Summary
If you had 72 hours, all the resources in the world, where would you go, what would be your dream vacation? While learning about distance versus time, speed and velocity students test their knowledge to plan a group vacation to anywhere in the world. The students pick their own travel groups and plan their vacation. The only rules are they have to use three modes of transportation, travel to at least 5 different locations and they have to be home in Richmond,VA in 72 hours. Students are asked to research the actual distances between locations and with their time limit in mind, research modes of transportation that will optimize their time for activities. Students create a travel guide that highlights their destinations, hotels, adventures, cultural experiences and of course average speeds. If the world is yours for the taking, where would you go? Time is ticking, you better go…fast.
TIPC Ratings
Ideal: In this lesson, students are given an open ended task of planning a dream vacation with certain challenges. They have to research realistic distances and travel times to the locations of their choice. Students are encouraged to investigate faster modes of travel than commercial airlines or cars in order decrease travel times. Students were challenged to analyze their choices and decide on the best plan in order to achieve their travel goals. Research was open ended and the only parameters given to students were the time frame of 72 hrs, the fact that they needed 3 modes of transportation and had to include 5 different locations.
Ideal: Collaboration among group members was a necessity in this lesson. Students had to plan a group vacation that met everyone’s needs and wishes. They synthesized their dreams and goals with other classmates of their choosing and consistently reevaluated their choices for entertainment and even destinations. Students were required to hold one another accountable and solve group problems by tracking their daily goals and accomplishments. By doing so they were able to ensure that each member contributed equally. Students were also asked to complete an evaluation of their work and each group members work at the end of the assignment which factored into their grade. Students used a Google Docs workspace to keep track of their research from home and many groups were able to schedule “Homework Sessions” in which they met online at specific times to work. The beauty of this assignment was the collective dream of multiple students and their ability to compromise and plan together.
Ideal: Students took a seemingly simple task of determining average speed and used it to create a real world adventure. The added challenge of completing this trip in 72 hours ensured that students had to prioritize and logistically plan. Students built on their prior knowledge of the two factors that affect speed (distance and time) and worked with this formula as the base of their research. By asking students to consider hotels and entertainment they struggled to not only travel to these places but also plan how to get from the aiport to the hotels, restaurants etc. all while tracking the elapsed time. They justified their travel choices by choosing faster routes, faster transportation or even reevaluating their plans. Their ability to chose their own destinations and their own modes of transportation meant that they were required to self regulate and problem solve within their own parameters.
Ideal: In this lesson students construct a bucket list of dream locations and then logistically plan a 72 hour trip. They designed their own trip itinerary, travel routes and entertainment. Given the authentic task of planning a vacation students were able to stretch their imaginations and dream of faraway lands. The students were able to find hotels to stay in, taxi services, famous restaurants and cultural activities such as museums, and more. With no regulations of money they world became their playground and there were able to imagine the trip of their dreams. They were unable to take time for granted and were forced to fill their every minute with their wildest dreams while still being realistic.
