In sixth grade students “Went Places around the World in 180 Days,” in the world cultures classroom. These same students went through a rigorous application process for their chance to be one of the twelve students selected to study abroad in Costa Rica for nine days during spring break. On this study abroad, students will explore the rainforests, beaches, wildlife, volcanoes, and a classroom in the Costa Rican Central American oasis. None of the students who were selected for this trip have ever left the country and this experience will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The nine day program will be through EF Tours, and educational tour company that has experience and expertise leading students abroad. The specific tour is called “Costa Rica: A touch of the tropics,” and its purpose is to educate and expose students to a variety of different experiences throughout their travel of the country.In order to truly expect our students to be able to compete with the best, we must give them opportunities for them to see what the best feels like. An international experience where students can explore culture, language and a different lifestyle will harvest a worldliness inside of them that cannot be replaced by textbooks and films. Students will know and feel the importance of being a global citizen and the value other countries have in our world.Each student will learn organization, budgeting, fundraising, culture, geography, communication, writing, language, independence, and responsibility by preparing and attending this trip. Organization: Students will create a timeline that shows dates, events, and deadlines leading up to their trip. This timeline will serve as a backbone for their planning. They will also be responsible for attending weekly meetings on behalf of the trip that will keep them informed of their expectations and requirements. Budgeting: Each student will create their own fundraising account that they will be responsible for. It is their responsibility to dedicate time and energy to fundraise the necessary funds required to attend this trip. Fundraising: Students will have opportunities provided by the teacher to raise funds for their trip. However, students must ultimately make the efforts individually to afford the money it will cost to take this trip. Culture: Each week, students will learn more about Costa Rican culture that will provide them with background information useful to their travel. When they are in the country they will experience first-hand what the culture feels and looks like and will be able to interpret culture for themselves. Geography: Students will use maps and charts to understand the geographical location of Costa Rica, its land mass, and other geographic factors that will be useful when travelling and learning about the country. Communication and Writing: Students will be expressing their ideas and viewpoints about their experience on a weekly basis. They will also practice what cultural norms are expected and we will role play scenarios that students may encounter. Upon return, students will create a scrapbook that communicates through stories, pictures and mementoes about their trip. A journal will be used throughout the entire process to document and aid students journey through their trip. Their journal will be a log of their trip and personal stories that describe how they felt. Language: Students will have Spanish lessons incorporated in their weekly meetings Independence and Responsibility: Students will be able to build on their existing knowledge and skills to develop confidence to take on this Costa Rican adventure. PROJECT DETAIL Project Goals/Anticipated Student Outcomes1) International and Intercultural appreciation and awareness2) Sense of responsibility/leadership3) Improved Spanish Language Skills4) College Readiness Methods and Activities that will be used to achieve these outcomesThere will be weekly meetings leading up to the trip that inform students about expectations. Topics that will be covered during these meetings include but are not limited to: Travel Safety, What it means to be an Ambassador, Information for Parents, Language classes and preparation, Culture of Costa Rica, Maps and Geography of Costa Rica, Budgeting and Fundraising, Wildlife and ecosystems in Costa Rica, and additional information will be offered by request of students/parents. Student journals will be an integral part of the weekly meetings. It will be important for them to be keeping track of the work they are putting into this trip. They will see how their weekly accomplishments are leading up to their big goal of traveling abroad. How to know if the project has been successful?I will be evaluating and reading the journals students submit and helping students with their learning process along the way. Projects will be done to supplement learning of Costa Rican culture that display their appreciation and understanding of the country. I will administer 3 questionnaires throughout the trip that evaluate my students progress and satisfaction. The first questionnaire will evaluate if students feel prepared prior to departing for Costa Rica. I will do this to determine if I have ensured that all students feel knowledgeable and prepared for their departure. The second questionnaire will be administered while students are in Costa Rica to determine their current satisfaction with the trip and if it is meeting their expectations. The final questionnaire will be administered a month after they have returned to San Antonio to determine how this trip has affected them and what are their major take-aways. How I will celebrate success?Students will be welcomed back to San Antonio with an assembly in the auditorium where they will share pictures and stories from their trip. They will be able to answer questions for other students and set the stage for future students to embark on similar adventures. Each student will receive a special gift from their teacher to congratulate them on successfully accomplishing this courageous endeavor. District or Campus Goal(s) this project will address:San Antonio aims to have its students be able to compete with the best. There is no better way to demonstrate the ability to compete with the best than to actually do what the best schools in the country are doing. As our world is becoming more global, it is imperative for our students to have global knowledge and appreciation.Other schools that are doing similar projects Charter schools, high schools, magnet programs, and college preparatory schools all have programs that enable schools to send their students abroad. Many of them choose a short program such as this to expose their students to an international experience at a young age