Baldwinsville Time Capsule: A Journey Through Time
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we capture the essence of Baldwinsville today to teach future residents about our lives and the impact of our town's history, including the early settlers and the importance of farms?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- Why do we need to know about the past?
- Why did early settlers come to Baldwinsville?
- What did early settlers need?
- How did they meet their needs?
- How did early settlers change the land?
- Why are farms important to a community?
- What’s the difference between cause and effect?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will be able to explain why understanding the past is important for understanding the present and future.
- Students will be able to describe the motivations and needs of early settlers in Baldwinsville.
- Students will be able to analyze how early settlers adapted to and modified the environment to meet their needs.
- Students will be able to explain the importance of farms to the Baldwinsville community.
- Students will be able to differentiate between cause and effect relationships related to historical events and community development.
- Students will be able to create a representation of current life in Baldwinsville that effectively communicates its key aspects to future residents.
New York Social Studies Standards
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsMysterious Artifacts Arrival
A local historian brings in a collection of unlabeled, mysterious artifacts found during a recent excavation in Baldwinsville. Students must examine the objects, hypothesize about their purpose and origin, and discuss what they reveal about the lives of people in the past, sparking curiosity about the town's history.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Settler Simulation: Meeting Needs
Students participate in a simulation to understand how settlers met their needs for survival.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA short skit or presentation demonstrating how settlers adapted to their environment to survive.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with SS.2.4 by showing how people adapt to their environment to meet their needs.Capsule Contributors: Our Life Today
Students will create individual contributions representing their current life in Baldwinsville to be added to the time capsule.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of drawings, photos, and written pieces representing current life in Baldwinsville.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsEncourages students to reflect on their current lives and what aspects are important for future generations to understand.Artifact Explorers
Students examine artifacts to understand daily life of early settlers.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed journal entry for each artifact, including observations, hypotheses, and connections to settler life.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses SS.2.3 by examining how past artifacts shape understanding of early settlers.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioBaldwinsville Time Capsule Portfolio Rubric
Understanding of Early Settlers
This category assesses the student's comprehension of the lives, needs, and impact of early settlers in Baldwinsville.Needs and Adaptations
Demonstrates understanding of settlers' needs and how they adapted to meet them.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a sophisticated understanding of early settlers' needs and creatively explains multiple adaptations with specific examples and insightful connections to the environment.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a thorough understanding of early settlers' needs and accurately explains how they adapted to meet those needs, providing clear and relevant examples.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of early settlers' needs and provides some explanation of their adaptations, but examples may be vague or partially accurate.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of early settlers' needs and struggles to explain their adaptations, with minimal or inaccurate examples.
Artifact Analysis
Analyzes artifacts to understand the daily life of early settlers.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides detailed and insightful analysis of artifacts, drawing innovative connections between the objects and settlers' daily life, demonstrating advanced critical thinking.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides clear and accurate analysis of artifacts, explaining their uses and significance in the daily life of early settlers, demonstrating effective critical thinking.
Developing
2 PointsShows basic analysis of artifacts, identifying some uses and significance in settlers' daily life, but may lack detail or accuracy.
Beginning
1 PointsShows minimal analysis of artifacts, struggling to identify their uses or significance in the daily life of early settlers.
Representation of Current Life
This category evaluates the student's ability to represent and explain aspects of current life in Baldwinsville for future residents.Clarity and Relevance
Represents current life in Baldwinsville clearly and explains its relevance for future residents.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a highly clear and creative representation of current life in Baldwinsville, providing an exceptionally insightful explanation of its importance and relevance for future residents.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents a clear and accurate representation of current life in Baldwinsville, providing a thoughtful explanation of its importance and relevance for future residents.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging representation of current life in Baldwinsville, with some explanation of its importance, but may lack clarity or detail.
Beginning
1 PointsPresents a vague or unclear representation of current life in Baldwinsville, with minimal or inaccurate explanation of its importance.
Contribution Quality
Quality and effort demonstrated in the drawing, photo, or written piece.
Exemplary
4 PointsProduces an outstanding piece of work demonstrating exceptional attention to detail, creativity, and skill. The contribution is thoughtfully crafted and visually appealing.
Proficient
3 PointsProduces a quality piece of work demonstrating attention to detail and skill. The contribution is well-crafted and visually appealing.
Developing
2 PointsProduces a piece of work with some effort, but may lack detail or refinement. The contribution may have some visual appeal.
Beginning
1 PointsProduces an incomplete or poorly executed piece of work with minimal effort or attention to detail. The contribution lacks visual appeal.
Communication and Presentation
This category assesses the student's ability to effectively communicate their understanding through presentations and written work.Clarity of Explanation
Communicates ideas clearly and effectively in presentations and written work.
Exemplary
4 PointsCommunicates ideas with exceptional clarity and precision, using vivid language and compelling evidence to support claims. Presentation is engaging and persuasive.
Proficient
3 PointsCommunicates ideas clearly and effectively, using appropriate language and relevant evidence to support claims. Presentation is well-organized and informative.
Developing
2 PointsCommunicates ideas with some clarity, but may lack detail or organization. Evidence may be limited or partially relevant. Presentation may be difficult to follow at times.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to communicate ideas clearly, with vague language and insufficient evidence. Presentation is disorganized and difficult to understand.
Historical Connections
Connects current life and artifacts to the history of Baldwinsville.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a sophisticated understanding of historical connections, drawing insightful parallels between current life, artifacts, and the history of Baldwinsville, demonstrating advanced critical thinking.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a clear understanding of historical connections, explaining how current life and artifacts relate to the history of Baldwinsville, demonstrating effective critical thinking.
Developing
2 PointsShows an emerging understanding of historical connections, identifying some relationships between current life, artifacts, and the history of Baldwinsville, but may lack detail or accuracy.
Beginning
1 PointsShows a limited understanding of historical connections, struggling to relate current life or artifacts to the history of Baldwinsville.