This document provides instructions and a rubric for a student project on the economies, societies, politics, and geographies of the Americas, Europe, or Africa prior to the Age of Exploration. Students must choose a topic, focus area, and presentation format. The rubric evaluates projects based on design, content, effort, and research. Sources must be cited. The document includes questions to help students self-assess their work.

1. Name:____________________________Parent Signature:__________________________
DUE DATE: _____________________________________(each day late – 10 points)
Objective: research and create a 3D OR Multimedia Presentation displaying
understanding of the economy, society, political and/or geography of the Americas, Europe
OR Africa prior to the Age of Exploration.
PICK 1 TOPIC:
• Native American tribes (SW, NW, NE Woodlands, Great Plains, Arctic - pick
only 1)
• African Society
• European Society
• The Age of Exploration
MY TOPIC IS:______________________________________
PICK 1 AREA OF FOCUS:
1. Village Life (i.e.: buffalo hunt, farming, etc…)
2. “A day in the Life” (i.e.: what would you do in the morning, afternoon, evening, etc)
3. Spiritual Ritual
4. Historical Event (i.e.: The Black Death, the Reformation, African trade)
5. Artifacts (i.e.: housing, tools, clothing, spiritual artifacts, etc…)
6. a tutorial (i.e.: How to Make a Tipi: Step 1…, Step 2…, Step 3…)
7. create a “salt,” cookie dough, or cake map of the 3 geographic regions of Africa
8. create a “salt,” cookie dough, or cake map of the exploration routes to the Americas
(www.oneplaneteducation.com/volcanoes/Alaska_new_1/glacier/recipe.html )
MY FOCUS IS:______________________________________
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2. PICK 1 3D OR MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION:
Please, choose ONE of the following options (please choose an option that you feel
comfortable completing in the time allotted) to display your research and
comprehension of the concept:
1. create a diorama
2. create a model (may use cookie dough, cake, etc)
3. create a Multimedia Presentation: pick only 1 of the following
a. PowerPoint
b. Pivot
c. Windows Movie Maker
d. iMovie
e. Or any other movie maker
*maximum of 6 frames
I CHOOSE TO:______________________________________
Websites/Resources that will help:
• Student Search engine: www.onekey.com
• Craft ideas: www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/indians
www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/crafts/southwestcrafts.htm
• For student friendly research and examples: www.mce.k12tn.net/indians
• MMS Computer Animation Club afterschool on Wednesdays
• Computer lab is available during recess on even days
• Catch Up Club on Tuesdays
We are available for extra help. Please schedule time with the teacher and come
prepared with questions and ideas.
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3. Turn this
Name:____________________________________ Period:__________ form in with
your project.
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Diorama & The display is attractive, The display is attractive The display is somewhat Major items are not
Model ONLY creative, and well organized. and well-organized. The organized. Some items labeled. The display is
Items are neatly labeled items are neatly labeled may be missing labels unorganized, items are
and securely attached to and attached to the and they are not not securely attached to
display. A title and student's display. A title and attached securely to the the display, and the title
name is displayed. A TYPED student's name is display. The title or and student's name is
written summary is displayed. A TYPED student name is missing. missing. The TYPED
attached (1 paragraph) written summary is The TYPED written summary is missing or
and has no grammatical attached (1 paragraph) summary is incomplete. incomplete.
errors with few grammatical
errors)
Multimedia Acting (only for movie), Incorporates at least 2 of Incorporates 1 of the Fails to incorporate any of
sound, traditional music the following correctly: following correctly: acting the following or inclusion
Presentation
(.midi, .mp3, .wav), related acting (only for movie), (only for movie), sound, is inaccurate: sound,
ONLY pictures (.jpg, .bmp, etc), sound, traditional music traditional music traditional music
animation that displays (.midi, .mp3, .wav), (.midi, .mp3, .wav), (.midi, .mp3, .wav),
insight and deep animation, related related pictures (.jpg, related pictures (.jpg,
comprehension of the pictures (.jpg, .bmp, etc) .bmp, etc), that display a .bmp, etc), correct
material & correct spelling, that display a good poor understanding of spelling, grammar and
grammar and usage. comprehension of the the material. usage.
material & correct Correct spelling, grammar
spelling, grammar and and usage need
usage. improvement.
Effort/Planning My project shows that I My project shows some My product shows little My project shows no
carefully planned. I made evidence of planning. I evidence of planning. If I evidence of planning. My
a detailed plan on paper and made a sketch on paper. planned, it is difficult to project shows little to no
submitted to teachers. I also It generally shows a good tell. effort and contains
showed my sketches to effort and is mostly mistakes or is incomplete.
others for advice. It shows a mistake free.
great deal of effort without
mistakes.
Research and My project displays superior My project displays good My project displays poor My product displays little
Comprehension comprehension of the comprehension of the comprehension of the to no comprehension of
research and material. research and material. research and material. the research and material.
My project shows a thorough There is some evidence There is little evidence There is no evidence that
understanding of the idea of research that goes that further research was further research was
that is being explored. There beyond the classroom. completed on the topic. completed.
is evidence of research that
went beyond the classroom.
Internet Sources used:_______________________________________________________
Text Sources Used:___________________________________________________________
Other Sources Used:_________________________________________________________
TOTAL SCORE_______out of 12 points = ______% + _____Bleu Bucks =
%
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4. Is my name and class period on the project?
Did I fix misspellings?
Did I read the RUBRIC and complete everything I could to earn top points?
Did I list the sources (websites, books, etc)?
Does my project demonstrate that I researched outside the classroom?
Am I proud of my project? Is this my best work?
Please skim the RUBRIC and then share your thoughts on what grade you deserve. Please
support your response with support statements.
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What would you do differently next time?
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5. Name:_______________________________________________Pd:____Date:______
Directions: FIRST, Please walk through the social studies museum looking at ALL of the
projects in the museum. SECOND, select 3 projects on 3 different topics (Africa, Europe,
Americas) that you would like to learn more about. THIRD, answer the following questions.
PROJECT #1
• The Topic of the project is ___________________________________________.
• This project was created by___________________________________________.
• 2 things I learned from this project
are:___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
PROJECT #1
• The Topic of the project is ___________________________________________.
• This project was created by___________________________________________.
• 2 things I learned from this project
are:___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
PROJECT #1
• The Topic of the project is ___________________________________________.
• This project was created by___________________________________________.
• 2 things I learned from this project
are:___________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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6. 1. What is one thing that you saw from another project that you liked?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What project do you think is the BEST? Please list at least 2 factors that made it
stand out.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. If you could change ONE thing about your project, what would it be and why?
_____________________________________________________________________
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