Ancient Civilization Museum Project
SAGE
In this project, YOU will become the expert on an ancient civilization of your choice. You may work alone,
with a partner, or with a small group of no more than four people. You will research your civilization and its
culture; create artifacts, costumes, and other visual aids. Then you will share what you have learned in our
SAGE Ancient History Museum. Sound like fun?........
Well, it will be! However, this is a BIG project with multiple steps and will require effort both in class AND
at home. But don’t worry…I have divided the work into manageable pieces with concrete deadlines. I will
be there to help throughout the project. Resources for your research and some materials for your
artifacts/displays will be available. Please remember to ask questions early and often. This should help you
not fall behind and insure that our museum is TOPNOTCH.
The learning goals for this project include:
 To be able to make a choice about what you want to learn based on your interests and background.
 To be able to conduct research and share information gained through written products, visual aids,
and oral presentation
 To learn about ancient civilizations and their cultures
Here we go! Project Instructions
Step 1:
Decide on an ancient civilization to research. Complete topic sheet and have parents sign.
Due on your SAGE day the week of October 21st.
Step 2:
Create costume from your ancient civilization. Please see guidelines and suggestions.
Due on your SAGE day the week of October 28th.
Step 3:
Create a poster sized map showing where your ancient civilization. Please see guidelines and
suggestions. Due on your SAGE day the week of November 4th.
Step 4:
Create a timeline for your ancient civilization. Please see guidelines and suggestions.
Due on your SAGE day the week of November 11th.
Step 5:
Create one or two artifacts from your ancient civilization. Please see guidelines and
suggestions. Due on your SAGE day the week of November 18th.
Week of November 25th is Thanksgiving Break. Week of December 2nd is our field trip to the Carlos Museum.
Step 6:
Write a brief biography of a historical figure or pertinent archeologist for your ancient
civilization. Due by Friday, December 6th.
Step 7:
Submit a bibliography of your research. See guidelines and suggestions.
Due on your SAGE day the week of December 16th.
Step 8:
Present what you have learned at our SAGE Ancient History Museum. Please see guidelines
and suggestions. Due the week of December 16th. Dates and times to be determined.
Step 1: Due the Week of October 21st
Choose one of the following ancient civilizations to research. Please note that not everyone can/should
research the same civilization. I reserve the right to make changes if too many students choose the same
civilization.
Ancient Mesopotamia (Babylonians, Sumerians, and Assyrians)
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Hebrews
Ancient Phoenicians
Ancient Indus Valley (India)
Ancient China
Ancient Japan
Ancient Phoenicians
Ancient Greece
Ancient Romans
Celts
Vikings
Incas
Mayans
Aztecs
Ancient Africa (Nubia, Mali, Bantu, Nok)
Other (must be approved by teacher)
You will need to find the following information about your civilization. Be sure to keep good notes about
each topic and resources used (bibliography due in Step 8).
o Location (present day) and relevant geography ie rivers, large bodies of water, mountains, etc.
o Time Period (Rise and Fall)
o Written language
o Everyday life ie food, clothing, education, homes, family structure, and recreation
o Economics-jobs, duties, money, industry
o Government-who ruled the people
o Values and Beliefs ie religion, worship, customs, traditions, mythology etc.
o Contributions to the World ie inventions, technological advances
o Architectural structures ie buildings, walls, statues
o Art and literature
Ways to choose an ancient civilization to research.
Choose a civilization that you know a little bit about and want to know more.
Choose a civilization that you know nothing about but peaks your curiosity.
Choose a civilization that is related to your ethnic background. Example:
Ancient China if your family comes from China. Ancient Mayans if your
family is from South or Central America. Ancient Indus Valley if your family
is from India, etc.
Choose a civilization for which you can find lots of resources or information.
Choose a civilization that NO ONE else would choose.
Planning Sheet
Student Name _________________________________________________________________
Ancient Civilization _____________________________________________________________
How will you work? (Independently, pair, or small group) ___________________________________
Partner or team members __________________________________________________________
I have read through the Ancient Civilizations Museum Project and am aware of what I/my child is expected
to complete within the given timeframes.
Student Signature ___________________________________________________
Parent Signature ____________________________________________________
(20 pts if completed and returned on time)
Step 2: Due on your SAGE day the week of October 28th.
Using the information from your research, create a costume for your ancient civilization. You may choose to
dress as a specific historical figure, a mythological figure (god/goddess), solider, ruler, or everyday person. You
may also choose to dress as an archaeologist who excavated your civilization. You will wear and present this
costume in class on your SAGE day and again on our Museum day (TBA). Please use the following
guidelines when creating your costume.
 No store bought costumes. Students may solicit the help of their parent or another adult.
 Costume must be school appropriate. Nothing too revealing or too suggestive. No weaponry.
 Be creative. Do not spend a lot of money. Old adult sized t-shirts, bedsheets, and recycled materials
make excellent costumes.
 Think head to toe. Headpieces, collars, jewelry, shoes, and accessories really make a costume.
 Be sure to create a “story” for your character. Who are they? What do they do? What is their life
like? Etc.
 Have fun with this project!
Resources
Look at pictures in informational texts. I have many available and will be happy to copy pertinent pages for
your home use.
http://www.brocku.ca/lawfield/?q=node/3919
www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/COSTUME1_INDEX.HTML#Plate6 Braun & Schneider's drawings of the
ancients costumes.
members.aol.com/Donnclass/Greeklife.html Meet the Greeks! Daily life in Ancient Greece.
www.vroma.org/%7ebmcmanus/clothing2.html This page tells about what women wore in ancient Rome.
www.unc.edu/courses/rometech/public/content/survival/clothing.html check out this site for information
about the cloth Ancient Romans wore.
www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/costume/costume.html Clothing of the Ancient Greek Women.
Grading Rubric (30 points)
Costume
0=Did not complete
1 (5pts)=Completed late
2(10pts)= Simple costume with only one piece and on time.
3 (15pts)= Complete costume (head to toe) and on time.
Presentation
1(5pts)=Unable to tell about their character
2(10pts)=Simple presentation 1-2 facts
3(15pts)= Complete story about character
Step 3: Due on your SAGE day November 4th.
Create a poster sized map of your ancient civilization. This must be hand drawn and include the following:
 Name of the civilization in upper Left large enough to be seen from a distance.
 Outline of the civilization with neighboring civilizations (areas)
 Major landforms, waterways, and cities.
 Compass Rose
 Map Key
 Map must have color
You MAY include the following:
 Inset map with larger area or modern location names (This may be printed from another source if credit
is given in your biography)
 3 dimensional elements
 Lines of Longitude and Latitude
 You may make your map look old by staining it (tea or coffee) Or by burning the edges (adult
assistance needed)
Note: If working with a partner or in small groups, you need only submit one map. However, everyone must
contribute in some way.
Grading Rubric (20 points + 10 bonus pts)
1 (10pts)
Map is messy and
difficult to
interpret AND/OR
is missing major
elements.
2 (15pts)
Map is neat and
organized. Includes
some of the required
elements.
3 (20 points)
Map is neat and
organized. Includes
all required
elements.
4 (30 points)
Map is neat and
organized. Includes
all required
elements AND one
or more additional
elements.
Step 4: Due on your SAGE day the week of November 11th
Create a timeline for your civilization. Timeline may be hand lettered or printed. It must the large enough to
be read from a distance. Your timeline must include:
 Date your civilization began – rise
 Date your civilization ended – fall
 Important periods or eras
 Dates of ancient rulers/leaders
 Dates of important battles
 Dates of important discoveries or inventions
Your timeline MAY include:
 Pictures or illustrations to go along with dates. Please be sure to give credit in your bibliography for
photographs or illustrations taken from the internet.
 Interactive elements for your audience ie matching elements, question/answer windows, etc.
Note: If working with a partner or in small groups, you need only submit one timeline. However, everyone
must contribute in some way.
Grading Rubric (20pts + 10 bonus pts)
1 (10 pts)
Timeline messy and/or
unorganized. Does not
include all required
elements.
2 (15 pts)
Timeline is neat and
organized. Includes some
required elements.
3 (20 pts)
Timeline is neat and
organized. Includes all
required elements.
4 (30pts)
Timeline is neat and
organized. Includes all
required elements AND
one or more additional
elements.
Step 5 Due on your SAGE day the week of November 18th
One of the main reasons we have so much information today about these civilizations that existed so long ago
is because of buildings, monuments, and artifacts that they left behind. In order to fill our museum with
artifacts, I would like for you to create one or two artifacts from the ancient civilization you chose to
research. This artifact can be a temple, monument, arena, statue, mask, pottery, etc. The artifact should be a
unique representation of the culture of your ancient civilization. It can be built out or any material that you
feel would be appropriate. Please remember that it is not necessary to spend a lot of money on materials.
Recyclables make excellent building materials.
In addition to your artifact that you build, you will also create an identification card that will display the
following:
 Name of the artifact
 The date in which this artifact was created in ancient times.
 The civilization that created the artifact
 The location where the artifact was found
 A short description of what/how it was used (2-3 sentences)
Note: If you are working with a partner or a small group, each person must create at least one artifact and
identification display card.
Grading Rubric (20 pts per artifact)
1 (5pts)
2 (15pts)
3 (20pts)
Unique artifact present. No
Unique artifact present. Most of
Unique artifact present. All
identification display card is
the required information on
information on identification
present.
identification display card is
display card is accurate. Text is
present. Minor spelling or
grammatically correct and is
grammatical errors are present.
spelled correctly.
Step 6 Due by Friday, December 6th
Write a brief biography for a historical figure from your ancient civilization OR write a brief biography of an
archaeologist who excavated your ancient civilization. You may write about an ancient king, pharaoh, or
other leader. You may write about an ancient scientist, poet, philosopher, or inventor. You may even write
about an ancient religious leader.
Your writing should be brief with no more than five paragraphs. It is likely that you may write just one good
paragraph with five to seven sentences. Your writing must be grammatically correct and use correct spelling.
I would prefer that your biography be typed. Adult assistance is appropriate for younger students.
Additionally, you must include a picture or illustration to go along with your biography.
Note: If you are working with a partner or small group, each person must complete a biography of a different
person.
Grading Rubric (20pts + 10 bonus pts)
1 (10pts)
2 (15pts)
3 (20 pts)
Writing is does not meet
Writing is progressing
Writing meets grade level Writing exceeds grade
grade level expectations
grade level expectations
expectations, provides
level expectations,
and/or does not provide
and/or provides limited
adequate information
provides adequate
adequate information
information about the
about the historical
information about the
about the historical
historical figure or
figure or archaeologists’
historical figure or
figure or archaeologist’s
archaeologists’ life.
life, and includes a
archaeologists’ life, and
life.
And/OR does not include photograph or
includes a photograph or
photograph or
illustration.
illustration.
illustration.
4 (30pts)
Step 7 Due by your SAGE day the week of December 9th.
Compile a bibliography of the resources you used in your research. A bibliography is an alphabetical listing of
all of your sources of information ie books, magazines, videos, websites. Use the following style guide for
each entry. All bibliographies should be typed with a title (Bibliography) centered at the top and student’s
name upper right hand corner.
Style Guide
Encyclopedia (print)
Author(last name, first name). “Name of article.” Name of Encyclopedia.
City: Publisher, Copyright Date.
Example:
“Bats.” World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc. 2005.
Books
Last Name, First Name. Name of the book. City of publication: Publisher’s name, Copyright Date.
Example:
O’Henry, John. Space. New York: Scholastic, 2001.
On-Line Magazine Article
Author. “Title.” Journal Date. Date you visit the URL, URL address
Example:
Halls, Kelly, “Juggling History.” U.S. Kids June 1997 March 2000.
http://discover.sirs.com/cgi-bin/dis-article-display?
Magazine Article
Author. “Title of article.” Name of magazine, date, pages.
Example:
Markham, Lois. “A Gallery of Great Native Americans.”
National Geographic for Kids, August 2001:6-7.
World Wide Web
Author. “Title” Group Title. Date created. Institution.
Date you saw it. URL
Example
The Victorian Web. Ed. George Landow. June 2000. Brown University. 25 Feb. 2004
<http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/victov.html.>
Grading Rubric (20pts + 10 bonus pts)
1 (10 pts)
2 (15 pts)
Only one source is cited. Limited sources are cited
Source is not properly
(2 ). OR Sources are not
cited.
properly cited.
3 (20 pts)
Sufficient sources are
cited (3-5). Sources are
properly cited.
4 (30pts)
Extensive sources are
cited (6 or more). Sources
are properly cited.
Step 8 Due the week of December 16th.
You will present the information you learned at our Ancient History Museum. Artifacts, maps, biographies
and timelines along with pertinent material will be displayed. You will interact and inform our guests while
dressed in your ancient civilization costumes. Whether you worked independently, with a partner, or in a
small group, everyone will be evaluated on their presentation both orally and visually.
Tentative Dates and Times
Thursday, December 19th 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-2:00 in the Media Center
Open to students, faculty, and staff
Thursday, December 19th 5:00-6:00 pm in the Media Center
Open to parents, families, and community members.
Grading Rubric (20 pts + 10 bonus)
1 (10 pts)
2 (15 pts)
Limited interaction with Some interaction with
guests. Limited or poor
guests. OR Poor eye
eye contact.
contact and posture.
Minimal or poorly
OR limited presentation
presented information.
of information.
3 (20pts)
Appropriate interaction
with guests. Good eye
contact and posture.
Sufficient presentation
of information.
4 (30pts)
Excellent interaction
with guests. Excellent
eye contact and posture.
Extensive presentation of
information.
Additional Opportunities for Museum Display (5-10 bonus pts each)
 Inventions/contributions-these could be photographs, drawings, or 3 dimensional models with
appropriate written descriptions.
 Games- these could be available for guests to play Or photographs/drawings with written
descriptions.
 Food - this could be a visual display with photographs/drawings OR 3 dimensional models OR
tastings for your guests
 7 Wonders of the Ancient World (just the one(s) appropriate for your ancient civilization)- this could
be a 3 dimensional model or photographs/drawings with appropriate written descriptions.
Complete Project Grading Rubric
1 – Limited
2- Progressing
Less than 120 pts
120-165 pts
3 Meets
170 pts
4 Exceeds
180 or more pts.