Introduction

Do you long for warm ocean breezes or winters of cold and snow? Maybe you live in a tropical rainforest or sit on a huge supply of oil, natural gas and other minerals. Could diamonds be your best friend? On this webquest you and your team will create an imaginary country full of rich natural resources with all the wants and needs of any fifth grader. So get ready to imagine, compromise and get ready to trade in 'Let's Make a Deal!'

The Quest

Your group task is to create an imaginary country using the brief description given to you by your teacher. In groups of three, you will be assigned a task to accomplish. Each of you will be checking out web-sites both to review economic terms and to assist in answering the critical questions needed to trade internationally.

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Social Studies. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Infoplease Atlas - Location of real world countries are here. Use this site to compare your 'New World: country with an existing one.
• Countries - Reports on countries all over the world are here.
• Guide to Country Profiles - Look here for help in researching the economics of real countries
• Economic Quiz - Go to this site for a quick review of economic concepts

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Natural Resource Administrator

1. What natural resources are found in real counties with similar descriptions as yours?
2. Will your country contain all of the same resources, or might you omit some?
3. Which natural resources will you tap into to make or produce products benefical for exporting and meeting the needs of your citizens?

Trade Minister

1. Based on known information about your country what products could be available for export?
2. What items will to be imported, based on the needs of your citizens?
3. Since every country has a limit as to what can be exported, what are the opportunity costs involved for choosing your exports?

Trade Expediter

1. How will you prioritize your country's wants and needs?
2. Describe the need for trade relationships with the other imaginary countries.
3. Be ready to block or pose barriers to trade with other countries.
4. What are the opportunity costs when imports are chosen?

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Social Studies. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a well organized report.

Rand McNally is presently compiling information to include in its 21st edition of Goode's World Atlas. Since this is the top rated atlas of all time you want your country to be included in the newest edition.
Your group will provide the latest and most authentic information about your country to the publisher.
In your report please include the following:

Name of your country
Location using latitude and longitude
Area (sq. mi.)
Climate
Minerals
Vegetation
Predominant Economies
Economic Alliances

Feel free to send your country's flag if one is available

Your Contact is: Mrs. Jordan

Conclusion

So is an elephant smooth, rough, soft, or hard? Well, when you're blindfolded and only *looking* at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as Social Studies: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Social Studies could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.

Evaluation
Your performance will be evaluated in three ways;

1. You will be evaluated for the work you do individually
2. Your group will be evaluated on the report sent to Rand McNally
3. A final grade will be based on the ability of your group to trade in the international trade web activity held in class.