The Road to Morocco

a WebQuest for French classes

 

by Sara Stanton

 

 

 

Introduction

Task

Resources

Process

Evaluation

 Conclusion

Introduction

Félicitations! You have been chosen to help finalize the location for Blackville-Hilda High School’s new study abroad program! The School Board has given preliminary approval to a site in Casablanca, Morocco. Since none of the Board members speak French, they would like you to do some research to determine if their proposed site is suitable for students at BHHS.

 

 

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 The Task

Your goal will be to find out if Morocco would be a good place to start an exchange program. Is Morocco a place where Blackville-Hilda students could learn French and have fun and feel comfortable at the same time? Each of you will become an investigator exploring various aspects of life in Morocco. You will explore the web sites provided and include information, graphics and photos in a PowerPoint presentation that will convince the School Board to go ahead with the Morocco project – or look elsewhere.

Many of the web sites are in French, so you will have ample opportunity to test your command of the written language. You may use a dictionary, but don’t worry about understanding every single word. Just try to get the information you need and HAVE FUN reading the French! For the benefit of those School Board members who are not fluent in French, your finished written and oral presentations should be in English.

 

 

 
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Resources

http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://i-cias.com/e.o/maghreb.htm-Encyclopedia entry in English about Morocco

http://www.maroc.net – Official web site of Morocco, with entries in English and French. Links to all sorts of topics.

http://www.morocco-today.info/- Moroccan English newspaper, with articles about history, culture, activities

http://www.morocco-today.info/pays_maroc.htm – Aperçu sur la géographie du Royaume du Maroc, en français

http://www.morocco-today.info/histoire_maroc.htm – Histoire du Royaume du Maroc, en français

http://www.morocco-today.info/attractions_maroc.htm – Points d’interets au Maroc, en français

http://www.maroc.net/sports/index.htm – Sports in Morocco

http://www.mincom.gov.ma/french/generalites/histoire/histoire.html – Dates importantes dans l’histoire du Maroc, en français

http://www.maroc.net/rc/- Examples of Moroccan music

http://www.mapzones.com/world/africa/morocco/economyindex.php Profiles of education, history, economy, geography (with maps), and many other important topics

 

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The Process

You will be divided into four groups of four. Each group will examine one aspect of life in Morocco. Each member of the group will research the questions below. Type your answers into a new Word document that you will refer to when you make your PowerPoint presentation.

  1. Geography – It’s been quite a while since the School Board members were in geography class, so you need to refresh their memories by finding the answers to basic questions, such as:
  • Where exactly is Morocco?
  • How do you get there from here?
  • Where exactly is Casablanca?
  • Are there other major cities nearby that students could visit on a field trip?
  • What’s the weather like?
  • Are there times of the year when it would be too hot/cold/rainy to study in Casablanca?
  • Are there mountains, rivers, beaches nearby?
  • How far away is the France?
  • Other important points?

2.  Politics, lanugage and religion- The School Board wants to know what kind of country Morocco is, so they’ll need answers to questions such as:

  • What kind of government/political system does Morocco have?
  • Is there a state religion? If so, what is it?
  • Do people have freedom of expression?
  • Would Christians find it difficult to find a place of worship in Casablanca?
  • Is there an official state language? If so, what is it?
  • How many languages are spoken in Morocco?
  • What percentage of the population speaks French?
  • What languages are newspapers written in? How about TV shows and movies? Popular music?
  • What kind of problems, if any, does terrorism pose in Morocco? Are there militant Islamic fundamentalists, etc.?

3. Food and customs – The School Board wants to be sure that our students can adapt to everyday life in Morocco, so they’ll need answers to questions such as:

  • How many meals a day do people eat? At what times of day do they eat them?
  • What are some typical foods? Do you think BHHS students would like them?
  • Are there fast food chains in Casablanca?
  • Blackville-Hilda High students will be living with Moroccan families. How big is a typical Moroccan family? What is a typical house in Casablanca like?
  • How do Moroccans earn a living?
  • Does the average woman work outside the home? If so, what kind job does she do?
  • Is schooling mandatory?
  • How do people dress? Can girls wear the kinds of clothes they wear around here?
  • Is the average person rich or poor by our standards, etc.?

4. Fun and enrichment – The School Board wants to know how our students will be spending their spare time, so they’ll need answers to the following questions:

  • Are there movie theatres in Casablanca? What movies are currently showing?
  • Is there a Moroccan movie industry?
  • What is Moroccan TV like? What shows seem to be popular in Casablanca?
  • What kind of music is popular? Do you think our students will enjoy it? Why or why not?
  • Which language(s) do popular Moroccan singers sing in?
  • What sports are popular? Are there professional sports teams?
  • Are there public gyms, pools, golf courses, etc. where our students could play?
  • Are there museums, zoos, aquariums, etc. that would appeal to our students?

After you’ve thoroughly researched your topic, work with your group members to prepare your PowerPoint presentation for the Board. Your PowerPoint presentation should include the following:

  • An overview of your topic. Use at least four slides with images and transitions.
  • A conclusion about the suitability of Casablanca with supporting text. Say why Casablanca, Morocco would or would not be a good choice for BHHS’s study abroad program. Use at least two slides with images and transitions.

To ensure that all work is done properly, each person will have a task.
  1. The Research Editor will oversee the analysis of information. Working with the information the group has accumulated, this person will be in charge of determining what is important and relevant. This person will lead discussions with the group to determine the group’s opinion of Casablanca as a site for BHHS’s study abroad program.
  2. The Storyboard Editor will determine how the argument for or against Casablanca will be presented on PowerPoint slides. This person will write headings and a general description of what goes on each page.
  3. The Copy Editor will assign writing tasks to group members and will proof the copy. This person will also make sure that all group members are doing their jobs.
  4. The Artistic Director will make sure the slides are visually appealing and hold together as one continuous unit. This person will oversee use of images and transitions.

 

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Evaluation

Click here to see project rubric.

Click here to see project checklist.

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Conclusion

By the time you finish your PowerPoint you will have become an expert on one aspect of life in Casablanca, Morocco. In addition to that, you will realize that your ability to understand authentic French texts is phenomenal!

        

                                                       

                    

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Introduction | Task | Resources  | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion