A. Topic and Introduction

The purpose of this assignment supports active student inquiry using carefully selected and evaluated web sites as well as other appropriate resources to study their topic. The Internet is large with many inappropriate sites that young children should not explore. This web-based activity will give students websites to visit that will give them helpful information to complete their assignment. Through this assignment the students will become more familiar with working with and researching information using the Internet.

My rationale for this web quest is for the students to get to know Burlington, Vermont better. They will be asked to point out the main reasons why people like to come and visit Burlington by researching some activities, the restaurants and hotels, and tourists’ sites and are offered in Burlington, Vermont.

The focusing questions for this web quest are: What does Burlington, Vermont have to offer for tourists?

B. The Task

There has just been a new contest created for a specific company. The winner of the contest will win a trip to Burlington, Vermont for one weekend. All expenses will be paid for. You are asked to plan the entire weekend for the contest. Your job is to research and find out what hotels offer the best accommodations and prices, what restaurants they will be able to eat at, and what activities and sites that they can see in Burlington. You must also find out some general information and reasons why people would want to visit Burlington that will invite people to join this contest. Finally, you must come up with a final presentation to show the company that will advertise this new contest. Have fun with your job but don’t forget the weekend will be free for the winner so try to be as cost efficient as possible.

C. Information Resources:

The following are some great websites to obtain information about Burlington, Vermont:

Http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/ The City of Burlington, Vermont

Http://www.cedoburlington.org/ Community and Economic Development Office

Http://www.vermont.org/ The Lake Champlain Valley of Greater Burlington

Http://www.discoverburlington.com/ The Search Center for General Information

http://www.vtliving.com/towns/burlington/ Burlington VT Travel Accommodations and Tourist Information

http://burlingtonvt.miningco.com/cs/vermont/ New England for Visitors

http://burlington.areaguides.net/ A Complete Guide to Burlington, Vermont

D. Description of the Process

1. Each student will take on a specific task or job during this project. These task include:

1) Research hotels

2) Research possible restaurants

3) Research activities or sites to see in Burlington

4) Research general information about Burlington (population, economy, or general reasons why people would want to visit Burlington.)

2. Each student will be asked to research their topics and create a list of options or choices to represent to their group.
3. The group must analyze every aspect of the weekend including best accommodations, time, different areas of interest and tastes, and last but not least, money. Amongst the group, look over information that each member has researched and discuss the best possible options.
4. Decide on their exact plans for every day of the weekend vacation.
5. The group must create and design a rough draft of a poster of the “Free Vacation to Burlington, Vermont” (a form of advertisement) that they would represent to the company who is holding the contest. This poster must include a description of the prize as well. The poster can include specific information of every aspect of the prize and include illustrations that would be appealing to the company and the contestants of the contest.
6. In the groups, the students will again divide the responsibilities of each member for providing the final copy of the poster. These tasks include:

1) Illustrator

2) Writer

3) Dictator

4) A person to color in the pictures

7. With the information the group has researched they will present the free weekend prize and poster to the class pretending it is the company. They must include the main reasons why people would want to enter the contest of winning a free trip to Burlington.

E. Guidance

Leading Questions:

What hotel offers the best accommodations, locations, and cost?

Think of a place to eat for three meals for each day of the weekend. Remember to be making it cost efficient and include options for a diverse range of types of food.

What are some popular tourists’ sites to see in Burlington?

Describe Burlington’s current events that make Burlington a fun, good place to visit.

Are there any historical sites that people can visit in Burlington?

Where can the contest winners go shopping or what can they do during their “down time”?

Template For the Final Product:

The final chart must include the hotel that the winners will be staying. You must indicate the hotels location and the accommodations they offer while staying there. Activities and tourists’ sites will be listed here as well. Make sure to offer a variety of activities depending on the winners’ interests. A brief explanation of each activity or site will be helpful to be added for extra information. A list of restaurants that the winner’s can choose from must be seen on the final product so that they can decide where they will be dining throughout the weekend. Above all, the final product must be inviting and catch the eyes of the contestants of the contest. General information about Burlington will help people create a picture of the vacation in their minds. Pictures or illustrations of Burlington will be useful.

F. Evaluation

Rubric

	Beginning 1 Point	Developing 2 Points	Accomplished 3 Points
Content	Project includes little information that is needed to complete their task.	Project includes most of the information that is needed to complete their task.	Project includes all information that is needed to complete their task.
Research	The project shows little examples of research using the websites or any other resources in the classroom.	The project shows some examples of research using the websites or any other resource in the classroom.	The project shows examples of a lot of research using the websites or any other resources in the classroom.
Organization	The project shows little organization.	The project shows some organization.	The project is well organized.
Final Product	The final product was represented will little or no illustrations included.	The final product is well represented will some organization. The final product has some illustrations.	The final product is well represented and organized and is easily understood. The final product is neat and illustrated.
Total Points

G. Conclusion

To complete this assignment, I will ask each of the students from the groups to write a final reflection. In this reflection I will ask the students to write about their experience completing this project. I will ask them to include how their group worked together and how each person completed the tasks that they were asked to do in each group. I will also ask them to write about any new information that they have learned that they never knew before about Burlington. By doing this I will be able to see how each student felt about the project and what I could do differently in the future. I will also be able to find out what the students know and have now learned about Burlington, Vermont. This will help me in the future if we touch back on this subject so I will already know what the students know and would like to know. I will also be able to evaluate each group when they present their final products to the class. I will ask each member to have a turn speaking to the class so that it is clear that each member had a part in the project.