RCHS Enriched World History Artifact Project 2015
A tradition at RCHS is that every student in World History takes part in the Artifact Project. This longterm project incorporates both individual and group work and will result in the creation of a museum of
ancient cultures on Friday, December 4. This is the major project of the first semester and will have
many components. It is imperative that you keep up with each part of the project. You will work first as
individuals, to research and create your own artifacts and to write a paper discussing the importance of
your artifact. You will also work in a group to create a cohesive exhibit. The end product will be a
museum that will be open to the school and to parents.
Project Components:
1.
Deciding on an artifact that you will research and construct
2.
Researching that artifact and its importance to the civilization
3.
Writing a research paper in which you explain the importance of your artifact
4.
Creating and constructing the artifact
5.
Sharing through an oral presentation your artifact with your class
6.
Working in a group to create a museum display
7.
Sharing with the RCHS community your artifact and museum display on Friday, December 4
Flex Days: The history component of the next two Flex Days will be related to this project. We will
visit the North Carolina Museum of Art to prepare for the project. This visit will give us a sense of what
goes into creating an exhibit. Remember to pay close attention, because in a matter of weeks you will be
creating your own museum exhibit made up of student created artifacts. At the museum you will learn
artifact collection, restoration and handling, exhibit organization, and the use of graphics and interactives.
Museum Themes: The themes that will be covered in the museum are: Government/Military,
Science/Technology, Belief Systems, Daily Life, Trade/Economics, Artistic Expression, and
Recreation/Entertainment.
Your class is responsible for the following theme:_______________________________________
Your artifact must come from before the year 500 CE, though in some regions you will be permitted to
make artifacts somewhat more recent than that date.
Artifact: You may choose to make any artifact. The only requirement is that the artifact must date from
the time of your ancient civilization. Your artifact must be a replica of a person-made object that was or
could have been found in your civilization within the assigned time span. In past years, students have
commented that artifact selection was the key to a successful project.
Due Dates & Grading The artifact project is broken apart into the following 100 points:
Today (September 4/5) your class will be assigned a theme and discuss how to begin brainstorming. You
should now begin researching to find artifact ideas which fit your class theme.
September
11th
September
17th
October
5th
October
12th
October
19th
November
23rd
Nov 30
Nov 30
December 4th
Brainstorming
List
Proposal
Notes
and
Bibliog.
Outline
Rough
draft
Museum
Paper
Artifact
Final
draft
Museum
Paper
Presentation
to your class
Exhibition
set-up &
presentation
to the public
no points
no points
10 %
5%
40 %
30 %
40 %
5%
10%
see top two
choices
sheet
(Same 40
% as
rough
draft)
PARTIAL LIST OF POSSIBLE CIVILIZATIONS
Africa
Europe and the Mediterranean
Australia/Oceania
Egypt
Nubia
Axum
Ethiopia
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Minoans
Mycenaens
Celts
Romans
Greeks
Etruscans
Carthaginians
Early Byzantium
Polynesians
Aboriginal Cultures
Maori
The Americas
Chavin
Olmec
Teotihuacan
Toltec
Aztec
Maya
Moche
Nazca
Tiwanaku
Inca
Anasazi
Mississippian
Inuit
Southwest Asia
Mesopotamians
Persians
Assyrians
Phoenicians
Israelites
Babylonians
Hellenistic Age
Hittites
South Asia
Guptas
Mauryans
Indus Valley
Srivijaya
Khmer
Funan
East Asia
Shang China
Zhou China
Qin China
Han China
Three Kingdoms China
Early Japan
Early Korea