CULTURAL RESEARCH ON THE POINTS OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE: PUERTO RICO, FLORIDA, BERMUDA

SHORT TERM GOALS:

  1. To explore thoroughly the cultures of Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Florida, which create the three points of the Bermuda Triangle.
  2. To use research skills and techniques to find specific information regarding each of these points.
  3. To present information in a variety of ways, such as a Power Point presentation or bulletin board display.
  4. To provide the students with opportunities to learn information about these cultures through other group presentations, as well as teach their classmates specific information they have researched.

TIME ALLOTMENT: 5 hours

CONTENT AREAS ADDRESSED:

  1. Social studies
  2. Geography
  3. History
  4. Language Arts
  5. Computer usage

CONCEPTS ADDRESSED:

  1. World Cultures
  2. Research skills
  3. Speaking and Presentation skills

MATERIALS:

  1. Information books, magazines, pamphlets, and tour books about Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Florida
  2. Computers, Power Point software
  3. Map of the Bermuda Triangle
  4. Bulletin boards, poster board
  5. Markers, glue, glitter, paper, and other materials needed to decorate the posters
  6. Hat, list of categories to research
  7. Any other materials the students will need for their presentations

PROCEDURE:

  1. Show the students a map of the Bermuda Triangle. Before beginning this activity, the students will need to review the geographical location of the Bermuda Triangle and the points forming this triangle. These specific points are Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Florida, specifically Miami.
  2. Divide the class into six groups total. For this lesson, there will be two groups researching each point of the Bermuda Triangle, which are Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Groups can either choose a particular place to research or draw the places out of a hat for fairness.
  3. Each group will research three to four specific categories concerning their particular point of the Bermuda Triangle. This method can also be done by choosing categories or drawing the categories from a hat. Some categorical ideas to research for each of these Bermuda Triangle points are as follows:

    Categories: Literature, Government, Food, Recreation, Climate, Family life, Industry, Geography, Music, Education, History

  4. Once the groups have chosen a particular point of the Bermuda Triangle, as well as the specific categories, they are ready to begin their research. A list of books for students to use about Puerto Rico, Florida, and Bermuda are included in the reference section at the end of this lesson. Students are also encouraged to research using the Internet as well. Some useful web sites are as follows:

    Web sites:

    http://www.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/United_States/Dependent_Areas/Puerto_Rico/

    http://Welcome.toPuertoRico.org/

    http://www.princeton.edu/~accion/puerto.html

    http://Escape.toPuertoRico.com/

    http://www.bermuda.com/

    http://miami.yahoo.com

    http://www.leg.state.fl.us/

  5. After the research component of this lesson, groups will begin to prepare their oral presentations concerning their Bermuda Triangle point and specific categories. For the oral presentations, students can either create a Power Point presentation or a bulletin board display. If the groups choose to use the Power Point software, some introduction to this software may be needed. If the groups choose to create a bulletin board display, they are encouraged to use a variety of decorative materials to add pizzazz to the product.
  6. Students are encouraged to be creative with their oral presentations. For example, if a group has the category of food, they may bring in a sample dish from their particular culture. If a group has the category of music, they are encouraged to teach the class a traditional cultural dance. The creativity is endless for these oral presentations!
  7. Provide the students with ample time to practice their oral presentations as a group before presenting the material to the class, as well as time to finish the oral presentation visual aids.
  8. Dedicate a block of time for each group to present their material about the Bermuda Triangle point. Groups will have approximately 10-15 minutes for their oral presentations. While other groups are presenting the material and information about the specific categories of their point, students are encouraged to pay close attention to this material of their peers.
  9. After all of the presentations are completed, students can display their visual aids around the room. This will create a cultural atmosphere and continually remind the students of the uniqueness of each culture.

ASSESSMENT:

  1. Group Participation Rubric
  2. Observation Checklist
  3. Power Point Rubric
  4. Evaluate group presentations using the Oral Presentation Rubric. For this particular lesson, an added category of Visual Aids may be useful. This section on Visual Aids may be added as follows: 4 - The speakers use effective visual aids that coincide with the oral presentation and the visual aids are well constructed and created.

    3 - The speakers mostly use effective visual aids that coincide with the oral presentation and the visual aids are well constructed.

    2 - The speakers rarely use effective visual aids to coincide with the oral presentation and the visual aids are lacking in pleasing appearance.

    1 - The speakers do not use visual aids or if visual aids are used for the oral presentation, they are lacking in pleasing appearance.

EXTENSIONS:

  1. A follow-up activity for this lesson would be to play a game of Jeopardy concerning each of the cultures and the specific categories researched. One of the short term goals for this lesson was to have students learn information from their peers, as well as teach information to their peers. Each group can create questions pertaining to their oral report and use these questions for the game of Jeopardy.
  2. It is a very beneficial learning experience for students to research the cultures of the world. This lesson can be continued throughout the year with the students researching a plethora of cultures. At the end of the year, each student can pick one particular culture and the class can have a Culture Fair. Students can play music, cook food, or play games relating to their particular culture. This activity would be enjoyable for the entire family or as an all school activity.

REFERENCES:

Abels, H. (1987). The bermuda triangle. Mankato, Minnesota: Crestwood House. [ISBN: 0-89686-340-9]

Abodaher, D.J. (1993). Puerto rico: America's 51st state. New York: Franklin Watts. [ISBN: 0-531-13024-X]

Berger, G., Epstein, A., & Paull, J. (Eds.). (1996). Fodor's 97: Florida. New York: Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. [ISBN: 0-679-03220-7]

Berlitz, C. (1977). The bermuda triangle. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc. [ISBN: 0-385-04114-4]

Bruns, R.A. & Richardson, H.K. (1986). Bermuda. Edgemont, PA: Chelsea House Publishers. [ISBN: 1-55546-159-X]

Caribbean travel book. (1994). Buffalo, New York: Quebecor Printing Buffalo, Inc. [ISBN: unavailable]

Collins, J. (1977). The bermuda triangle. Milwaukee: Raintree Children's Books. [ISBN: 0-8172-1050-4]

Cusack, M.J. (1976). Is there a bermuda triangle. New York: Julian Messner.

[ISBN: 0-671-32783-6]

Fischer, M. (1990). Miami. Minneapolis: Dillon Press, Inc. [ISBN: 0-87518-428-6]

Fradin, D. (1992). Florida: From sea to shining sea. Chicago: Children's Press. [ISBN: 0-516-03809-5]

Fradin, D. (1995). Puerto rico: From sea to shining sea. Chicago: Children's Press. [ISBN: 0-516-03856-7]

Gaffron, N. (1995). The bermuda triangle: Opposing viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. [ISBN: 1-56510-217-7]

Hammond world atlas. (1988). Maplewood, New Jersey: Hammond Inc. [ISBN: 0-8437-1135-3]

Kent, D. (1992). Puerto rico: America the beautiful. Chicago: Children's Press. [ISBN: 0-516-00498-0]

Kusch, L.D. (1975). The bermuda triangle mystery-solved. New York: Warner Books, Inc. [ISBN: 0-446-89014-6195]

Levy, P.M. (1995). Cultures of the world: Puerto rico. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. [ISBN: 1-85435-690-9]

Porter, D. (1993). Frommer's comprehensive travel guide: Bermuda. New York: Prentice Hall Travel. [ISBN: 0-671-79768-9]

Puerto rico in pictures. (1987). Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publication Company.

[ISBN: 0-8225-1821-X]

Stone, L. (1987). Florida: America the beautiful. Chicago: Children's Press. [ISBN: 0-516-00455-7]

Thompson, K. (1996). Florida. Austin, Texas: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers. [ISBN: 0-8114-7329-5]

Winslow, Z. (1986). Puerto rico. Edgemont, PA: Chelsea House Publishers.

[ISBN: 1-55546-154-9]

 

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