Ancient Civilizations
Introduction
Imagine that you live in a new age of time travel. You have been recruited to test a
new mode of time transportation. You will be making your trial run to ancient
civilizations. What do you think you will find there? How different will ancient
times be as compared to how you live today?
Task
While you are exploring this ancient period, you will be keeping a personal journal.
You will need to include lots of details so you can share your experiences
effectively as a museum exhibit. You will publish your journal as a newspaper or
booklet and recreate your civilization as a diorama, accurately portraying life in
that time and place.
Process
As you set off on your journey, keep in mind the following criteria to make note of
as you navigate through ancient civilization websites:













timelines
events
architecture
housing
rituals/religion/customs
food
clothing
art/music
tools (cooking, building, hunting, etc.)
mode of survival (hunting?)
travel
government/rulers
economics/method of exchange
Also keep in mind that your journal will serve as your notes with which to compose
your published piece. You may publish your information in newspaper or booklet
format. Once you have completed your publishing "re-create" your ancient
civilization as a diorama.
1. Brainstorm ideas regarding the components of your ancient civilization.
2. Develop a rough sketch of a "scene" from what you "saw" on your journey . . .
people, a church, a farm, homes, a theater, markets, etc.
3. Make a list of materials you will need to turn this sketch into a three
dimensional scene from your ancient civilization, such as clay, plaster, paper
mache', balsam wood, popsicle sticks, cardboard, fabric, plastic wrap, etc.
The criteria for your ancient civilization recreation are:




accurate components
neat/effort and research evident
3X5 index card with description; attach to project
free standing
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Aztecs
Ancient Chinese
Ancient Incas
Ancient Japanese
Ancient Minoans
Ancient Peruvians
Ancient Mayans
Ancient Ottomans
Ancient Persians
Ancient Celtics
Ancient Mongols
Ancient Nubians
Ancient Mesopotamians
Ancient India
Ancient Vikings
Ancient Civilization Criteria
Research Journal (100pts.):
Cover-Title
Handwritten notecards/pages
One card/page for each of 13 civilization criteria
Notes have accurate information
Website or book source included on each card/page
Newspaper/Booklet (100pts.):
Name for Newspaper/Booklet
Typed
Pictures included with the articles
Articles based on civilization criteria from journal
All civilization criteria included in articles
Diorama (100pts.):
Shoebox size
Neat
Accurate depiction of Event
Variety of materials used
Accurate information from research
Creative
Index card describing the scene, civilization, student name
Structurally sound