Category 5: Local Attractions (Natural and Man Made)

A: Task:

Design a web site that showcases local natural and man-made attractions (i.e. rivers, oceans, mountains, museums, zoos, parks, camp grounds).

The theme for CyberFair 2010 is "Believe and Unite!"

Youth are challenged to publish original research projects that focus on how the positive beliefs, behaviors and contributions of their local citizens have the power to improve, preserve and unite their community.

B: Learning Objectives:

1. Students will develop geographic literacy through an awareness of place...the dominant natural and man-made landscape features of their communities. (Natural physical characteristics include land forms, water bodies, soils, natural vegetation and animal life.)
   

2. Students will understand human events by first understanding the characteristics of the places in which these events occurred.
   

3. Students will be able to identify local natural and man-made attractions and explain their origin and importance.

C: Discussion Questions:

• What physical features such as rivers, water, valleys or hills form a natural border or boundary for your community?

• What physical characteristics and natural resources have attracted people to your community?

• What are the man-made attractions in your area?

• How many people visit your area?

• Who are they and where do they come from? How long do they stay?

• What kind of impact do they have on your community?

• How are they spending their money?

• Do the visitors add money to the local economy or does it cost more than they spend to accommodate them?

• Is your local community dependent upon these visitors?

• What would happen if they stopped coming?

D: Suggested Starter Activities:

1. List and classify reasons why people students know have chosen to move to your community. Students can find newspaper articles and/or advertisement which represent the different attractions of the area.
   

2. Help students to classify responses into major categories. Possible categories are: climate, employment, educational opportunities, entertainment.
   

3. Distribute magazines and newspapers. Have the students work in small groups to scan the materials for articles, pictures and ads which relate to each of the categories identified.
   

4. Investigate the different attractions tourists visit, such as zoos and museums.
   

5. Students can develop a travel guide describing the various attractions that would interest a tourist to the community.

E: Examples of Projects

• Nourish Touke, Grace Dakeng
  Yu-Jen Catholic Elementary School
  Taichung, Taiwan
• Wondrous Wyandotte Caves
  Cannelton Elementary School
  Cannelton, Indiana, United States