Virginia K. Gerber
- Unit Outline – Costa Rica throughEcotourism
Unit Objectives:
1.Students will be able to locate major cities and landforms on a Costa Rica map.
- Students will be able to research, create a travel brochure, and present a 7-day ecotour program to Costa Rica.
National Standards:
Communication
1.1Express feelings, provide information
1.2Understand written language
1.3Present information
Culture
2.1 Demonstrate relationship betwen perspectives and practices
2.2 Demonstrate relationship between perspectives and products
Connections
2.1Knowledge of other disciplines
2.2Acquire information only available through foreign language and culture
Comparisons
4.1 Compare target language and own language
4.2 Compare target culture and own culture
Communities
5.1 Use language within and beyond school setting
- Introduction to Costa Rica – 2 days
- Photos of Costa Rica – transparencies
- Rain forest music
- Student research – Costa Rica facts
- Connect student information to overhead map
- Poem on Costa Rica or rain forest
- Costa Rica WebQuest – ecotourism – 8-10 days
- Travel brochure, poster, oral presentation
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 1
Prior Knowledge:Adjective description phrases
Use of verb ser
Objectives:1.Students will be able to describe photos of Costa Rica, comparing
and contrasting to U.S.
- Students will be able to listen and respond to rain forest music,
drawing what the music makes them see.
Standards:1.1Express feelings, provide information
1.3Present information
3.1Knowledge of other disciplines
Methods:1.Introduction to Costa Rica
Photos of Costa Rica (transparency)
Students offer descriptions of photos
Make connections to U.S. – parks students have visited, etc.
List new vocabulary on newsprint sheet on wall for reference
2.Rain forest music – hand out blank paper
Listen with eyes closed
Draw what you hear
Class discuss: What did the music make you see?
- Poem “Costarricense” on overhead, copies for students
Class read, underline familiar words
Groups of 4: list descriptions of land
Discuss – what this description of land means to students
Class Review
Homework:Research facts on Costa Rica, i.e., size, flag, gov’t, cities, land forms
Materials needed:Newsprint
Costa Rica transparencies
Rain forest CD
Blank paper
Poem “Costarricense”: overhead and student copies
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 2
Objectives:1.Students will be able to complete Costa Rica map with cites, land
forms, country facts
2.Students will be able to compare and contrast Costa Rica information to U.S.
- Students will be able to read and discuss poem “La Tierra Esta Triste”
Standards:1.1Provide information
3.1Knowledge of other disciplines – geography
4.2Compare other culture to own
Homework:Costa Rica facts
Methods:1.Overhead map of Costa Rica
Handout – Costa Rica map
Class discuss homework, labeling map with all information
Compare with U.S.: size, population, mountains, etc.
- Poem “La Tierra Esta Triste”
Class read, underline familiar words
Pairs - list in two columns:
Vocabulary of natureActions
Class compare responses, discuss
Why do you think the land was sad?
Class Review
Materials Needed:Overhead – Costa Rica map
Handout – Costa Rica map
Blank transparency to cover map
Handout poem “La Tierra Esta Triste”
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 3
Objectives:1.Students will be able to listen and respond to discuss on ecotourism.
- Students will be able to read and discuss WebQuest.
3.Students will be able to choose role assignments for group members.
- Students will be able to discuss materials needed and individual responsibilities.
Standards:1.2Interpret written and spoken language
2.1Understand relationship between perspectives and practices
2.2Understand relationship between perspectives and products
4.2Compare cultures
Methods:1.Present idea of ecotourism
Two sides of tourism: la naturaleza vs. sociedad
Naturaleza = interesting to many; natural resources
Sociedad = utilizes materials of nature; demands of
tourism: hotels, restaurants, services
Goal: quieren turismo más tranquilo
Ecoturismo:
Maintain characteristics of a zone with the
most respect toward nature
Have tourism for study, use, learning, without abuse
Maintain nature without destruction
Examples of tourism: Playa Jaco vs. Monteverde
Hotel Chain (use economy)
Road to Monteverde helps control access
Risks of excess tourism:
Contamination of water
Nature has the capacity to cleanse itself, but with
too much use it cannot maintain itself – leading to destruction of an area
- Display WebQuest on television
Class read and discuss
Students choose groups
- Groups get together
Assign tasks
Discuss materials needed and responsibilities of members
Class Review
Materials:TV / computer connection
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 4
Objectives:1.Students will be able to research and compile general information
from given websites
- Students will be able to share information and develop common body
of information on Costa Rica
- Students will be able to choose research roles for tomorrow
Standards:1.2Understand written language
(WebQuest)1.3Present information
2.1Understand relationship between perspectives and practices
2.2Understand relationship between perspectives and products
3.1Knowledge of other disciplines – technology, geography
3.2Acquire information and recognize viewpoints of other culture
4.2Understand culture through comparing own with other
Methods:1.Groups research websites in Resources section
Assign website to each member
Research for as much information as possible, note down
- Return to group – discuss information and form consensus of
knowledge of Costa Rica
3.Discuss research roles for tomorrow
Class Review
Materials Needed:Computer lab
Costa Rica materials (books, brochures, etc.)
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 5
Objectives:1.Students will be able to research topic.
- Students will be able to compile information supporting research
topic.
- Students will be able to print desired artwork.
Methods:1.Research individual topic, gather information for brochure and
poster; print desired artwork
Class Review
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 6
Objectives:1.Students will be able to complete research on topic.
- Students will be able to print desired artwork.
- Students will be able to write information for brochure.
Methods:1.Continue individual research.
- Print desired artwork.
- Return to groups, exchange information / ideas
Script individual parts for brochure.
Class Review
Homework:Complete assembling artwork and scripting individual parts for brochure
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 7
Objectives:1.Group will be able to compile all information and artwork into
brochure.
- Group will plan poster.
Methods:1.Group – complete brochure.
- Plan poster
Assign individual roles / responsibilities
Topics
Information to be provided
Materials to be assembled
Class Review
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 8
Objectives:1.Students will be able to complete individual research as needed
- Group will be able to assemble poster
Methods:1.Return to computer if needed for information for poster
- Group assemble poster
Class Review
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 9
Objectives:1.Group will practice presentation
Methods:1.Group practice presentation
Class Review
Virginia K. Gerber
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 10
Objectives:1.Students will be able to present tour of Costa Rica
Methods:1.Groups present projects
Class Review
Costa Rica through Ecotourism
Lesson 11
Objectives:1.Students will be able to discuss knowledge of Costa Rica gained
during WebQuest.
- Students will be able to complete Costa Rica map with information learned in WebQuest.
- Students will be able to compare Costa Rica to U.S.
Methods:1.Class discussion “What did you learn from this activity?”
Compare Costa Rica to U.S. in terms of geography, ecology
- Overhead – Costa Rica map
Fill in with areas studied by students
Geography
Ecology
Artisans
Culture
Class Review
Homework:Study map for quiz
Materials:Overhead map – Costa Rica
Costa Rica Project
Lesson 12
Objectives:1.Students will be able to complete map of Costa Rica with given
information.
Standards:1.3Present information
2.1Relationship between perspectives and practices
2.2Relationship between perspectives and products
3.1Knowledge of other disciplines – geography
Methods:1.Handout – quiz
Costa Rica map, blank with word bank of information to be
placed on map. Word bank will include land forms, cities,
natural areas, artisan and cultural areas.
Materials:Blank Costa Rica map
Word bank
Class Review
Quiz Word Bank
AlajuelaCartagoHerediaPuerto Limón
San José SarchiVolcán ArenalVolcán Póas Braulio Carrillo Monteverde Manual Antonio Tortuguero
Río San JuanOcéano PacíficoMar CaribePuntarenas
Cordillera GuanacasteCordillera CentralCordillera Talamanca
(Note: This list will be amended to reflect specific information presented by each class)