Disney World is Expanding. Where in the World Should They Build?

By: Sixth Grade Mathematics Teachers MacKinnon Middle School Wharton, New Jersey Adapted from: Best Weather Sample Math WebQuest 1 (grades 3-8)

Who Has The Best Weather? Due to the great success of Disney World the management is interested in expanding and your group has been asked to find a great, new place to build it! That place will be the city you select that has the “Best Weather” since weather has a tremendous impact on attendance at the park. What makes “Best Weather” for a theme park in your opinion? Your group must determine what “Best Weather” means to you and select five cities anywhere in the world to compare for this venture. After researching data from your city choices create and display charts and graphs and present your final decision and be prepared to not only convince your classmates that your choice is “Best” but be prepared to convince the management at Disney World. Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Task Your first group task will be to define "best weather.“ Think about what Disney World may consider when selecting a new destination. Next you will select five possible cities from anywhere in the world. These cities are the ones you will be researching to discover which one has the “best weather”. Then you will collect data from weather websites about their weather. Finally, you will use this information to select the "best weather" city and present your conclusions in poster format or power point format.

Process 1.Discuss and come up with a group definition of "best weather." 2.Using a map, select five possible cities that might have the "best weather“ for the new facility. Be sure to print a copy of a map so that you can identify the cities for your presentation. 3.Go to various online weather and city sites to obtain data about monthly high and low temperatures and rainfall for each city. Be sure to print a copy of what you find. 4.Represent this data in tables and graphs. You may use Excel or other spreadsheets to construct your tables and graphs. 5.Decide as a group, based on the data, what is the "best weather” city. Come up with a conclusion that makes sense for the management of Disney World. 6.Present your conclusions in poster format and power point.

Evaluation NoviceApprenticePractitionerExpert Explanation of “Best Weather” Less than three components are listed Three components are listed Three components to determine best weather with an explanation as to their importance is identified Practitioner plus: pictures, graphics or more City SelectionLess than five cities are selected Less than five cities are selected and identified on a map Five cities are selected and identified on a map Practitioner plus: additional components to help select city Data Collection Data is displayed in one form: chart, bar graph, line graph form Data is displayed in chart form Data is displayed in bar graph form Data is displayed in chart form  Data is displayed in bar graph form  Data is displayed in line graph form Practitioner plus: Data is displayed in alternative form A frequency table of possible city selections is attached Data Interpretation Best weather city is selected Novice plus: Three substantiated facts determined from your data Apprentice plus: Four substantiated facts Practitioner plus: Information gathered to help with the site selection as sites of interest PresentationPower pointHard copy and power point Hard copy, poster and PowerPoint slide show Practitioner plus: correct spelling sound

Expert Evaluation Sample Ideas Create a song to promote your selected city as Disney’s new site. Create a commercial to promote your selected city. Design a billboard to promote your selected city. Set up a contest for others to vote on the best city choice. Come up with your own ideas!

Links The Weather Channel: Yahoo Weather Center: USA Today Climate Guides: