King William County Public Schools
Project-Based Learning Unit
1. Project Title: Ancient Civilization Exhibit (3rd)
2. Project Idea/Concept: TSW collaborate to reconstruct an ancient civilization exhibit hall
at the Smithsonian.
3. Entry Event: A hurricane has developed in the Atlantic Ocean. It has hit land in
Washington D.C. and destroyed the Ancient Civilization Hall at the Smithsonian
Institution. The Smithsonian has hired your team to redesign and recreate this hall. The
Smithsonian expects the new exhibit to include artifacts and information from three of
the five ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, Mali, Egypt, and China.
4. Essential Question: What important artifacts and information do you find necessary to
show the heritages and contributions of the people of these ancient civilizations?
5. Standards/Objectives:
Language Arts
3.1-Effective
Communication Skills
3.2-Visual Presentations
3.7-Reference Materials
3.9-Purpose for Writing
Mathematics
Social Studies
Science
2.1-China/Egypt
2.4-Map Skills (C,E)
3.1-Greece/Rome
3.2-Mali
3.4-Map Skills (G,R,M)
3.7-Economics (G, R, M)
4.1-Artifacts
3.10-Natural Disasters
6. Performance Objectives:
When finished with this unit TSW know:
When finished with this unit TSW be able
to do:
What constitutes an exhibit hall
Prepare a multimedia presentation
How to work collaboratively
displaying a new exhibit hall
How to use various forms of technology
(ie: Office products, tablets, iPads, etc)
Work collaboratively in groups
7. Learning Goals:
Learn about the physical and human characteristics of these civilizations.
Identify the various forms of government and contributions of these locations.
Design and present their new exhibit halls.
8. Timeline: approximately 3 weeks (after Ancient Civilization Unit has been started)
Week One
Present problem
Establish groups
Discuss expectations
Discuss rubrics
(individual/group)
Take virtual tour of
exhibit hall
Begin collaboration*
Week Two
Continue collaboration*
Conference with groups
Check graphic organizer
Temperature Taking
Week Three
Continue collaboration*
Wrap up loose ends
Conference with groups
Complete rubrics
Prepare for presentation
Present exhibit halls
*During collaboration TSW research, design, implement, and create their new exhibit halls.
9. 21st Century Skills:
Information and Communication
Thinking and Reasoning Skills
Personal and Workplace Skills
Cross-Cultural Understanding
10. Group Assignments/Individual Assignments:
Group
Individual/Partner
Presentation and construction of the
Research specific civilizations
exhibit hall
(graphic organizer provided)
Group rubrics
Individual rubrics
11. Assessments/Reflections (check all that apply):
Group Presentation
Exhibit Hall Product
Self-Evaluation Rubric
Group Rubric
Graphic Organizer
Conferences with Teachers
12. Resources:
VDOE
Materials/Supplies (poster boards, display boards, etc)
Graphic Organizer/Rubrics (provided)
Social Studies textbooks
Available technologies
Name: ___________________________________ Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________
Ancient Civilization Exhibit Task List
A hurricane has developed in the Atlantic Ocean. It has hit land in Washington D.C. and
destroyed the Ancient Civilization Hall at the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian has
hired your team to redesign and recreate this hall. The Smithsonian expects the new exhibit
to include artifacts and information from three of the five ancient civilizations of Greece,
Rome, Mali, Egypt, and China.
Please check off each task after you have completed it.
Choose your three ancient civilizations
Decide as a team who will research each civilization
Complete the graphic organizer
Conference with Teacher (Week Two)
Conference with Teacher (Week Three)
Get completed graphic organizer approved
Prepare presentation with your team
Below you will find the requirements from the Smithsonian Institution. Please check
off each requirement as you include it in your exhibit. The Smithsonian wants you
to be as creative as you can however; the following artifacts must be included. You
may include pictures, words or models when creating your exhibit.
Each civilization must include information about the following:
Physical characteristics (describe the land)
Human characteristics (what are their jobs?)
Government
Contributions (what did America get from them?)
Interesting facts and information
*After you have completed the graphic organizer you may begin designing your exhibit. You may use
whatever supplies you would like. Remember to work as a team and get along at all times.
Name: ___________________________________ Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________
Ancient Civilization Graphic Organizer
Circle your team’s three ancient civilizations
Egypt
China
Greece
Rome
Mali
You will be working independently or in a small group to research one civilization. After you
have completed your civilization share your findings with your team and complete the
remainder of your graphic organizer.
Ancient Civilization #1: _________________________________________________________
Physical
Characteristics
Human
Characteristics
Government
Contributions
Interesting
Facts
Ancient Civilization #2: _________________________________________________________
Physical
Characteristics
Human
Characteristics
Government
Contributions
Interesting
Facts
Ancient Civilization #3: _________________________________________________________
Physical
Characteristics
Human
Characteristics
Government
Contributions
Interesting
Facts
Name: ____________________________________
Homeroom Teacher: __________________________
Ancient Civilization Exhibit Rubric
Self-Reflection (Student)
During this project I…
Worked well with
others
All the time
Most of the time
Some of the time
Rarely
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
Shared my ideas with
the group
4
3
2
1
Stayed focused and
completed my work
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
All the time
Most of the time
Some of the time
Rarely
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
Shared our ideas as a
group
4
3
2
1
Stayed focused and
completed our work
4
3
2
1
4
3
2
1
Used my time wisely
Came to class
prepared to work on
my project
Total
Group Reflection (Student)
During this project
the team…
Worked well with
each other
Used our time wisely
Came to class
prepared to work on
our project
Total
Exhibit (Teacher)
4
Includes all five required
elements for all three
countries
3
Includes four of the
required elements for
all three countries
2
Includes three of the
required elements for
all three countries
1
Includes two or less
required elements for
all three countries
Accuracy
All information is
accurate
Most information is
accurate
Some information is
accurate
Little information is
accurate
Neatness
The project is
exceptionally attractive
in terms of design, layout
and neatness.
The project is
attractive in terms of
design, layout and
neatness.
The project is
distractingly messy or
poorly designed; it is
not attractive.
Creativity
Creative
Somewhat creative
The project is
acceptably attractive
though a bit messy in
terms of design,
layout and neatness.
Little creativity
4
Includes all five
required elements for
all three countries
Evident that the
group was prepared
3
Includes four of the
required elements for
all three countries
The group was
somewhat prepared
2
Includes three of the
required elements for
all three countries
The group was lacking
in preparation
Spoke clearly,
listened to peers,
were audible
Spoke clearly,
listened to peers,
were audible most of
the time
Spoke clearly,
listened to peers,
were audible some of
the time
1
Includes two or less
required elements for
all three countries
The group was
disorganized and
unprepared
Didn’t speak clearly,
didn’t listen to peers,
could not be heard
Content
Lacks creativity
Total
Exhibit Presentation (Teacher)
Content
Organization
Appearance /Voice
Total
Comments:
Total Points Possible: 68
Total Points Earned: