Stone Age
Inventions
Background:
Life in prehistoric times was pretty tough, and any advantage you had might be the
difference between survival and extinction. What ultimately set early humans apart
from other animals was their ability to develop technologies to aid them in their daily
life. Although technological change came much slower than in today’s fast-paced world,
the impact of new inventions cannot be exaggerated.
The Project:
Students should form groups of 3-4 (4 is maximum). Your group is a team of prehistoric
Advertising Executives with the task of promoting a new prehistoric invention. Each
group will randomly select an invention, and must come up with two advertisements:
1. Magazine Advertisement – Create a “paper” advertisement for your product that
would appear in one of today’s magazines. Look at some examples and consider
their style, use of images, and use of text or slogans to “sell” their product. Feel
free to use a computer program like Photoshop or create it by hand!
OR
Political Cartoon – Create a “political cartoon” for your product /
idea that addresses / captures a humorous / satirical or critical outlook. The cartoon
should have characters, captions and a title. Make sure your cartoon has a clear
message that addresses the effectiveness of the product within the civilization.
2. GROUP Television Commercial – Prepare a group skit in the form of a
television commercial or late night “infomercial.” Remember: the best
commercials convince the audience that they need the new product.
Content:
Each advertisement must
 Clearly describe how the invention is to be used
 Detail the specific problems in prehistoric life that the invention will solve
 Be professional in appearance
 Entertain as well as inform the class
Your Topic: ____________________________
Your Group Members:
_____________________________
Due ______________________
Inventions of the Stone Age
Fire
Bow & arrow
Stone axes
Sewed Clothing
Dog domesticated
Pottery
Spears
Bone fishhooks
Wooden Hoe
Other: see “tools and inventions” for hunting etc. sheet
Ancient World History
Stone Age Inventions Rubric
CATEGORY
COMPONENT
Appearance
Magazine
Advertisement /
Political
Cartoon
Content
Validity
Informative
Television
Commercial
Well Prepared
Enthusiasm
4
 a very
professional,
realistic ad or
cartoon
 ad or
cartoon draws
attention to
uses of
prehistoric
invention in
clear message
3
 an
attractive ad
or cartoon
that uses both
a picture and
supporting
text
 main
purpose of
invention is
addressed or
cartoon has a
clear
message
 Pictures,
slogans,
captions or
characters are
convincing
and effective
 pictures,
captions and
characters
are relevant
to the
invention
 skit
presents
detailed info
and offers a
complete list
of uses for
invention

summarizes
topic, offers
a variety of
uses for
invention
 students
well
rehearsed and
organized
 within time
limit
 a smooth,
well
rehearsed
skit
 within
time limit
 group is
exciting,
energetic, and
fun to watch
 props,
costumes, or
music
enhance skit
 entire skit
is amusing or
entertaining
 some use
of props
2
 some
creativity
and use of
both art and
text
1
 ad or
cartoon is
somewhat
sloppy;
more effort
required
 Ad or
cartoon
needs to be
clearer
about use
of
invention /
message
 pictures
and text
only
somewhat
related to
invention

Insufficient
explanation
of important
of invention
or unclear
message

summarizes
main points
of topic;
has more
than one
use for
invention
 some
confusion
or errors;
more
rehearsal
needed
 outside
time limit
 most of
skit is
enjoyable
to watch
Remedial
 ad or
cartoon is in
paragraph
form or
difficult to
read or
illegible
 handout or
cartoon fails
to explain
importance of
invention or
deliver any
message
 rather
than
promoting
or satirizing,
the ad
/cartoondistr
acts from
the
invention
addresses
some
important
points; only
presents one
use for
invention
 picture and
text seem
totally
irrelevant to
the product
 group
seems
largely
unprepared
&
disorganized
 outside
time limit
 more
effort
required to
make skit
interesting
to class
 mostly
improvisation
 outside
time limit
 does not
present
necessary and
relevant
information
 group lacks
enthusiasm
and fails to
entertain class
as a whole