Base System Research Project
4th Grade
Choose on of the cultures listed. Find out about the earliest known number system of one of these cultures.
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Egyptian
Hebrew
Greek
Chinese
Indian
Any other culture that interests you (Approved by Mrs. Grant)
Think about the following questions when researching your cultures base system.
1.
2.
3.
4.
How did the people of this culture write the numerals for the numbers 1-10?
Did the number system use place value? How do you know?
Did the system use a symbol for zero? How do you know?
Think about the numbers that you know such as 31 and 125. How would you write them in the numerals of the culture
you have chosen?
This is a research project that you will be completing in class as well as at home.
Due Date: _____________________________
You will show what you have learned about your cultures base system in the following formats of your choice:
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PowerPoint
Letter to Mrs. Grant
Poster
Picture Book
The rubric is on the next page. Be sure that you include all parts of the rubric in your format that you choose.
Base System Research Project Rubric
Look For’s:
Describe facts about
the culture you
choose: location, time
period, interesting
facts.
Demonstrates the
place value system
used by the student
chosen culture
Symbols or Digits
used in the cultures
Base system are
shared.
Expert
4 Points
Following facts are given
about culture: location on
a map, time period base
system was invented,
who invented the base
system if known and 3
facts about the
civilization
Practitioner
3 Points
One of the following
facts are missing about
culture: location on a
map, time period base
system was invented,
who invented the base
system if known and 3
facts about the
civilization
Apprentice
2 Points
Two of the following
facts are missing about
culture: location on a
map, time period base
system was invented,
who invented the base
system if known and 3
facts about the
civilization
Created a place value
chart to show the place
values out to the fourth
place value. Chart shows
the written name and
number value of each
place.
Symbols or digits used in
new cultures system are
shared and explains what
the symbol stands for in
base ten number. Student
also shares the symbol
for zero and if there is not
a symbol student shares
what the culture did in
place of a zero.
Created a place value
chart to the fourth place
value but is missing the
number value of each
place or the written
name.
Created a place value
chart that is inaccurate
with the name of the
place values or the
number value of the
place.
Symbols/digits used in
the new culture system
are shared but
explanation of what the
symbols stand for in
base ten is unclear or
confusing.
Either symbols/digits
used in the new culture
or explanation of what
the symbols stand for in
base ten is left out.
Novice
1 Point
Three or more of the
following facts are
missing about culture:
location on a map,
time period base
system was invented,
who invented the base
system if known and 3
facts about the
civilization
Place value chart is not
evident or missing.
There is no evidence of
symbols/digits and
explanation of symbols
shared.
Create chart of base
ten numbers and
conversions to new
base
Demonstrates
addition and
subtraction in the
base system chosen.
Creativity of
presentation of
research
Spelling
Punctuation and
Capitals
Conversion Chart from
base ten numbers to new
base system is completed
correctly to base ten
number of 200.
2 problems of addition
and 2 problems for
subtraction are
completed correctly in
new base system
Project shows more than
the required amount of
original thought. Ideas
are creative
and inventive.
All words spelled
correctly
Conversion Chart from
base ten numbers to
new base system is
completed correctly to
base ten number of 100.
Two problems of
addition and subtraction
are completed correctly
in new base system
All punctuation and
capitals are correct
Most punctuation and
capitals are evident
Project shows some
original thought. Work
shows new ideas and
insights.
Most words are spelled
correctly
Conversion chart from
base ten numbers is
completed correctly to
base ten number of 50.
One problem of addition
or subtraction is
completed correctly in
new base system
Conversion Chart is
not completed or does
not correctly convert
base ten numbers to
new base system
There are not
problems completed
correctly in the new
base system
Project is nice and
works but is not unique
or original. Work does
not show new ideas or
insights.
At least ½ words are
misspelled
Project is hard to
follow and parts do
not flow well together.
Word does not show
new ideas or insights.
Too many misspelled
words
At least ½ of summary
excludes punctuation
and capitals
Punctuation or
capitals were excluded