Early Civilization in a Box
Crowder/Oco
You are a member of an early civilization. Your group has been commanded
by your leaders to create a time capsule containing twelve items that encapsulate
your entire culture. Choose twelve items, or representations of those items, that
demonstrate your civilization and place them into a box, no bigger than 12x12
inches. To ensure that future generations understand why you chose the items that
you did, your leaders have commanded that you include a 3-4-sentence explanation
for each item and how it was used by—or how it was useful to—your civilization.
As if that was not enough, your leaders are concerned that your civilization
isn’t the “most civilized” of the civilizations in the world at the present. They
command that you make that case for why your civilization was indeed far ahead of
the rest. You must do this by providing evidence for how your civilization meets all
eight characteristics for a civilization, which include: advanced cities, technology,
religion, government, writing/record-keeping, a stable food supply, job
specialization, and social class systems. Due to your leaders’ respect and devotion to
the academics in your civilization, they demand that you cite your sources! Failure
to do so will draw ire and punishment.
Your river-valley civilization is: __________________________________________
For your research, use at least three sources, one of which must be your
textbook! On pages 18-23 of the World Civilizations text, you should find some
pertinent information concerning your civilization. Remember, you must have MLA
citations for all of your sources—even for pictures. Use internal citations and
include a works cited page.
You will be assessed on the MYP standards of A: Knowing and Understanding
and C: Communicating. The rubrics are included in this document.
Early Civilization in a Box
Crowder/Oco
Criterion A: Knowing and understanding
Students should be able to:
i. Use a wide range of terminology in context
ii. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of subject-specific content and concepts
through developed descriptions, explanations and examples.
Achievement Description
Level
Does not reach a standard described
0
by any of the descriptors below.
Nonscorable
i.
uses limited relevant terminology
1-2
Limited
ii.
demonstrates basic knowledge and
understanding of content and
concepts with minimal descriptions
and/or examples.
3-4
Adequate
5-6
Substantial
7-8
Excellent
i.
uses some terminology accurately
and appropriately
ii.
demonstrates adequate knowledge
and understanding of content and
concepts through satisfactory
descriptions, explanations and
examples.
i.
uses a range of terminology
accurately and appropriately
ii.
demonstrates substantial knowledge
and understanding of content and
concepts through accurate
descriptions, explanations and
examples.
i.
consistently uses a wide range of
terminology effectively
ii.
demonstrates detailed knowledge
and understanding of content and
concepts through thorough,
accurate descriptions, explanations
and examples.
Project-Specific
Missing virtually all of the
informational component
of project
Limited or inadequate
descriptions of box items
and/or extremely limited
evidence for the
civilization characteristics
Adequate descriptions of
box items and/or evidence
for the civilization
characteristics
Substantial descriptions of
box items. Project offers
plenty of evidence for the
civilization characteristics
Thorough and highly
descriptive explanations of
box items. Project provides
plenty of evidence for all of
the civilization
characteristics
Early Civilization in a Box
Crowder/Oco
Criterion C: Communicating
Students should be able to:
i. Communicate information and ideas effectively using an appropriate style for the
audience and purpose
ii. Structure information and ideas in a way that is appropriate to the specified format
iii. Document sources of information using a recognized convention.
Achievement Description
Level
Does not reach a standard described by any
0
of the descriptors below.
Nonscorable
i.
communicates information and ideas in a
1-2
limited way, using a style that is limited
Limited
in its appropriateness to the audience and
purpose
ii.
structures information and ideas according
to the specified format in a limited way
iii.
documents sources of information in a
limited way.
i.
communicates information and ideas
3-4
satisfactorily by using a style that is
Adequate
somewhat appropriate to the audience
and purpose
ii.
structures information and ideas in a way
that is somewhat appropriate to the
specified format
iii.
sometimes documents sources of
information using a recognized
convention.
i.
communicates information and ideas
5-6
accurately by using a style that is
Substantial
mostly appropriate to the audience and
purpose
ii.
structures information and ideas in a way
that is mostly appropriate to the
specified format
iii.
often documents sources of information
using a recognized convention.
Project-Specific
Missing virtually all of
the communication
component of project
Items contained
within box either do
not work with
specified area or do
not meet the
requirement.
Research is limited or
not in MLA format
Items contained
within box do an okay
job for specified area
and meet
requirements.
Research meets the
minimum
requirements of 3
sources, including
textbook, MLA cited.
Items contained
within box do a great
job for specified area
and meet or exceed
requirements.
Research meets or
exceeds the minimum
requirements of 3
sources, including
textbook, MLA cited.
Early Civilization in a Box
7-8
Excellent
i.
ii.
iii.
communicates information and ideas
effectively and accurately by using a
style that is completely appropriate to the
audience and purpose
structures information and ideas in a way
that is completely appropriate to the
specified format
consistently documents sources of
information using a recognized
convention.
Crowder/Oco
Items contained
within box do an
exceptional job for
specified area and
exceeds
requirements.
Research exceeds the
minimum
requirements of 3
sources, including
textbook, MLA cited.