Introduction

Graduation is approaching. You have made a decision to put off college for awhile, and move away to see the world. Why not? You'll be a grown up, and feel it is time to see what the world has to offer. Besides, you've worked part time and have some money saved, but where will you go? Exactly how much is the cost of living in a big city? It must be a large city because you want great entertainment, lots of sports, good food, fun, and a strong job market. But, which city offers you the most and is the most affordable? After all, you are just starting out. But, you are going to need some information to help you make your decision. It will be your job to discover the information and recommend the best city to your classmates. Let us begin.

Back to Top

Question

Which of the nine (9) cities: Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, and Atlanta offers you the most and is the most affordable? Based on these research questions:

Research questions

• What is the number of sunny days per year?
• What is the average July temperature?
• What is the average January low temperature?
• What is the average annual rainfall?
• What is the average annual snowfall?
• What does a one bedroom apartment cost?
• How much is the beginning salaries of entry level positions?
• What is the recent unemployment rate?
• What is the job growth rate since 1997?
• Forecast the job growth to 2002?
• What is the cost of living index?
• What kind of entertainment does the city have?
• What are the attractions?
• What are the professional sports teams?

The Task

Your three member team will:

• Research Internet information on the nine cities.
• Construct a database on the nine cities.
• Each member will write a (1-2 page) persuasive letter to parents defending your choice.
• Create a team poster of the "best" city.
• Prepare a 15 minute team Power Point class presentation based on your findings.

Back to Top

The Process

1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 3 students.

2. Next, each team member will select 3 of the 9 cities listed.

3. Each team member will construct and print 3 databases.

4. Each team member will then use the Internet resources to locate the data and fill in their 3 databases.

5. Independently analyze your data.

6. Return to your teams, compare data, and as a team determine which city is the "best" choice.

7. Make a team poster of the "best" city.

8. Each team member will write a persuasive letter to parents convincing them that the city the group selected is the "best" choice using the database information.

9. Each team will give a 15 minute Power Point presentation in class based on their results. Turn in a handout copy of the slides of your presentation with a list of references you and/or your team used in completing the webquest. For each reference used, write a sentence or two describing how it helped you complete the webquest.

Back to Top

Resources 

Chicago 

The Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and five links to more information on Chicago.

Chicago Fact Book Geography/Climate. This site contains facts about the temperature and weather of Chicago.

Chicago Fact Book Housing. This site contains information about Chicago's apartment rentals.

The Weather Resource This site contains weather information.

Chicago Regional : State of Illinois. This site contains weather, sports, links to employment, recreation and sports, entertainment and arts.

Chicago Sun Times . This newspaper contains information on sports teams, employment, recreation, and other great stuff.

Atlanta

The Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Atlanta.

Atlanta Home Page This site contains information on Atlanta's weather, attractions, recreation, sports, newspapers, cost of living, etc.

Yahoo Atlanta Regional. This site contains employment information, news, sports, recreation, entertainment, arts, real estate and a host of other great links.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Denver 

The Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Denver.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

Denver Resources. This site contains information on apartment rentals, jobs, and a host of other links.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

San Diego 

The Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on San Diego.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

San Diego Homepage. This site contains information on San Diego's recreation, employment, attractions, leisure activities, and other information.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Miami 

The Best Places to Live in America 98 . This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Miami.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

City Search: Miami. This site contains information on Miami's sports, weather and entertainment.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Dallas 

The Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Miami.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

Dallas Morning News. This newspaper contains information on weather and entertainment.

The Dallas Observer Online Newspaper. This site contains information on sports, employment, apartment rentals, and other good information.

Apartment Locators This site contains information on apartment rentals in Dallas.

Minneapolis

Best Places to Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Minneapolis.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

Minneapolis Job Openings. This site contains information about jobs.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Seattle

The Best Places To Live in America 98. This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Seattle.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

apartments.com. This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Seattle Arts, Entertainment, and Tourism This site contains information on sports, recreation, museums, arts, etc.

Philadelphia

Best Places to Live in America 98 . This site contains weather statistics, unemployment rates, job growth, cost of living index, and other links to more information on Philadelphia.

The Weather Resource. This site contains weather information.

apartments.com This site contains information on apartment rentals and cost of living.

Philadelphia City Newspaper Interactive This site contains information on job opportunities, arts and entertainment.

Additional Sources

Major League Baseball Team Site. This site lists the teams and gives information on all the professional baseball teams.

National Basketball League Team Site. This site lists the teams and gives information on all the professional basketball teams.

National Hockey League Team Site. This site lists the teams and gives information on all the professional hockey teams.

National Football League Team Site . This site lists the teams and gives information on all the professional football teams.

newspapers.com. This site contains all of the newspapers in the United States and all around the world.

ACCRA Cost of Living Index. This site contains information on how to interpret the cost of living, frequently asked questions, sample pages of cost of living for all nine cities and other excellent information.

An Economic Cost of Living Index. This site contains an economic profile of greater Phoenix, Arizona and all nine cities for 1997 and 1996.

Back to Top

 

Evaluation

 Your final project grade will be based on the following components:

1. Your constructive use of class time to accomplish the assigned tasks (individual grade).

2. Your three database printouts of the three cities you researched (individual grade).

3. Your persuasive letter to your parents (individual grade).

4. Your team poster (team grade).

5. Your team presentation, handout copy of slides, and references (individual and pair grades).

Click here to view the grading rubric for your project.

 

 Notes To Teacher

This webquest is designed for students with some familiarity with Power Point and the use of databases for gathering information. If this is not the case with your students, some class time will be needed to demonstrate the application of these tools prior to assigning the webquest project. You may also have students do an oral presentation, another type of multimedia presentation, and you may also give students an empty database sheet to fill in instead of having them construct their own.

Back to Top

 

Conclusion

By doing the Leaving the Nest webquest you are using critical thinking skills to analyze, compare, construct, research, and draw conclusions. This will enable you to have a better understanding of what it costs to live in a big city and a better understanding of what it costs to live out on your own.

Back to Top

 

Last updated xxxxxx, 1999

 

Based on a template from The Webquest Page.