Dear _________________________________,

��������� Congratulations!� You have just been selected to be a foreign exchange student to the country of _____________________.

It is your responsibility to take excellent notes while visiting so you can share this information with your classmates upon returning.�

��������� You will have some class time to do the necessary fact finding for your country; however, the final presentation preparation may take some time outside of the classroom.

��������� Remember, as a foreign exchange student, you become an ambassador to that country.� As an ambassador, you need to become an expert about that country so you can be an excellent representative during our foreign exchange conference.

��������� Good luck and enjoy your new responsibility!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ellis

Latin American Vacation

��������� Imagine that you are visiting a Latin American country.� While you are visiting, you will be taking notes.� These notes will help you give a presentation about your trip to classmates when you return.� Attached you will find a list of questions that will guide you in finding information about your fun and exciting trip.� If you finish these questions early, you may take notes on any other information you learn about that might enhance your presentation.

��������� Your final product will include:

� Map of your country

- physical features

- bordering countries/bodies of water

- colored neatly with colored pencils and labeled

� Summary of your trip (more information about this later)

- information from notes (cultural characteristics)

- pictures/illustrations (animal, plant, flag, etc.)

� Outline

� Table of contents

� Bibliography

� Anything else you want to add (diorama, food sample, craft samples, etc.)

*VERY IMPORTANT:�

• Do not throw anything away because I will need to collect ALL of your work at the end of the unit, including the packet!

• Remember, this is an outcome for both Language Arts and Social Studies.� Use your class time wisely and do the best work you can!

All written summaries must:

• be typed
• explain where you went and what you did each day of your trip
• include descriptions so the reader can visualize your trip
• include SPECIFIC facts from your study guide/outline (show the reader what you learned about your country, but you do not need to include every single fact)
• follow the extra requirements for the format you choose from below
• be stapled/paper clipped with your study guide (notes), outline, rough draft, and any other papers related to this project

You may choose from ONE of the following formats:

1. Seven Postcards

� Follow the sample postcard displayed in the room

� One postcard for each day of your trip

� Date, greeting, address, salutation, your signature

� One paragraph each

� Picture (one colored original drawing on front of each postcard

� Seven stamps (each postcard should have an original colored drawing)

*This is informal writing with detailed drawings.

2. Seven Journal/Diary Entries

� One entry for each day of your trip

� Date, greeting, salutation

� One paragraph each

*This is personal, reflective writing.

3. One Short Story

� 9 paragraphs (introduction, one paragraph for each day, conclusion)

*This is creative writing.�

�Country Study Guide

• You will use the following guide to find information about your country.�

• You will use encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, and books from the library.

• You will need to use five different resources as you look for information.

Environment

1. Is your country located in North America, Central America, the

Caribbean, or South America? _____________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. What are the names of the countries/water that border your country?� If it is an island, what countries are nearby?� ___________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. What water features are located in your country?� ______________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4. What is the area in square miles?� __________________________

What state in the USA is about the same size? _________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5. What is the capital city?� _________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6. Describe your country�s geographical features (ex: mountains):� _____

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7. What are your country�s minerals and natural resources?� _________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

8. What is the climate of your country like?� _____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9. Read about the wild animals in your country.� Describe your favorite one:� ________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

10. Read about the plants in your country.� Describe your favorite one:

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Economy

1. What products does your country import?� ____________________

____________________________________________________

���������

��������� What products does your country export?� ____________________

��������� ____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. Describe the food in your country:� _________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. Describes the homes in your country:� _______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4. What are the two most popular jobs in your country?� ____________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Language

1. What is the official language of your country?� _________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. Describe some common expressions/gestures used by the people of your country:� _________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. What do the colors/symbols on your country�s flag represent?� _____

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Institutions

1. What is a typical family like in your country?� What role does each person play?� __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. Describe the education system in your country:� ________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. Describe the government in your country:� ____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Recreation

1. What are two popular games in your country?� __________________

____________________________________________________

How are they the same AND different from games in the USA?� ____

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Arts

1. What are some examples of arts or crafts unique to your country?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. Tell a little bit about a famous artist, writer, singer, or actor in your country:� _____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Beliefs

1. Describe a special holiday celebrated in your country:� ___________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. What are some traditions or customs practiced in your country?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Bibliography: __________________________________________

____________________________________________________

You may add any other information you find on another piece of paper.� Please attach it to this packet before turning it in!

	Proficient	Basic	Not Yet
Notes	Detailed answers	Answered all questions	Missing more than 2 questions
Sources	More than 5 different sources	5 different sources	Less than 5 different sources
Outline	Correct format with all characteristics included	All characteristics included or correct format	Missing characteristics and format incorrect
Rough Draft	Edited with corrections made	Included and finished	Not included or not finished
Table of Contents	Appropriate entries and pages numbered correctly	Missing information and/or pages not numbered correctly	Not included
Bibliography	No errors	Less than 5 errors	Not done or more than 5 errors
Information ( 7 Cultural Characteristics)	More than the basic information required in the note packet	All information required is included	Missing information on more than 1 characteristic or any of the following missing:� map, flag, pictures, or title page