Google Arts and Culture: Wonders of the World Project

• Begin by asking students if they know any wonders of the world and to name them, pointing out what kind of "wonders" they are (structure/architectural, natural, etc.).
• List students’ responses and categorize them as ancient, modern, or natural wonders.

Tell students that they are going to view the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Open a Web browser to the Example Web Site, Google Arts and Culture – 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Talk about and/or ask questions in the target grammar (present and past passive), for example:

• "What is this ancient wonder called?
• Where was it located?
• How was it destroyed?"
• Finish by asking why these are considered wonders of the world.

Tell students that they are going to work in groups to learn more about a modern wonder of the world.

Divide students into small groups. These groups will be the home groups. Within these groups, number students 1-3, 4, or 5, depending on how many students there are. All 1s, 2s, 3s, etc., will join together in expert groups.

The expert groups will read and take notes about a modern wonder of the world for a jigsaw reading activity, using print-outs of the wonders information from the Web site Google Arts and Culture – 7 Wonders of the Modern World, or students can work together using a computer. If using one computer per expert group, have students open the using the link you provide them and read about the wonder they have been assigned or have selected. Provide the questions (sample questions may include the following: "What is/was the wonder named? Where is/was it located? Who was it built or discovered by? When? How many years was/has it been in existence? If it no longer exists, how was it destroyed? If it still exists, what is it used for today? How many people is it visited by daily or yearly?") to the expert groups. Model for students how to read and take notes and/or answer the questions.

 In expert groups, students can write a short summary together or can practice orally summarizing what they have read. Once all expert groups are confident that all the members understand what they have read and can orally summarize the information, reconvene the home groups.

In each home group, the "experts" will share what they learned about a modern wonder. The other members of the group can take notes.

After each member of the home group has shared information about a modern wonder of the world, ask students to share what they learned. Optionally, you can tell students to study their notes and give a short quiz using Quizziz or another online quizzing tool the next day.

Teach students about passive forms. For this topic, present and past passive are the verb tenses used in the texts and will be used in students' writing and presentations. Use the Wonders of the World - Present and Past Passive handout to draw students' attention to the grammar form and to practice.

Ask students what they would consider "wonders" in their own countries or in other parts of the world. Have them choose their topics. You can have students write a paragraph about a wonder of the world of their choice and/or just make an oral presentation individually, in pairs, or in small groups. See the note-taking form for an outline for their paragraphs and presentations. Additional Web sites that may be used for this project include the following:

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Panoramas.dk - New Seven Wonders – 360-degree panoramic views
• PBS Nova Seven Ancient Wonders (has a quiz)
• New 7 Wonders of the World
• Wikipedia Wonders of the World
• Wikipedia New Seven Wonders of the World
• Simple English Wikipedia Wonders of the World
• Wikipedia Eighth Wonder of the World

If you choose to have students write paragraphs, guide them in writing a topic sentence identifying the wonder with a statement about why they chose that topic or why it is considered a wonder, supporting sentences explaining briefly its origin or history and features using transitions between sentences, and using a conclusion. Provide feedback with comments, video, audio, or a rubric. Have students revise, as needed.

Last, students may make a PowerPoint presentation or Google Slideshow (make a copy of this template), or use another type of visual aid to make an oral presentation about the wonder they researched and wrote about (see the Example Document, Sample Wonder of the World PowerPoint Presentation file).

Evaluate students’ presentations with a rubric (see documents) or checklist or model and conduct peer evaluation or have students self-evaluate their work and reflect using questions on a Google Form, such as this one.

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Students will be able to conduct short research projects online and write and present their findings.