National Parks: America’s Best Idea showcases the rich history and beauty of protected landscapes. From the depths of the Grand Canyon to the marine life of Biscayne Bay, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the towering sequoias of Yosemite, from the glaciers of Alaska to the volcanoes of Hawaii, National Parks are places of respite, inspiration, and education.

While many students have not been to a National Park, there are incredible resources online that display the Parks’ beauty and uniqueness. This activity, Advertising a National Park, offers small groups of students the opportunity to dig deep into the main features of a park and convince their classmates to vacation there. Students will provide compelling descriptions, images, and videos, working together to create a Google Earth Tour that will dazzle their classmates. The presentations culminate in a vote: which park would students most want to visit? It depends on how well they sell it.

Objectives: Students will be able to: 

• Create and present a Google Earth tour;
• Gather images and videos to support their presentation;
• Research a National Park’s main attractions, wildlife, plant life, and history;
• Craft a presentation using compelling language.