Name: ______Date: ______

World History River Valley Semester Project

For your task, you will be creating a project to demonstrate your knowledge of River Valley Civilizations that we have studied.

Task: The Time Traveler’s Diary

Imagine you are given access to a time machine. Using this time machine, you are going to go back to Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt and ancient India. To document your experiences, write short journal or diary entries.

For each entry, there will be a series of terms or concepts that you must address; however, you have the freedom to address other areas and create a scene or scenario for your reader using your writing. All three entries must:

  • Be at least six complete sentences
  • Address the mandatory topics listed (see chart for each section) and demonstrate evidence of understanding through description and creative incorporation into the narrative
  • Provide a cohesive and coherent narrative for the reader
  • Be in journal or diary entry format (for this project, you are encouraged to use the word “I” in your writing and can engage with the theme of time traveling)
  • Be creative and demonstrate time and effort.
  • Be typed. You may choose the font, but make sure it is easy to read.
  • Neatly submitted following the provided format.

River Valley Civilization / Must include: / Other options to include:
Mesopotamia /
  1. Geography – location/name of river(s)
  2. Social Hierarchy
  3. One of the “other options to include”
/
  1. Sargon
  2. Hammurabi
  3. City-State/Empire

Ancient
Egypt /
  1. Geography – location/name of river(s)
  2. Government
  3. Highly Developed Culture
/
  1. Menes
  2. King Tut
  3. Ramses the Great
  4. Gods (Re, Anubis)

Ancient India /
  1. Geography – location/name of river(s)
  2. Hinduism
  3. Buddhism
/
  1. Buddha
  2. Mountain Ranges
  3. Caste Levels

You will then need to include one primary source document per entry that will serve as a token of your travels. These documents should be copied and pasted into your word document and included with each entry. Include short caption. All pictures must be cited. You will cite (with the url address right underneath the picture.)

Here is an example of a sample journal entry:

Assume you were given the following information:

Time Period/Unit / Must include: / Other options to include:
Early man / 1. Australopithecus
2. Homo habilis
3. One of the “other options to include.” / -The chopper
-Importance of fire
-Migration out of Africa

You could produce something like this:

Dear Journal,

I traveled back in time 4-3 million years ago to Africa. I observed many different hominids during my journey. The first hominid I saw was a small hominid (around 3’4”) that had a brain that is only 1/3 the size of modern day humans. It was interesting to watch her walk upright – since she is the first species to do so. I believe she was an Australopithecus; maybe she is even the “Lucy” that Donald Johanson found! Moving on in my travels, I observed a Homo habilis. He was slightly larger than the Australopithecus, and his brain size is ½ the size of modern humans. Homo habilis translates to “handy man.” It makes sense since he is the one that invented “the chopper.” This is the first tool used by hominids. It looks like a round rock with one sharp side and was used to process (cut, chop, scrape) food. It was a pretty cool trip, but I am glad to be home among the Homo sapiens. 

Diagram of the chopper – the first tool created by hominids.

(to cite your source)

Name: ______Hour: ______

You will need to submit your journal entries in a pamphlet/diary form.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!

World History River Valley Semester Project

River Valley
Civilization / Mesopotamia / Ancient Egypt / Ancient India
Required Element #1
2 – Detailed Information
1 – Lacking Details
0 –Not Included / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2
Required Element #2
2 – Detailed Information
1 – Lacking Details
0 –Not Included / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2
Required Element #3
2 – Detailed Information
1 – Lacking Details
0 –Not Done / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2
Information makes sense – including Spelling/
Grammar / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2
Picture w/cite & caption / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2 / 0 1 2

Total Points______/30