You have been studying about the cultures of China and Nigeria. You've learned how the children of China and Nigeria are sometimes just like you, and sometimes very different from you.

Now you will take a very special field trip, right here on your computer, to visit the countries of Brazil and Germany and learn about their cultures.

While you are visiting, you will gather some information to help you answer our very important question:

First, let's build some background knowledge about Brazil and Germany.

• Where in the world and how far away are Brazil and Germany?
  
  • Use this CultureGrams distance calculator to find the distance and see a map.
  • Use Google Earth to find your school, Brazil, and Germany.
• What do Brazil and Germany look like?
  Watch these slideshows to see some pictures of life in Brazil and Germany.

Task and Product

You will keep a travel journal about the places you visit and the information you learn. Some of you will be visiting Brazil and others will be visiting Germany.

• Look at a sample of a travel journal that another first grader wrote for China.

When we get back from our field trip, you will work with a group of students to create a multimedia presentation, picture book, or poster to share the information you have found.

Assessments

Your teacher or librarian may use these scoring tools to evaluate your work:

• Country research checklist
• Final product/presentation:
  • Web 2.0 Rubric
  • Poster rubric
  • Multimedia Presentation rubric
• Teamwork rubric

Essential Question:

"Jump-start Your Thinking" questions:

• What kinds of foods are eaten there?
• What kinds of clothes are worn?
• What are schools like?
• What sports or games are popular?
• What are some traditional holidays or celebrations?

What other questions do you have about Brazil or Germany?

Gather and Sort

Use these pages to write your Travel Journal notes.
Click on the journal for your country.

Click on the map to visit your country. Use the Travel Journal to take notes.

Brazil

Germany

Organize

Use the checklist to be sure you have everything you need to create a multimedia presentation, picture book, or poster about your country.

Work with your group to create your product using a technology tool, as directed by your teacher/librarian.

Photo: clipart.com

Conclusion

Share your group's final product with your classmates.

After each group has shared their work, your class will discuss how the cultures of Brazil and Germany are different from and the same as your own.

Use a Venn diagram to show how the three cultures are different, yet the same and answer our very important question:

Extension: "Native Lingo"

Hear and learn how to say some common words in German and Portuguese (Brazil's official language)!