Ramona's Brave Adventure
by:  Robin Grice

Peru

TEACHER INFORMATION PAGE
This iAdventure is designed to help students learn more about the natives of Africa and South America and their culture.  Students are to work independently to complete all of their research.  The final project is to be completed individually and presented at the final iAdventure session.  This iAdventure activity is designed for Social Studies students from 6th-8th grades.  It is designed to be taught in 8 class sessions so that each country is covered in two classroom sessions to ensure that the students have enough time to complete their research in class.

Site Map
You will be able to click on any page on the map below and go directly to that page.  To return to this page, click "back".
 Teacher Page
(You are here!)
 Title Page
  

Opening Story Page
(with Introduction)
 Research Worksheet 1
 
Story Page 2A
Story Page 2B
  Research Worksheet 2
Story Page 3A
Story Page 3B
Story Page 3C
Story Page 3D
 Research Worksheet 3
"Create a Conclusion" Page
  


Background Information

An iAdventure is a way of teaching students important concepts and skills by involving them in a storyline about one or more characters (fictional or real).  In this iAdventure students become Ramona the main character and help her decide which country she wants to live in with her family for a year.  After conducting research the students will make the decision to go to Africa or South America.  Students will then conduct more research to decide if they want to travel to West or East Africa or to Brazil or Peru.

This iAdventure will cover the curriculum standards in Geography, Social Studies, and Sociology for the Warrensburg, Missouri R-VI School District.
Curriculum Standards

GLEs and District Performance Indicators:  Geography

1.   Students will identify the physical and cultural characteristics of South America.

3.   Describe the climate and vegetation of the Amazon River Basin.

4.   Discuss some traits of cultures.

5.   Identify the main factors that influence climate.

GLEs and District Performance Indicators: Social Studies

1.      Analyze physical characteristics, such as climate, topography, relationship to water and ecosystems.

2.      Analyze human characteristics, such as people's education, language, diversity, economies, religions, settlement patterns, ethnic backgrounds and political systems.

GLEs and District Performance Indicators: Sociology

1.  Categorize the major components of culture: symbols, language, values, beliefs, norms, and material culture.
    
2.  Explain the principal characteristics of hunting and gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agrarian, industrial and post industrial.

    
Resources Needed
Internet connected computers for each student
PowerPoint software
Word Processing software
Copy of Scoring guide for each student
Copies of each research worksheet for students: Africa (Research Guide 1); South America (Research Guide 2); Research Guide 3 (Both)
   Research Guide 1
   Research Guide 2
   Research Guide 3
   Conclusion
Map of Africa
Assessment and Scoring Guide

Name __________________________________

Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Score
Contribute




Research, Gather Information
Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.
Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.
Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.
Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Share Information
Does not relay any information that relates to topic
Relays very little information--some relates to the topic.
Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic.
Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Be Punctual
Does not hand in any assignments.
Hands in most assignments late.
Hands in most assignments on time.
Hands in all assignments on time.
Visual Project




Quality of work including slide requirements and paper requirements
Project is not close to the correct 12 slides for powerpoint and 4 pages for report, or the quality is below average.
Project is within 2 slides powerpoint requirement and 3 pages for report, or the quality is average.
Project is correct number of powerpoint slides and pages of report, but the quality of construction is average.
Project meets all requirements for powerpoint and paper. Very high quality of construction.
Includes information about environment, home, food, clothing, and transportation 
Only 1 area is easily observed.
Only 2 areas are easily observed.
Only 3 or 4 areas are easily observed.
All 5 areas are easily observed and additional areas.
Accuracy of information
Many important items are not accurate for the tribe selected.
Many details are not accurate for the tribe selected.
A few minor details are not accurate for the tribe selected.
All information shown is accurate for the tribe selected.
Data Collector Sheets
 Most answers are inaccurate and don't match the visual display. Many items are inaccurate or don't match the visual display. Some information is inaccurate or doesn't match the visual display. Information is accurate and matches the visual display.




Total


Creating Conclusions and Student Products

The final project can be completed at school or at home.  Due to the differences in socioeconomic levels it is necessary to provide as much time in class to work on the computer generated parts of the final project which include finding images, creating the powerpoint, research, and actually typing the report.  This makes it possible for each student to have access to a computer to work on their project.  Each research worksheet is to be completed and turned in with each students final project for credit.

Acknowledgements

I used some great picture from the Yahoo Photo Gallery at http://gallery.yahoo.com/.  I also used flaming text at http://www.flamingtext.com/.  I would like to thank Mr. Stan Smith for teaching me all that I have learned about iAdventures in my Creating Web-Based Resources class at UCM.  Thank you for all of your detailed instructions and positive feedback.  The iAdventure concept was developed in Warrensburg, MO School District R-VI, as part of the "Learning with iAdventures" program.  This program was funded by a Competitive Technology grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

For more information on iAdventures, visit the iAdventure Home Page.