IDEAS: (Grades 6-12, first year college) 
Learn about other countries:  their economies, 
population, people, geography, transportation, and 
communications.  This project can be done by 
individuals or teams.  Download a text version of 
the activities below and adapt it for the age and 
topic your class is studying.  Just use File/Save 
As and select .txt.
 
You have just been hired in the international 
division of a multinational corporation that makes 
consumer goods to become an expert on other 
countries.  Your first assignment is to prepare a 
report on a country in Asia (Note:  specify here 
some specific country or area of the world, if 
preferred).  Your company is considering building a 
branch plant to produce a consumer good in this 
country.  To get the facts, you hop on the Web and 
start with the   
 
CIA Factbook of information about all countries. 
After following the links to the latest Factbook, 
you want to collect the following information for 
your report: 

*Where is the country located and what is its 
physical size?  Is it larger or smaller than your 
country?

*How many people live there?  Since your company's 
product is sold to adults, how many adults live 
there?  (Note: for younger students, this could be 
a toy or sneaker company, so find out how many 
people younger than 15 years of age.)

*Compare its climate to the climate where you live.  
Is it hotter?  Is it dryer?  What kind of crops are 
grown there?

*Is the government a democracy?  If not, what is 
it?  Who is the current head of the government?

*What kind of an economy does it have:    
      -primarily market-based or centrally planned?
      -Is it a rich or poor country?  What is the 
        GDP per capita?  Compare this to your own 
        country.
      -What is the unemployment rate?  Is 
        unemployment a problem in this country?
      -What are the major natural resources of the 
       country?  What are the major industries?  Is 
       there a connection between its natural 
       resources and the products it makes?
      -What is the country's money called?  How much 
       of your own country's money could you get 
       for one of this country's unit of money?
      -If your company put a branch operation there, 
       would it be satisfied with the communications 
       system?  Do most people in the country have 
       telephones, for example?
 
*Search the web to find out more information about 
the country.  End your report with a recommendation 
to your boss about building a new plant there.