MMACRAFT

Essential Questions:
What characteristics define a civilization?
How do anthropologists piece together a civilization based on what they left behind?
What would be my ideal civilization?
Brief Description:
Wish you could create your own civilization? That ideal place to live with the perfect weather,
games, rules, and jobs? This is your chance...welcome to MMACRAFT.
After examining ancient civilizations to understand their key components (government, religion,
economy, environment, and culture-GREEC) and looking at the work of anthropologists to
determine how we know these characteristics about the civilizations, students will create their
own civilization! As a group project, focused heavily on collaboration skills, students will choose a
place in the world and create their own ancient civilization. They will develop the aspects listed
above to make it the ideal place to live.
Products:
Poster describing the ancient civilization- includes SketchUp of major city, photos of
artifacts, description of civilization
Artifact representing assigned characteristic of the civilization
Informational representation of assigned characteristic of civilization
Creative writing piece in which the setting is their civilization
Essential Skills:
Writing: Applying traits of writing (Ideas, Organization, Bring the Beauty, and Conventions) to
creative writing- short story- and informative writing- civilization component
Reading: Non-fiction reading on civilizations, Short story models, Independent novels, Book
clubs
Habits of Scholarship: Listening, note-taking, providing and receiving feedback and critique,
research, collaboration, skill application, time management, meeting deadlines, effective
communication
Technology: Google Drawing, SketchUp Make

General Timeline: Subject to change

October 13

Begin learning about ancient civilizations and GREEC

October 20

Continue learning about ancient civilizations and GREEC

Groups begin to work on their civilization

October 27

Finish our study of ancient civilizations and GREEC

Groups continue to work on their civilizations
Student Led Conference Prep

November 3

Students begin informational representations of their civilization aspect

Students begin planning their artifact
Students begin planning their creative story
Student Led Conferences

November
10

Students finish their informational representation

Students begin building artifacts
Students begin drafting their creative story

November
17

Students critique and revise creative story

Students continue building artifacts (due after Thanksgiving)
Students begin their SketchUp of their capitol city

November
24
December 1

Thanksgiving

Students finalize their creative writing

Students finish SketchUp of capitol city
Students photograph artifacts and write short description of aspect of
civilization
Groups begin piecing together their poster

December 8

Groups finish posters

Presentation of Learning Prep

December
15

Students self-evaluate their project

Presentations of Learning

FYI: No official Exhibition event for this project. Artifacts and posters will be displayed in
the main hallway of HTMMA, like a true museum. Please be sure to visit the display during
the Presentations of Learning.