Grade Level: Four, Five

Emma, Conrad and Ivan can't believe what they see in the sky! Above them was a huge balloon. Great-Uncle Lancelot had arrived! From that moment on, life for the Dollybutt children would never be the same! Lancelot takes them in his hot air balloon on a flying journey around the world. This book is a blend of fantasy, excitement and suspense that includes many interesting facts about various animals and countries around the world.

Read aloud chapter one of The Fantastic Flying Journey to the class. At the end of this chapter the Dollybutt children are ready to begin their "fabulous flying journey." This is the perfect time to have the students "take a trip," via the internet, with the lesson "Journey to a Land Far, Far Away." (This lesson could also be completed using various trade books and reference books from the library.) After completing this lesson, the students will have a better understanding of various countries/cultures around the world. (Of course the teacher should continue to read The Fantastic Flying Journey to the class as the students work on their own fabulous journeys.)

This book is excellent for a unit of study in other areas such as:

1. Geography/Map Skills

2. Specific places visited in the book: Africa, Australia, North Pole, Mexico, South America, etc.

3. Climate/weather around the world: ie.: tundra, plains, outback, rain forest, etc.

4. Animal life/habitats around the world

Virtual Tourist 2…………www.wings.buffalo.edu/vt/Virtual Tourist 2

 GNN Travelers' Center……http://nearnet.gnn.com/gnn/meta/travel/index.html

 Virtual Schoolhouse…………http://sunsite.unc.edu/cisco/subjects/subjects.html

 Kids Web……………………www.infomall.org/kidsweb/

Country Fact Files Steck Vaughn Publishers

Enchantment of the World Childrens Press Publishers

New True Books - Countries Franklin Watts Publishers

Passport To Franklin Watts Publishers

Postcards From Steck Vaughn Publishers

Visual Geography Series Lerner Publishers

Where We Live Steck Vaughn Publishers

Each student will need:

1. Travel log worksheets

2. List of sites on the internet for conducting research (see teacher information).

1. Teacher will model how to begin the research, using the first web site and the travel log worksheet.

2. Students will visit suggested web sites and take notes using the travel log worksheet.

3. Students will keep a record of the web sites they used.

4. Students will include a map of areas (cities, states, etc.) visited.

5. When the worksheets are completed, the students will begin writing their country reports.

6. Have students peer edit the reports.

7. Students will complete the final draft of the assignment.

Go to the Virtual Tourist Web Page (http://wings.buffalo.edu/world/vt2) or any other site the teacher suggests.

Once you have found the Virtual Tourist page, click on Country Information.

 1. Where are you off to? (Name of country) _________________________________________

 2. What continent is the country on? _______________________________________________

 3. What are the land boundaries? __________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 4. What water areas does this country claim?________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 5. List the natural resources. _____________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 6. List the exports and imports. ___________________________________________________

 7. Tell about the terrain. ________________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 8. What is the climate like? ______________________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 9. Describe the type of government in this country. ___________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 10. What language is spoken in this country? ________________________________________

 11. What form of currency is used? ________________________________________________

 12. Name three major cities in this country. _________________________________________

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 13. Name (and describe) three important sights you would like to visit. Tell why you would like to visit these places.

____________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 14. Are there any special events or activities you could participate in?

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 15. What kinds of new foods will you try? __________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 16. Other interesting facts about this country. ________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 17. Time to pack your bag. What will you need to bring? Why? ________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 18. Why did you choose to "visit" this country? ______________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 ______________________________

Signature of Traveler