This pathfinder includes helpful materials to accompany the National Geographic Fin, Fur & Feathers Bureau of Investigation interactive adventure Destination:Australia.
In this adventure, the FFFBI headquarters receives a mysterious bag of red rocks and suddenly everyone is having bad luck. It is up to two of the FFFBI’s best agents (and you) to solve the mystery! The adventure focuses on Uluru, the rock formation formerly known as Ayer’s Rock in the Australian outback.
About the FFFBI
The FFFBI website aims to help kids ages 8-13 learn about places and cultures around the world using humor, storytelling and games.
Students have to use research and problem-solving skills to successfully complete the adventure. In the process they are exposed to a wide range of subjects.
The website was created by WGBH Interactives and funded by the National Geographic Society Education Foundation Venture Fund.
How Destination:Australia works
Destination: Australia is much like the “old-fashioned” text adventure games. The characters take you on their adventure, but every few screens the student has to answer questions relevant to the adventure that can make or break the adventure. When the students complete the mission, they quizzed, or rather “debriefed,” by a coffee-hyped mandrill.
Topics covered
On the whole, Destination: Australia can best be used in a world geography setting. However, the adventure includes pegs on which to hang a variety of lessons. The pathfinder at right covers many of these topics. Topics include:
Culture: Australian Aboriginal culture including beliefs and art. Australian slang and local festivals.
Flora/Fauna: Unique Australian animals and the Great Barrier Reef.
Geography: Time zones, Australian cities (note that FFFBI agents named after Australian cities) and map reading (direction and distance).
Geology: What is Uluru? Why are Uluru’s rocks red?
Math: Exchange rates and calculating distance.
It should be noted that the FFFBI also has international adventures in India, Japan, Mexico and Antarctica.