Unit 3: Ancient India
For each social studies unit, students will be required to complete a social studies
project. This will be assigned as homework. There are three main goals:
1. that the student demonstrates he or she has done some independent research
2. that the project visually communicates what the student has learned
3. that the project includes some form of written content, composed by the
student (never copy/paste directly from the Internet)
Students will be able to choose any project that relates to the unit. There is a list of
suggestions at the bottom of this paper, or you may design your own project as long as it meets
the three goals listed above. If you design your own project, please discuss it with the teacher
first to get approval for your idea.
I welcome and encourage parent assistance with projects, but I don’t expect the work to
look like anything beyond what a sixth grader can do. A project should reflect sincere effort
and quality work. They are evaluated on (a) evidence of independent research,
(b) communication of information visually AND in writing, (c) creativity and neatness, and
(d) meeting the due date.
THE UNIT 3 PROJECT IS DUE ON
Please Note; Bigger is not necessarily better - it is the quality that counts! Limit posters to a
half-sheet of poster board. Be mindful of our space limitations in the classroom (80 projects
take up a lot of space!) Thanks!
 Make a clay sculpture of an artifact from Mohenjo-daro. Display it with a piece of
writing explaining why such an artifact would be an important archeological find, and what
it might tell you about ancient India.
 Draw a detailed map or 3-D model showing the layout of Mohenjo-daro. Include pictures
and explanations of the buildings.
 Draw a detailed map or relief model showing the geographic landforms of India. Include
pictures of each geographic area indicated.
 Investigate the Himalaya Mountains. Create a model or PowerPoint that explains what
you’ve learned. You might focus on how the mountains were created or some modern
history about explorers who have climbed some of the famous peaks.
 Create a poster display with pictures and text explaining Indian Sanskrit.
 Think creatively to make an illustrated project that displays 15 of the most important
Unit 3 vocabulary words. Display the words and their definitions. You might make a
mobile, a collage or a pop-up book.
 Create an illustrated timeline for Unit 3 (or focus on a specific part of Unit 3.) Explain
the key events on your timeline in writing. Explain who, what, when, where, why and how.
 Research and display something about Indian foods. Cook a food and share it with the
class. Please provide whatever paper plates, napkins, or plastic utensils are necessary.
 Research and create a display about a specific Indian deity.
 Research a Hindu holiday such as Diwali or Holi, or a Buddhist holiday such as O-bon or
Vesak.
 Research or make a Buddhist prayer wheel or a Buddhist prayer flag.
 Create an ABC book of Ancient India. Each page represents a letter of the alphabet, and
on each page there is a description & picture of something starting with that letter. (A is
for Annapurna…etc.)
 Famous People: research Gandhi or the Dali Lama. Make a poster that explains your
research.
 Design a PowerPoint slideshow presenting something from the unit. Present your product
to the class as a junior expert.

Make or find an Indian sari and demonstrate how to wear it. Research any aspect of
traditional Indian clothing for a poster or PowerPoint.

Research Indian music, dance styles, or musical instruments.
Remember, all projects include some form of written information, which will be on display
with your project. The writing should be final draft quality, including error-free spelling,
capitalization and punctuation.