Time Travel Through History for Second Graders
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as time-traveling historians, use our understanding of the past to make better decisions today and understand how historical events impact our lives in the present?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- What can we learn about the past by imagining we could travel back in time?
- How can understanding historical events help us make better decisions today?
- In what ways do historical events continue to affect our lives in the present?
- What tools can historians use to explore and understand past events?
- How do we know what we know about historical events from the past?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Students will understand the relationship between the environment and culture of ancient civilizations, focusing on the empire of Mali.
- Students will be able to identify and analyze key historical events and their impacts on modern society.
- Students will develop skills to compare and contrast information from different historical sources.
- Students will create visual data representations to enhance their understanding of historical events.
- Students will explore tools and methods historians use to study the past, such as storytelling and data analysis.
Virginia History Standards of Learning (SOL)
Common Core Standards
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsVirtual Reality Time Capsule
Invite students to step into a 'Time Capsule' and experience a virtual day in a historical era aligned to their studies. The Time Capsule can project scenes from that period, stimulating curiosity with sounds and visuals, encouraging students to question 'what if' scenarios and imagine themselves as part of history.Chronology Escape Room
Create an escape room experience where students must solve riddles related to historical timelines to unlock the 'secrets of time'. This immersive and gamified experience combines logical reasoning and knowledge application, sparking enthusiasm for learning about historical events and sequencing.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Time Capsule Journal
Students create a time capsule by writing journal entries as if they were historians visiting Mali. This incorporates learning about Mali's environment, culture, and trade by stepping into the shoes of a historical figure.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 personalized journal entry depicting a day in the life of a Mali resident.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsVA.HISTORY.SOL.2.7 - Understanding Mali's environment and culture through storytelling.Historical Event Timeline
Students create a timeline of key events in Mali's history, facilitating an understanding of historical sequencing and impacts over time. This activity focuses on the chronology of Mali's cultural and economic development.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 visual timeline capturing key events in the history of Mali.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsVA.HISTORY.SOL.2.7 - Describing historical events and their significance in shaping Mali's culture and economy.Graphing Mali's Historical Economy
Students use graphs to represent data on Mali's historical trade practices. By visualizing this data, students understand the economic landscape of ancient Mali.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 graph depicting Mali's trade items and their economic importance.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.D.10 - Using graphs to analyze and present historical economic data.Comparative History Analysis
Students compare two historical sources that discuss Mali's culture and trade, identifying differences and similarities in the information provided. This encourages critical thinking and comprehension skills.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 completed Venn diagram comparing two sources on Mali's history.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.9 - Comparing and contrasting information from different texts.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioTime Traveling Historians: Evaluating Student Understanding of Ancient Mali
Historical Understanding and Knowledge
Assessment of student's comprehension of historical facts and events related to ancient Mali, including its environment, culture, and significant historical events.Comprehension of Mali's Environment and Culture
Evaluates student's ability to accurately describe the relationship between Mali's environment and culture.
Exemplary
4 PointsThoroughly and accurately describes Mali's environment and culture, including detailed examples and sophisticated understanding of their interconnection.
Proficient
3 PointsAccurately describes Mali's environment and culture with relevant examples, demonstrating a clear understanding of their interconnection.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic description of Mali's environment and culture with some examples, showing partial understanding of their interconnection.
Beginning
1 PointsAttempts to describe Mali's environment and culture with limited examples, showing initial understanding of their interconnection.
Historical Event Analysis
Assesses student's ability to identify and explain the significance of key historical events in Mali's history.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies key events with comprehensive explanations of their significance in Mali's culture and economy, showcasing an advanced understanding of historical context.
Proficient
3 PointsIdentifies important events with explanations of their significance, demonstrating a clear understanding of Mali's historical context.
Developing
2 PointsLists events with basic explanations, showing emerging understanding of their significance in Mali's history.
Beginning
1 PointsNames events with limited explanation, showing initial recognition of their relevance.
Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
Evaluation of student's ability to compare, contrast, and critically analyze historical sources and data.Comparison and Contrast of Historical Sources
Evaluates student's skill in comparing and contrasting information from multiple historical texts.
Exemplary
4 PointsExpertly compares and contrasts sources, highlighting nuanced differences and similarities with insightful analysis.
Proficient
3 PointsEffectively compares and contrasts sources, noting significant differences and similarities with clear analysis.
Developing
2 PointsAttempts to compare and contrast sources, identifying some differences and similarities with basic analysis.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to compare and contrast sources, naming limited differences and similarities with minimal analysis.
Interpretation and Representation of Data
Assesses student's ability to interpret historical data and present it through visual representations like graphs.
Exemplary
4 PointsAccurately interprets data and creates clear, comprehensive visual representations that effectively convey historical economic insights.
Proficient
3 PointsCorrectly interprets data and creates visual representations that clearly convey historical economic insights.
Developing
2 PointsInterprets data with some accuracy, creating basic visual representations that convey limited insights.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to interpret data accurately, creating minimal visual representations with unclear insights.
Creativity and Presentation
Evaluation of student's ability to creatively express historical understanding through storytelling and presentation.Creative Expression through Storytelling
Assesses creative ability in composing journal entries and using storytelling to illustrate historical understanding.
Exemplary
4 PointsCrafts compelling, creative journal entries with detailed and imaginative storytelling that vividly illustrates historical understanding.
Proficient
3 PointsCreates well-composed journal entries with clear storytelling that effectively communicates historical understanding.
Developing
2 PointsWrites journal entries with basic storytelling that somewhat communicates historical understanding.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to craft journal entries, showing limited storytelling and historical understanding.
Effectiveness in Presentation
Assesses the clarity and impact of student presentations of their timelines or data visualizations.
Exemplary
4 PointsDelivers presentations with exceptional clarity and engagement, effectively communicating historical findings.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents with clarity and engagement, successfully communicating key historical findings.
Developing
2 PointsPresents with some clarity, communicating basic historical findings.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles with clarity in presentation, communicating limited historical findings.