Back to the Future
Final Project
Reviewing and Presenting US and PA History 1491-1865
Final Project Due Thursday, May 24th
(Presentations will start Thursday, May 24th)
Class work days for the project May 16th , 17th, 21st , 22nd, 23rd. Yet, beyond these class work
days it should be thought of as work for Flex periods and for homework. Practicing scripted
presentations, May 23rd
Project
Each student will independently research and gather facts for a particular time period in
American History. Then each student will write a short historical fiction script incorporating the
events and historical figures of the time period. The script will ultimately turn into a 1-3 minute
historical fiction presentation that stars their friends as historical figures. This project is meant
to help us connect all the big ideas from our lessons this year into an activity that extends our
knowledge and reviews 400 years of history class with some creativity!
My Assigned Time Period is:______________
Step 1- Research facts and important people for a given time period. How did the period’s greatest
events, places, and people change the country forever? (Look at Mr. Gomola’s example as reference)
Step 2- Write a historical fiction script to be performed as a reader’s theatre in class highlighting the
important people and places—and of course a “What if’s” or two-- No don't change history! What
change could you make that would totally screw up the Future? (Look at Mr. Gomola’s example as
reference)
Step 3- Finally, get your friend’s to help you act it out for the class (1-3 minute scripted
presentation)
*Note: You will be accountable/graded for your on-task behavior during research.
Information and Sources:
(Wikipedia, Ask.com, Answers.com, Yahoo.answers, and other simple answers sites can not be your listed sources)
Important
Events in US History during your time period
1._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source(s) # ___
2._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
3._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
4._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
Explain things about important
people in US History during your time period
1._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
2._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
3._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
4._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
The 2 most important events that changed USA forever!!! Explain why
you believe this to be true.
1._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
2._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source # ___
Sources:
(Wikipedia, Ask.com, Answers.com, Yahoo.answers, and other simple answers sites can not be your listed sources)
Source #1: (Author- Title- Year of source- website address for Internet information)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source #2: (Author- Title- Year of source- website address for Internet information)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source #3: (Author- Title- Year of source- website address for Internet information)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Source #4: (Author- Title- Year of source- website address for Internet information)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Scripted Historical Fiction Report:
After your research, visualize and write a short report in a historical fiction format---As if you are actually
in the adventure!!! Fill all of the lines with at least 4 researched facts and 4 important people----mixed
your own made up life situations.
Script it out as needed ---- Stating whose part it is and what they say (Look at Mr. Gomola’s example)
Introduction- (The setting should be a present day time and place):
You are yourself and somehow
you time travel (Use your creativity—Maybe taking a friend?)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
First Historical Scene: Setting after time traveling (state the year after you figure out):
You are
yourself and somehow you time travel (Talk to important people—script out your friends as the
characters)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Second Historical Scene: Setting after time traveling (new times, places, and people):
Time ______________ Place______________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Third Historical Scene: Setting after time traveling (new times, places, and people):
Time ______________ Place______________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Fourth Historical Scene: Setting after time traveling (new times, places, and people):
Time ______________ Place______________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
What if’s--- No don't change history!
What change could you do that would totally screw up the
Future?… Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it!!!
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Conclusion-
Finding your way back to your time and place:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Reflection------ The present is different because of your time and place
because… How has it changed the country, our society, and the world?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Research and Recording Historical Information Rubric
(4 points)
(3 points)
Minimal
(2 points)
Explained the
importance of all
required
researched facts
and people
Explained the
importance of
most of the
required
researched facts
and people
Explained the
importance of
some of the
required
researched facts
and people
Explained the
importance of
very few of the
required
researched
facts and people
The information
and people are
very accurate
and relevant for
your assigned
time period
The information
and people are
accurate and
relevant for your
assigned time
period
The information
and people are
not exactly
accurate and
relevant for your
assigned time
period
Chose
information and
people that had
very little
impact for your
assigned time
period
Filled most of
lines the report
Filled 2/3 of lines
the report
Filled less than
half of lines the
report
3 quality sources
in the correct
format
2 quality sources
in the correct
format
Outstanding
Understanding
And
Content
Completeness
Sources
Filled at least
every line
At least 4 quality
sources in the
correct format
Acceptable
Poor
(1 points)
0 quality
sources in the
correct format
Script and Reader’s Theater Presentation Rubric
Outstanding
Understanding
And
Content
Script
Presentation
Something worth
showing off!
Acceptable
Minimal
(3 points)
Poor
(2 points)
Very few of the
facts chosen
and intermixed
in your script
help the
students review
and extend their
understanding
of the time
period
(5 points)
(4 points)
The facts chosen
and intermixed in
your script
compel the
students review
and extend their
understanding of
the time period
The facts chosen
and intermixed in
your script help
the students
review and
extend their
understanding of
the time period
Some of the
facts chosen and
intermixed in
your script help
the students
review and
extend their
understanding of
the time period
Project shows a
Project shows an
complete
proficient
understanding by
understanding by
mixing the
mixing the
information with
information with
your own
your own
thinking/creativity
thinking/creativity
Project shows a
lack of
understanding or
lack of
connection
between content
and the
thinking/creativity
Project shows a
lack of effort for
connecting the
content to
student thinking
The product /
presentation
accomplishes
the objective of
the assignment
The product /
presentation
accomplishes
some of the
objective of the
assignment
The product /
presentation
does not
accomplish the
objective of the
assignment
The reader’s
theatre
presentation is
adequate to
other students
and/or adults
*And taken
seriously
The reader’s
theatre
presentation is
less than
adequate to the
other students
and/or adults
The scripted
presentation is
incomplete
The script is well
written and
organized to
accomplishes
the objective of
the assignment
The reader’s
theatre
presentation is
impressive to
other students
and/or adults
Research / Recording Information / Sources Total =
Historical Fiction Script and Presentation Total =
/16
/20
Project Total =
/36