draw the literal or actual events. For example if you chose "i have ants in my pants" you would draw a picture of yourself with ants crawling in and out of your pants. On the other side of your paper write what the idiom is trying to convey.

6)Use the online site GoEnglish.com to find 4 new idioms and write them in your notebook. Next choose one of the idioms to research its origins from the book Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms. Next to your chosen idiom write how its origins relate to the metaphorical meaning of the phrase. Use your idiom in a sentence too.

*THINK*
How can personal experience and understanding of an idioms
historical context make understanding them easier?

7)Now that you have had a chance to explore our language a bit it is time to take a look at a few other countries. You will still be working in groups of two and taking turns navigating the sites and taking notes. Remember the goal is to understand the culture of each nation and why it might be that way.

8)With your partner, view each related site and write down several interesting facts. Use your partner to discuss what might be relevant and what is not. Many of the sites have lots to explore so feel free to read up, however notes should be relevant to the main questions. You are part of a team trying to answer a greater question.

     Cooks:
          * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5005952
                You may listen to the show but please use your headphones.
          * http://www.pbs.org/opb/meaningoffood/
                Make sure to visit both of these:
                    * http://www.pbs.org/opb/meaningoffood/food_and_culture/kitchen_gadgets/
                    * http://www.pbs.org/opb/meaningoffood/food_and_culture/gonna_eat_that/
          * http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html
          * http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/foods/culture.html

     Teachers:
          * http://www.learnplus.com/guides/german-idioms.html
          * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105928918
                You may listen to the show but please use your headphones.
          * http://www.twojetsetdivas.com/2008/04/13/body-language-a-travelers-guide-to-hand- gestures/
          * http://www.noborders.net/spanish/idioms.html

     Explorers:
          * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwbToV-FvsU
          * http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/hall/
          * http://www.climate-zone.com/index.htm
          * http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/most_famous_landmarks.htm
          * http://www.geographic.org/

     Tour Guides:
          * http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/
          * http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111929/
          * http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html


9)Now that you have all this great information it is time to share. Meet up with the rest of your group and share what you have learned. Note when ideas or themes overlap. Do some nations have the same foods or customs? Why is that? Tell about some of your favorite things you learned. After sharing what you have found with your group pick two countries to write about. As a team you will write a compare and contrast paper. There should be a paragraph for each category researched and a conclusion choosing whether the countries are alike or not and why.

10)For your final project your team will be selecting one country or region to write about. You will construct a brochure that will teach foreigners how to best navigate the country. It will be filled with useful information about customs, places to see, food and traditions. The brochure should make the reader feel comfortable visiting your chosen country.