Subjects: Geography, Math, Language Arts
Required Software:  Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Netscape, Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel
Optional Software: Microsoft® PowerPoint

Time Allotted:  3-4 class periods

Grade Level:  Middle School - High School


Students will use selected Internet sites together with productivity software to plan a trip to the country of their choice:  Brazil, Japan, Australia, or Norway.

 

Central Asia Travel Report

Europe Travel Report

Virtual Journey Travel Report - Word document to download - right click and choose Save Target As - save in the Virtual Journey 2000 folder on your desktop, then double-click on the file to open it in Microsoft Word.

Just click on the links below for the country you have been assigned to find the answers to the questions in the report you downloaded.

To copy (Ctrl + C) - to paste (Ctrl + V).

To save pictures - right click with your right mouse button and choose Save Image As - place it in the Virtual Journey 2000 folder on the desktop.

To insert and format the picture in your report, just click where you want to insert the picture and choose Insert/Picture/From File - open the Virtual Journey 2000 folder and double-click the picture.  Finally, resize the picture by using a corner handle to make it smaller or larger, then wrap text around the picture by right-clicking and choosing Format Picture.  Select the Wrapping tab and choose Square, then click OK.

Virtual Journey Presentation Instructions

Presentation instructions Word document to download - right click and choose Save Target As - save in the Virtual Journey 2000 folder on your desktop, then double-click on the file to open it in Microsoft Word.

Sample PowerPoint presentation to download - right click and choose Save Target As.  Or you can see the show by clicking here.  If you don't have PowerPoint, you can see the show by downloading the PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.

COUNTRY WEBSITES -

    BRAZIL

Encarta Online Article

Destination Brazil - Lonely Planet

Factbook - Brazil

Cool Planet - Brazil

Culture & Attractions

Brazilian Food & Drink

    For Fun:

Expedia - 360 degree tour - Corcovado Peak

 

    JAPAN

Encarta Online Article

Destination Japan - Lonely Planet

Expedia Travel Information for Japan

Factbook - Japan

Kids Web Japan

 

 

    AUSTRALIA

Encarta Online Article

Traveling Australia on the Internet

Destination Australia - Lonely Planet

Factbook - Australia

Culture & Attractions

Australia - the land and its people

Australian Music

Cities and Tourist Attractions

    For Fun:

Expedia - 360 degree tour  - Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Sydney Cam - Live cam

Great Barrier Reef

 

    NORWAY

Encarta Online Article

Norwegian Online Information Service

Destination Norway - Lonely Planet

Factbook - Norway

The Royal House of Norway

Culture & Attractions

Culture & History

Dining

 

Microsoft Design Gallery Live

 

Conversion Table

TRAVEL STARTER SITES/TRAVEL LOGISTICS

 

Student Activity:

You'll become a virtual travel agent, planning all the details of an exciting international trip. Your trip will be one week (7 days) in length and you should budget no more than $3,000; you choose the destination from the choices above and work out the specifics.

Step 1 Document Your Destination

Software: Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Netscape

WHAT TO DO:

  1. Choose a destination and explore it using the links above.  There are links for each of the countries.  Read the articles on your country to learn more about its history, geography, climate, language, capital and other major cities, prime attractions, and transportation.  Don't forget to keep your time and budget limits in mind.

  2. Open a new Word document (Click here to see an example) where you can keep notes about your destination. Type a title for your document and insert the sub-headings: Country Overview, Map, Geography, Climate, Population, Transportation, and Special Attractions.  Use the Copy command (Ctrl + C)  to copy information (text, maps, photos, photo credits and captions) to the sub-headings in your Word document (Ctrl + V to paste).  (Sometimes you'll have to right-click and choose "Save Image As" and then use the Insert menu to insert the graphic).  Save the document in the "Virtual Journey" folder on the desktop of your computer under your name - first and last.  (File, Save As)

  3. Next, follow the Web Links to the articles about your country to check out the online information. Once you're connected to the Internet, you can also easily link to any of the Country Websites and Travel Starter Sites listed above. Add any information you want to save to your Word document.

  4. When you're done collecting information about your country, you may need to reorganize it. Arrange your facts, figures and photos under the sub-headings that reflect the material you've gathered:  Country Overview, Map, Geography, Climate, Population, Transportation and Special Attractions.  Then save your document.  (Click the Save button on the standard toolbar)

Step 2 Setting Your Travel Budget

Software: Microsoft® Excel

WHAT TO DO: Now figure out how to make your traveler's time and money stretch to fit the trip. Here's how.

  1. Open an Excel worksheet, and save it with the name, "Travel Budget - your name" in the "Virtual Journey" folder on the desktop of your computer.  (File, Save As)
  2. In cell A1, type a descriptive title for your worksheet, such as "Budget for Two Weeks in Brazil."
  3. In cell A3, type Total Budget. Enter your budget figure in cell D3.
  4. In cells A5 to D5, type the following column labels: Date, Item, Cost (US$), and Balance.
  5. In cell D6, enter the formula =D3-C6, to subtract your first item from the total budget.
  6. In cell D7, enter the formula =D6-C7, to account for the next item.
  7. Copy the formula in D7 down to the next 10 cells in column D. (Use the autofill handle)
  8. Save your worksheet. (Click the Save button on the standard toolbar)

Click here to see an example

Step 3 Getting There, Getting Around

Software: Microsoft® Internet Explorer or Netscape, Microsoft® Excel 

WHAT TO DO: Now you'll fill in the logistical details: travel to and from your destination country, travel within the country, lodging, meals, and other necessities.

  1. In your Travel Budget worksheet, click cell A6 and type a starting date for your trip. (Since this is a virtual trip, any date will do.)
  2. Enter the airline name and price into cells B6 and C6 respectively.
  3. In cells A7 to C17, enter additional data for the rest of the trip. Include all expenses, such as hotel, local travel, food, shopping, and entertainment, based on the information you can find on the web. Keep a close eye on your overall timeframe and budget as you plan.
  4. Save and print your work.

Click here to see an example

Step 4 A Package Deal (Optional)

Software: Microsoft® PowerPoint

WHAT TO DO: Let's create an interactive multimedia presentation promoting your trip.

  1. Open PowerPoint and import your notes, images, and Excel spreadsheet to create a splashy slide show about your trip.
  2. Choose Set Up Show from the Slide Show menu. In the Set Up Show dialog box, choose "Browsed at a Kiosk" as the show type.
  3. Add Action Buttons to your slides to let viewers move forward and backward through the show, and return to the beginning from any slide. Insert custom Action Buttons in the first screen to let viewers jump directly to various sections of the show.
  4. Now you can save your interactive slide show as HTML and put it on your school's intranet, or the Internet, for all to appreciate!
 

Adapted from the Microsoft "Productivity in the Classroom" lesson plan, "Let's Go! Travel Service"