WebQuest: Los parques nacionales

Unidad 8: Costa Rica: Una rutina diferente

Costa Rica is a country that is known for its national parks. The United States is also famous for its park service and the number of
national parks it has. Have you ever visited a national park in the United States? Are there any near where you live? Can you name
some of the most well-known U.S. national parks? What different kinds of geographical features and wildlife do you associate with
national parks in the U.S.?

Task:
You will research four different national parks in Costa Rica and four similar parks in the United States. Before you begin your
research, you will familiarize yourself with some Spanish terminology related to nature, geography, and the outdoors. You will then
use that terminology to discuss different parks you are already familiar with in the United States. Once you have practiced the new
vocabulary, you will look at different categories of park to research: parks with caves, parks with beaches and coral reefs, parks with
volcanoes, and parks known for their distinctive wildlife. Research two parks within that category (one in Costa Rica and one in the
U.S.), and collect data about each one. Then choose your favorite Costa Rican and U.S. national park, based on the information
presented.

Step 1: Analyze the task and research

What do you know about different national parks in the United States? Have you visited any? If so, which ones? What kinds of
geographic features do they have? What kinds of wildlife? Use model sentences like the following and the list of vocabulary to guide
your conversation in Spanish.

Write a summary of your results using the following:

Fui al Parque... / Este parque tiene... También visité al Parque <nombre>... Ese parque tiene... y hay mucho... Allí caminamos mucho y nadamos en el océano
y...
Geografía Flora y fauna En el parque

cavernas/cuevas monos (monkeys) sendero (path)

pantano (swamp) tortuga (turtle) paseo en kayak

península lagarto (lizard) excursión organizada

arena (sand) reptiles montar a caballo (horseback riding)

lago (lake) pájaro (bird) camping

arrecife (coral reef) oso hormiguero (anteater) ciclismo

playa araña (spider) surfing

laguna culebra/serpiente buceo (scuba diving)

rana (frog) observación de pájaros

cocodrilo

bosque (forest)

selva (jungle)

Now research one Costa Rican park from each of the following categories. Click on the links to view resources. (Because there are so
many U.S. national parks to choose from, you will choose your U.S. park from a list in a Web site in the Resources section.)

Caves
This section contains links to information on Parque Nacional Barra Honda, which is known for its pre-Columbian caves.
Beaches and Coral Reefs
This section links to information on the following Costa Rican National Parks: Parque Nacional Cahuita, Parque Nacional Manuel
Antonio, and Parque Nacional Corcorvado.

Volcanoes
This section links to information on the following Costa Rican National Parks: Parque Nacional Arenal, Parque Nacional Volcán
Irazú, Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, Parque Nacional Volcán Poás, and Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja.

Wildlife
This section links to information on the following Costa Rican National Parks: InterParque Nacional La Amistad, Parque Nacional
Orosi (Tapantí), Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas y Refugio de Vida Silvestre Tamarindo, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, and
Parque Nacional de Palo Verde.

Step 2: Research
Go to the section for each category of park (Caves, Beaches and Coral Reefs, Volcanoes, or Wildlife). For your Costa Rican park,
follow the links there to conduct your research, using the diagram provided. To choose your corresponding U.S. National Park, use the
link under Estados Unidos to go to the National Park Service Web page that will allow you to search the U.S. National Park System
by type of park. Select your category and then choose from among the U.S. National Parks that appear. Use search engines and the
link provided to research your National Park in the U.S. If you find interesting visuals, download them to share.

¡OJO! Be sure to visit the Evaluation section of this activity before you start researching. Knowing how your presentation will be
evaluated will help you focus on the information you need to include.

Step 3: Create your Presentation

Once you have finished your research, prepare a presentation on the Costa Rican park you chose as your favorite and the
corresponding U.S. park. Be sure to include information about the geographic features of the park, its flora and fauna, and what
services or activities the park offers. If possible, include visuals in your presentation.

When you make your presentation, keep in mind the following features of an effective presentation:

• It will inform about one park in Costa Rica and a park with similar features in the United States.
• It will include information about geography, wildlife, and park services in each park.
• It will point out the similarities and differences between the two parks.

The whole project is worth 15 points (5 points per Step).

Excellent 12-15 points Good 8-11 points Needs Work 1-7 points

Step 1. Analysis Evidence of a good analysis and of Evidence of some analysis and of Project not turned in or little to no
the research task. Appropriate use the research task. Incomplete use of real evidence of analysis of task.
of Spanish to discuss past visits to Spanish to discuss past visits to Used little or no Spanish to discuss
national parks and to practice new national parks and to practice new past visits to national parks and to
vocabulary. vocabulary. practice new vocabulary.

Step 2. Research Information only partially Little or no real evidence of

Information well organized.
organized or incomplete. research.

Step 3. Presentation Good presentation that includes all

the required topics, including Disorganized presentation or not No presentation or little to no effort
information about national parks in much effort on presentation. on presentation.
the U.S. and Costa Rica.