The Perfect Vacation:Working at a Travel Agency

Liza MorenoEDTC 6341

Overview

The Perfect Vacation

• Grade: Middle School• Subject: Language Arts, Geography• Time Span: 2-4 Weeks• Authentic Problem: Create a Vacation

Package for a Teacher in Your School• Description: Students will participate in

skills building activities throughout the unit and develop a travel package, using the four types of writing.

4 Types of Writing

State Standards

Literacy

Collaboration

Authentic Learning

Activities

Assessment

Expository

Persuasive

Descriptive

Narrative

Organization

Transitions

Information

Position

Topic Sentence

Examples

Events

SettingPlot

Characters

Sensory LanguageFigurative

Language

Adjectives

Sentence Structure Punctuation

Adjectives

Proper Nouns

GrammarParts of Speech

Foundations

Literacy4 Types

of Writing

Expository Persuasive Narrative Descriptive

Budget Report Press Release Travel BrochureMultimedia

Presentation

numbers, addition,subtraction, average,

spreadsheet

logo, slogan,greeting, closing,topic sentence,

reasons

font, headline,image, color,

paragraphs, outline

visual symbols,maps, continents,land formations,flags, hotel class

Problem Solving4 Types of Writing

Expository – Budget Report

Persuasive – Press Release

Narrative – Brochure

Descriptive – Presentation

analyze, plan, create, categorize, evaluate

compare, contrast, generalize, summarize

predict, outline, organize, infer, develop

elaborate, describe, conclude, explain

Knowledge

Tourism

Geography

Culture

Language

MapsLanguage

Arts

Audience

Syntax

Purpose

Grammar

Editing

SocialScience

Create a Vacation Package

Contents

1. Language Arts/Reading Vocabulary Development

2. Writing/Expository Texts

3. Use Oral and Written Conventions

4. Research/Research Plan

5. Listening/Speaking

6. Social Studies Skills

Activities

Authentic Activities

MultimediaPresentation

VacationItinerary

Budget Report

Create a Press Release

Travel Brochure

Research

Activities

Background Activities

• Manager- advertising and persuasion, outlining, sentence structure, parts of a paragraph

• Travel Agent- research skills, research plan, internet search skills, databases

• Travel Sales Consultant- report writing, creating a budget, working with Excel

• Customer Service Specialist- using adjectives, synonyms, symbolism, sensory language, working with Windows Movie Maker

• Travel Agency- research plan, construct research questions, discuss job-related skills

Travel Agency (Group)Introduction:What is a

Travel Agency?

United Streaming Video

Jobs related to a Travel Agency

Job interestInventory

Discussion

Select GroupsCreate

Client Questions

Select Clients Select Jobs

Travel Agency (Group)

Research Plan

Review InterviewResponses

Construct Research Questions

SelectSources (from list)

Manager

Press Release

Persuasive WritingPowerPoint

PresentationOutlining Handout

PersuasiveVocabularyWorksheet

Persuasive Writingin Advertisements

(Discussion)

Travel Sales Consultant

Budget Report

Creating Budgetwith Excel Lesson

Travel ExpensesDiscussion

Practice TravelBudget Worksheet

How to SummarizeWorksheet

Travel Agent

Travel Brochure

Parts of a BrochurePowerPoint

Presentation

Brochure Structureand Design

(Discussion)

SequencingWorksheet

Narrative WritingPractice

Customer Service Specialist

MultimediaPresentation

Descriptive WritingLecture

Sensory LanguageHandout

Working withMicrosoft

PowerPointActivity

What is Copyright? Worksheet

Constructing Activities

MultimediaPresentation

Brochure

Press Release

Budget Report

Travel Agency

Sharing Activities

Share Research

Share Responsibilities

Share Ideas

Presentation

Assessment

System of Assessment

• The unit will be assessed using rubrics. • Research – summarizing, syntax, grammar,

sources, research plan• Press Release – persuasive structure• Itinerary – problem solving, organizing• Budget Report – sentence structure, transitions• The brochure – narrative structure, setting,

sequencing • Multimedia Presentation – descriptive language,

sensory images, symbolism

Learning Environment• Classroom: Desks are arranges in groups of four or five, facing the front-

center of the room. Two computers are placed at opposite sides of the room. A “types of writing” center is located next to the teacher.

• Computer Cart: The computer cart with fifteen computers is requested for research sections, creating budgets, constructing a spreadsheet, and creating products.

• Home: Homework assignments include research, written descriptions, vocabulary, practice tour worksheet, and practice budget worksheet.

• Values: Students are given roles related to a travel agency; they must work together to succeed. Students will be encouraged to share ideas, take risks, participate, and encourage others. An emphasis will be placed on following processes, creativity, collaboration, and group roles.