Title: Dying But Not Dead
Author: Jennifer Emory, Lakeland School District #272
Grade/Subject: 7th Social Studies
Date: 4/25/01
Overview: Culminating project for 1st quarter after studying Ancient Civilizations
Goal:
Students will work independently utilizing various forms of technology to create a portfolio, which will demonstrate their knowledge of
Ancient Civilization.
Students will learn about technology and how to best utilize it.
Students will also become experts in several areas of Ancient Civilization.
Objectives:
Students will demonstrate legal/ethical conduct in the appropriate use of computers, obeying copyright laws and security rules as
outlined in District policy.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of copyright laws by citing sources of copyrighted materials in papers, projects, and
multimedia presentations.
Students will demonstrate appropriate care and use of technological resources.
Materials: Computer lab, Internet, Encarta and other encyclopedia software, Word, Excel, Power Point, paper, books, disks, brains.
Duration: 5 weeks to learn the material, 1 week to prepare for project (teach Power Point, etc.) and to do the portion of the portfolio that is
done together, 2 weeks independently working on their portfolio, and 1 week to assess.
Prior Knowledge:
Understanding of independent working habits
Technological knowledge taught in class prior to independent work such as:
Word
Power Point
Encarta
Internet
Knowledge of what an anthropologist and archeologists do
Knowledge of how to use and create various types of charts and graphs.
Procedure:
1. WHOLE CLASS will participate in a mock dig. Teacher will bury various items for students to dig in a designated area. Students will
plan a dig by partitioning off the excavation site into a grid patter using string/yarn. They will then draw a map of the excavation site to
document their finds. Each student will hand in a grid.
2. WHOLE CLASS will list at least 100 modern artifacts that archeologists might uncover 15,000 years from now. (not graded)
3. GROUPS OF 3 will research an ancient culture using Internet/Encarta as if they are an anthropologist and create 10 slides using Power
Point which will be combined to make a whole class slide show.
Students will select projects from the following adding up to a maximum of 70 points.
1. Research and present findings in at least 100 (typed) words of the common traits of various regions that had early civilizations i.e.
Egypt, China.
2. Research facts of early civilizations of the Eastern and Western hemispheres and type a synopsis using Microsoft Word, Encarta, and
Internet.
3. Using Microsoft Word or Excel, list similarities between early civilizations that promoted agricultural development.
4. Invent a tool that would help in the advancement of a society and using at least 10 Power Point, create an advertisement for it.
5. Create your own form of government with rules and consequences on Word to hand out and generate a Power Point presentation to show
the class. Design a flag that represents your own form of government.
6. After learning about Hammurabi’s Code of Conduct, write your own personal code of conduct with consequences to go with it.
Students will type using word processor and include graphics, etc. in a colorful, creative way to post on the back bulletin board.
7. Graph a population disbursement chart showing population density of a given area.
8. Design a graph showing populations versus resources over time of a given region.
9. Research and gather data on population growth and compare it to the availability of resources for at least two decades. Plot results on a
graph.
10. Using a t-chart, compare two cities of different populations, and orally report on the differences in consumption of natural and man made
resources.
11. In a well thought out essay of at least 4 paragraphs (intro, two paragraphs of body, and conclusion), compare and contrast renewable
versus nonrenewable resources.
**MUST DO THIS ONE FOR THE EXTRA 30 POINTS TO ADD UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 100 POINTS. Produce a three page,
double-spaced word processed documents utilizing text and graphics with a cover page on an approved topic of your choice relating to
ancient civilizations. (up to 30 points)
Evaluation: See attached rubric
Performance Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Points Awarded Points Awarded
Excellence 10 points 7 points 4 points 1 point Possible Earned
Understanding of duties Designs grid that is
and responsibilities of Designs grid that is detailed, organized Design grid that is Design sub-standard
archaeologist as detailed, organized and neat with 20 semi-detailed, grid and/or has 10 10
demonstrated in mock and neat with all 25 items drawn organized, neat with or less items drawn
dig. items drawn recognizably. 15 items drawn.
recognizably.
Understanding of duty Group designs 10 Group designs 8 Group designs 6 Group designs 6
w/ responsibilities of well designed multi- slides using several slides w/ minimal slides w/ no bells 10
anthrop. media slides. bells and whistles. bells and whistles and whistles.
Understanding of Neatly type 100
common traits of words displaying Neatly type 80 Neatly type 80 Hand written and/or
various religions that complete knowledge words showing words showing showing minimal 10
had early civilization. of common traits of adequate basic knowledge. knowledge.
civilizations. knowledge.
Early civilization of Neatly type 100
Eastern and Western words displaying Neatly type 80 Neatly type 80 Hand written and/or 10
Hemisphere synopsis complete knowledge words showing words showing showing minimal
of common traits of adequate basic knowledge. knowledge.
civilizations w/ knowledge.
correct spelling and
grammar
List similarities
between early Neatly type 35 Neatly type 25 Neatly type 15 Handwritten 15
civilizations that similarities showing similarities showing similarities showing similarities showing 10
promoted agricultural knowledge knowledge limited knowledge. limited knowledge.
development
Creative display of Creative display of Moderately creative
Invent a tool well thought out well thought out design w/ 7 Power No slides or 10
design w/ 10 Power design w/ 7 Power Point slides. minimal effort put
Point slides. Point slides. into.
Typed neatly and a
Create a form of slide show w/ 10 Include all but not Include 2 of 3 Include 1 of 3
government well though out as well thought out
slides including 10
rules and
consequences.
Creative display of Doesn’t have as No creativity
Create a code code and Display w/ less much creativity or No color 10
consequence. color and creativity doesn’t have No consequences
Colorful consequences
Graph shows
population density
Graph a population of a given area in a A bit unclear, Doesn’t use color, Doesn’t make sense
disbursement chart clear, concise cluttered, adequate quite unclear 10
manner. Uses
technology and
color. Neat.
Population vs. Clear graph/chart Clear graph/chart Vague graph/chart Unclear graph/chart
resources graph using color. Neat. using minimal color using minimal color showing 10
Displays knowledge or a bit messy. and/or messy. minimal/limited
of question used. Displays knowledge Displays minimal knowledge.
of questions used. knowledge.
Population growth vs. 2 decades. Clear 1 decade. Shows
avail of resources understanding of 2 decades. Adequate minimal 1 decade. Shows no 10
pop. Growth vs. understanding. understanding. understanding.
avail of resources.
T-chart company Audience clearly Audience mostly Audience has Audience doesn’t
2 cities of different understands understands difficult time understand. T-chart 10
population. Oral presentation. Clear presentation. T-chart understanding. T- is unclear.
report. T-chart. is clear. chart is vague.
Well thought out 4
paragraph essay w/
intro, body, Well thought out 3 Shows limited Doesn’t make sense 10
Essay conclusion that paragraph essay that knowledge in 3 and/or less than 3
clearly is adequate. paragraph essay. paragraphs.
compares/contrasts
renewable vs. non-
renewable
resources.
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