This project is a year long in-depth inquiry project into the Pacific Rim Region and is fully based on the grade seven social studies curriculum. It does not function as a curriculum replacement but as a "vehicle" to learn the suggested concepts and strategies. The difference is that in this type of approach, you have an individual connection to a region. The project will connect to real-world issues by exploring how geographical features, climate, and available resources influence different Pacific Rim countries, both historically and now. Throughout the entire year it is always easy for you to see the importance and practicality of learning such skills.

In a student-led and fairly independent fashion, data collected in the associated field trip activity are organized by student groups to create useful and informative Google Earth maps. Each team creates a map, uses that map to analyze the results, adjusts the map to include the analysis results, and then writes a brief summary of findings. Primarily, questions of fate-and-transport of plastics are are explored. If data was gathered in the field trip but the teacher does not desire to do the mapping activity, then alternative data presentation and analysis methods are suggested.