Time Machine

Final Project for 8th Grade U.S. History

(You may work with a partner, however it MAY NOT be the same partner

as your PSA!)

The Basics… You will devise a story in which a contemporary middle school

student finds a time machine and accidentally begins jumping through time.

Whatever time period that the character first jumps to is the starting point. The time machine must break in the story and will only allow you to jump forward after your initial jump. ( EX: if you go to Reconstruction first then you can’t go to Colonization second)

For each time period, you will write at least 100 words in paragraph format that detail your experiences, include significant events, places, and you must meet 1 man and 1 woman of significance (they can not always be a couple, ie George and Martha Washington), etc., during each time period.

Your story must include at least four time periods, 6 if working with a partner.

Final Products will include two of the following:

Essay—REQUIRED!!!PLUS one of the following: Timeline (you can use an electronic site like

timelinetoast.com to create this or you can create an Inspiration file and upload)

Powerpoint Photo Story/Moviemaker Video Cartoon Story

BE CREATIVE!!!! This is Historical Fiction you’re writing, the historical facts are accurate but you have some liberty here with your experience!

Time Periods How Europeans 1st Arrived (i.e. land bridge) Middle Ages/Renaissance/Holy Crusades Pre-European America (when dominated by Natives) Exploration of Americas Colonization American Revolution Constitutional Convention Industrial Revolution Reform Movements Civil War Reconstruction

*****Note: You may “jump” into the future, however since you do not know yet who the significant people will be it will NOT count as one

of your four time periods, it’ll be extra!****

Time Machine Planning: Intro paragraph

Main character(s) Time machine- What? How? Where?

Body Paragraph-Time Period Jumps (paragraphs 2-7) In period 1 time machine must “break”-explain In each period-where are you, when (dates), what events will

you be involved in? Significant historical male/female-why are they important to the

time period, how does your character interact with the historical figure?

Conclusion How does the character get back? Summarize key historical learning from your characters

adventure

Be creative AND historically accurate