European Portfolio Project Due February 9, 2011 Where Would You Like to Travel in Europe? Why? Imagine you have been offered a two week-long trip, all expenses paid, to Europe. Will you visit historical sites? Go on an ecotourism tour? Live with a local family? Learn a local craft? Which cities and towns will you visit? You are going to submit a 14-day travel itinerary and persuasive essay to a panel to prove that your trip is of educational value and a good investment to enhance your life.

There are only two conditions for your visit. 1. You cannot spend your time at resorts! Rather, you must go to areas where you can learn about the culture, daily life, and history of the region.

2. You must submit an itinerary for how you will spend your time as well as a persuasive essay on why your trip is of educational value in a professional portfolio. Your itinerary and essay must account for 14 days of travel and explain why you chose each item on your itinerary.

Description Your portfolio assignment has 4 steps:  Researching Europe  Analyzing your research  Making an itinerary; including pictures  Writing a persuasive essay  Turn in Professional Portfolio with all requirements included

Sample Itinerary An itinerary is a list of places to be visited. Here is an example of a partial itinerary for Mexico. (Note: Mexico is not a part of Europe; this is an example) Day 1: Fly into Mexico City. Ride a trolley from the north end of the city to the south end. This will help me to orient myself to the city while adjusting to the high altitude of Mexico City. Day 2: Eat a local breakfast of tamales and atole from a street vendor. Visit the Meseo Nacional de Antropologia. This museum will give me the background to understand and appreciate the Aztec and Mayan sites I will visit later in my trip. Visit a local family for a traditional Mexican dinner. The International House can help me find a family. Day 3: Take a walking tour of the Centro Historico, including Aztec ruins and a 16th century cathedral. I am interested in seeing this part of the city since I learned about Aztec and Spanish colonial history in Social Studies class. Day 4: Go to the Centro Cultural Tepeticpac Tlahtolcalli to learn about heuheutl drum playing. I play drums at home and am interested in learning how to play these indigenous drums. Day 5: Spend a quiet day in the park. Many Mexicans go to the Chapultepec Park on Sundays, so I will be able to learn more about Mexican culture while taking a day of rest. Day 6: Travel to the Teotihuacan pyramids. Day 7: Leave Mexico City and travel to Cardenas. From there I will travel to the Mayan ruins in southern Mexico. European Portfolio Project Due February 9, 2011 Step 1: Research Research the destinations of your choice. You may choose to stay in one European country or visit several countries throughout the region. The countries of Europe:  Austria  Holland  Norway  Belgium  Hungary  Poland  Belarus  Iceland  Portugal  Bosnia  Ireland  Romania  Bulgaria  Italy  Russia  Croatia  Latvia  Scotland  Czech Republic  Liechtenstein  Serbia  Denmark  Lithuania  Slovenia  England  Luxemburg  Spain  Estonia  Malta  Sweden  Finland  Moldova  Switzerland  France  Monaco  Turkey  Germany  Montenegro  Vatican City  Greece  Netherlands

You will need to find all of the following information to complete your itinerary and essay: • Key attractions you would like to visit • Activities you would like to do • Local food you would like to eat • Cultural events you would like to see (music, dance, festivals, etc.)

You can use note cards, type your notes on the computer, or use some other method of note- taking. These should be included in your portfolio

There are many sources of information about Europe, including your textbook and sites attached to my webpage: http://classroom.wisd.org/webs/akline/ You can also check: • Many countries’ governments run tourism Web sites • Weather Web sites can help you decide the best time to travel

Step 2: Research Analysis

Before you write your itinerary and essay, reflect on the information you learned while researching your trip. Write down your thoughts on the following questions; you will need the answers to complete your itinerary and essay. • What are your top priorities? Is it a specific country or region? • Is there a theme to your travel, such as music, food, or historical sites? European Portfolio Project Due February 9, 2011 • What is the educational value of the places you chose? • Why will you enjoy visiting the places you chose?

Step 3: Itinerary Now, make your itinerary for your proposed trip! Be sure to address the following issues in your final itinerary:

• How are you using your time? Think about how long it will take you to visit certain places, travel, attend performances, etc. • How will you get from place to place? • Your itinerary should last 14 days, with Day 1 as your arrival and Day 14 as your departure. You do not have to arrive and depart from the same city.

Part 4: Writing a Persuasive Essay Write a short essay to persuade the funders that your trip is of educational value to you. Make sure to address the following issues in your final itinerary:

 Why your trip is of education value?  Why the trip is a good match for your specific interests?  Why is your trip worth the investment?  How will this trip enhance and affect the rest of your life?

Good Luck and Happy Planning!!! 