Cultural Contributions:
Investigating Creative Thought
Lesson Focus
Lesson Title: Virtual Museum Projects
 Content Knowledge:
Cultural Contributions of the
Ancient Greeks
Implementation Time: Two 60 minute class periods
 Content Skill(s):
Resource(s): Examples of Virtual Museums on the web,
Materials Needed: Virtual Museum Project outline,
Cultural Contributions CBA Rubric, Group Roles, Museum
web site research sheet
 Thinking Skill(s):
Comparing/Contrasting
 Habits of Mind:
Creating, Imagining, Innovating
Thinking Flexibly
Learner Outcome(s): What will happen for learners as a result of this lesson?
Students will explore expectations for the Virtual Museum Project where they will create an
exhibit that serves as a CBA for Social Studies.
Procedure:
1.
Share with students that over the next three weeks they will continue to investigate and to
practice creative thought by working as a member of a team to research, design, Virtual
Museum Exhibit PowerPoint where they depict an element of Greek culture that has
influenced our modern day lives.
2.
Show students examples of virtual museums (these are on the 6socialstudies SWIFT site),
have them fill out the museum web site research sheets as you share these web sites. Do
the “What is a Museum worksheet”.
3.
Ask students what they recall about the museum websites that were shown in class. What
made an interesting and informative exhibit? Brainstorm characteristics with the students:
 Clearly communicates information
 Is aesthetically pleasing and interesting to view
 May be interactive in some way
 Is unique in its presentation
 Visuals convey clear messages
4.
Distribute the project outline and CBA rubric. Tell students they will be assigned to project
teams and graded in part on their ability to work collaboratively. Discuss the Project
Overview, the Required Specifications and the CBA Rubric.
Continued on next page…
Cultural Contributions (Guiding Question Four) Document1
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Cultural Contributions
Virtual Museum Projects, page 2
Procedure:
Military/Government
Olympics/Sports
Science/Medicine/Math
Architecture
5. Students will chose their topic for the project based on the choices above.
6.
Remind students that they will want to practice flexible thinking in creating a unique design
for their exhibit.
Closure/Assessment:
Use the Team Reflections to debrief the team building activity. Reinforce that students must
demonstrate the skills of collaboration to be successful in completing their Virtual Museum
Exhibit.
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Cultural Contributions (Guiding Question Four) Document1
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Virtual Museum Project
Overview: Your job is to design a Virtual Museum Exhibit that illustrates a
cultural contribution that the Ancient Greeks made to our world today. Your
exhibit must display Greek innovation and the evidence of that innovation in
today’s world.
Required Specifications:
1.
Explain an assigned component of the Greek culture and visually present
this component.
2.
Explain a present day event or invention that is a direct result of the
Ancient Greeks’ contribution and visually present this event or invention.
3.
Explain how the Greek component influenced the modern day event or
invention; specifically how the Greek culture is alive today in our modern
world.
4.
Design an aesthetically pleasing museum exhibit.
Evaluation Criteria:
Quality Producer:
Completes all required project specifications.
Effective Communicator: Clearly shows the link between the world of the
Ancient Greeks and their influence on our world today
in the exhibit.
Complex Thinker:
Cultural Contributions (Guiding Question Four) Document1
Copyright © Tahoma School District No. 409
Make connections between the past and the present
and show the influence of the Ancient Greeks on
today.
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Name:_________________________________ Per:_____
Area of Expertise _______________________________
Cultural Contributions CBA Rubric
Effective
Communicator
Describe the cultural
History 4.3.1
contributions of
people from various
cultural groups to
the History
Inquiry and
Information
Skills 5.2.1f
Create a product
that uses social
studies content to
support findings;
present product in a
manger appropriate
to a meaningful
audience
Complex Thinker
Quality Producer
Conventions
Graphics
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4
Excellent
3
Proficient
2
Partial
1
Minimal
 Thoroughly
explains with detail
how the
contribution from
the Ancient Greeks
has affected our
lives today.
 Explains with detail
how the
contribution from
the Ancient Greeks
has affected our
lives today.
 Explains with some
detail how the
contribution from
the Ancient Greeks
has affected our
lives today.
 Explains with little
or no detail how
the contribution
from the Ancient
Greeks has affected
our lives today.
 Project is visually
appealing and
engaging
 Visuals enhance the
meaning of the
exhibit
 Project is visually
satisfying
 Visuals support the
meaning of the
exhibit
 Project is
somewhat visually
appealing and
engaging
 Visuals are
somewhat
supportive the
meaning of the
exhibit
 Project is visually
distracting
 Visuals are unclear
or misleading
 No convention
errors
 1-3 convention
errors
 4-6 convention
errors
 More than 6
convention errors
 There are 2 high
quality graphics per
sub-topic; 1 for
Ancient Greece, 1
for modern times
 1 graphic is not
high quality
 2 graphics are not
high quality
 Missing 2 graphics
Cultural Contributions (Guiding Question Four) Document1
Copyright © Tahoma School District No. 409
Cultural Contributions
Virtual Museum Project
Part I: Creating the Exhibit


Aesthetically pleasing
Research using web and books
Part II: Researching Cultural Contributions


Individual work
Assessment
We will practice and apply our district outcomes:




Quality Producer
Effective Communicator
Complex Thinker
Self Directed Learner
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Check box
when
completed
Slide #1
Slide #2
Slide #3
Slide #4
Slide #5
introductory slide, with student’s name and topic (photo
optional)
Graphic for topic chosen for Ancient Greece with source listed
Informational paragraph about topic chosen in Ancient Greece
Picture for topic chosen for modern day United States with
source listed
Informational paragraph that tells how the topic in the modern
day United States has been influenced by ancient Greeks
*** All photos must be cited to receive credit for the graphic
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Cultural Contributions (Guiding Question Four) Document1
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Key Content:
What were the cultural contributions of the Ancient
Greeks?
How did the cultural contributions of the Ancient Greeks
influence our modern society?
I can compare and contrast the Ancient Greeks to
modern society.
I can research information and find pictures online and in
books.
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