BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 8.1 ACTIVITY
AN AGE OF ADVENTURE
STUDENT MATERIALS
Purpose
This collection of biographies provides detailed information about the voyages of these explorers, including information about their motivation and how they inspired
future generations of explorers. These men opened the door to a more interconnected world as the contacts they made helped to create connections between
distant peoples and stimulate the growth of exchange networks and long-distance trade.
Process
Your teacher will assign you to groups and assign each group one of the three adventurers (Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, or Zheng He). Read the article that applies to
the adventurer your group was assigned. (If your teacher hasn’t handed out copies of the articles, you can find them in the Unit 8 section of the Big History course
website.) After completing the reading, your group will work together to fill in the appropriate sections of the worksheet for your adventurer.
Your group will then create a short presentation (no more than 5 minutes) about your explorer, highlighting the information your group selected to fill in the chart.
The presentation should include visuals including, at a minimum, a map of the explorer’s route and a portrait of the explorer. Groups will take turns teaching the
rest of the class about their explorer. You’ll have to take brief notes as you watch the presentations of the other groups in order to fill out the rest of your charts.
Each group will also be evaluated on their presentation skills, which will provide you with feedback in preparation for your Little Big History presentations. As you
watch the presentations, you will use the Big History Presentation Rubric to evaluate the group presenting. You should provide presenting groups with at least three
concrete suggestions on how they could improve their presentation skills.
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 8.1 ACTIVITY
STUDENT MATERIALS
AN AGE OF ADVENTURE
Marco Polo
Home
Years of Travel
Age While
Traveling
Route
Purpose
Name:
Ibn Battuta
Date:
Zheng He
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 8.1 ACTIVITY
STUDENT MATERIALS
AN AGE OF ADVENTURE
Marco Polo
How Do
We Know
About His
Adventures?
Did His Travels
Influence Other
Explorers?
Remarkable
Discoveries or
Legacy
Name:
Ibn Battuta
Date:
Zheng He
STUDENT MATERIALS
BIG HISTORY PROJECT
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
Directions: Use this rubric to evaluate presentations. Mark scores and related comments in the scoring sheet that follows.
Description
Explanation of Ideas and
Information
Below Standard (1)
Does not present information,
arguments, ideas, or findings clearly,
concisely, or logically.
Argument lacks robust supporting
evidence.
It’s difficult to follow the line of
reasoning.
Uses information that is not in line
with the overall purpose.
Does not consider opposing or
alternative perspectives.
Organization
Approaching Standard (2)
Above Standard (4)
Presents information, arguments,
Presents information, arguments,
Does an exceptional job presenting
ideas, or findings in ways that are not ideas, or findings clearly, concisely, or information, arguments, ideas,
always clear, concise, or logical.
logically.
or findings clearly, concisely, and
logically.
Argument is supported by only some Argument is well supported.
robust evidence.
Argument is well supported with
The line of reasoning is logical and
robust, relevant, and interesting
The line of reasoning is sometimes
easy to follow and uses information
evidence.
difficult to follow.
that is appropriate for the purpose
and audience.
The line of reasoning is logical, easy
Uses information that is only
to follow, well crafted, and uses
sometimes in line with the overall
Clearly and completely addresses
information that is appropriate for the
purpose.
alternative or opposing perspectives. purpose and audience.
Attempts to consider and address
opposing or alternative perspectives
but does not do so clearly or
completely.
Does not meet the presentation
guidelines.
Meets most requirements for the
presentation guidelines.
Does not have a proper introduction
or conclusion.
Has a proper introduction and
conclusion, but they are not clear or
interesting.
Does not use time allotted (is too long
or too short).
Uses the time allotted, but does not
divide up that time logically (uses too
little or too much time on a topic or
idea).
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
At Standard (3)
Clearly and completely addresses
relevant alternative or opposing
perspectives.
Meets all presentation guidelines.
Has a proper introduction that is
clear and logical.
Uses the time allotted well and
organized the time appropriately.
Meets and exceeds all presentation
guidelines; this presentation is
particularly interesting, dynamic, and
thoughtfully organized.
Has an introduction that hooks the
audience and a conclusion that
incites questions and further interest.
Organizes and uses times in what
appears to be the best way possible.
1
STUDENT MATERIALS
BIG HISTORY PROJECT
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
Description
Eyes, Body, and Voice
Response to Audience
Questions
Below Standard (1)
Approaching Standard (2)
At Standard (3)
Above Standard (4)
Keeps eye contact with the audience
most of the time—only glances at
notes or slides.
Keeps eye contact with the audience
throughout.
Does not look at the audience or
make eye contact.
Makes infrequent eye contact with
the audience.
Lacks poise (appears nervous,
fidgety, slouchy).
Shows some poise (limited fidgeting
or nervousness).
Speaks in a way that is hard to
understand.
Speaks clearly most of the time, but
may be difficult to understand or
hear at times.
Does not directly address audience
questions; goes off topic.
Answers audience questions, but not Answers audience questions clearly
always completely and clearly.
and completely.
Shows poise and confidence.
Shows exceptional poise and
confidence.
Speaks clearly and is easy to
understand.
Speaks clearly, and in an engaging
way that is interesting to listen to.
Freely admits not knowing the
answer to a question.
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
Answers audience questions clearly
and completely; provides additional,
relevant information.
Admits not knowing the answer to a
question, and provides ideas for how
one might find the answers.
2
STUDENT MATERIALS
BIG HISTORY PROJECT
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
Reviewer:
Presenter:
Directions: Use this table to evaluate and comment on elements of a presentation. Put an X in the cell that denotes the grade. Use the other cells for comments.
Description
Below Standard (1)
Approaching Standard (2)
At Standard (3)
Above Standard (4)
Score
Explanation
of Ideas and
Information
Organization
Eyes, Body,
and Voice
Response
to Audience
Questions
Total Score
PRESENTATION RUBRIC
3