1Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada 1780-1850

ARTIFACT PROJECT

There were many difficulties that early communities in Canada faced during 1780-1850. Your
project will be to choose two different communities from this time period and recreate an
artifact that highlights the challenges each community faced and the solutions they came up
with to overcome those challenges. When you present your artifacts, you will need to explain
what each one teaches you about that society. You will also need to explain how the artifacts
show the similarities and differences between the societies and present day Canada.

Follow these steps for success:

1. Choose two communities from 1780-1850 that interest you. Some examples include
the Wendat, the Anishinabe, Metis, French, British, African Descendants,
indentured servants, etc.

2. Choose an artifact from each community that you would like to reconstruct. Examples
include paintings, sculptures, carvings, masks, mosaics; monuments, any kinds of
buildings, household utensils, religious articles, weapons, tools, etc.

3. Construct your 2 artifacts, and include any labels that are necessary. You may use any
materials you wish. (Please do not use lego or pre-packaged kits)

4. Research each artifact and be prepared to explain a little bit about them.

5. In your research of each artifact:

a) find out what they can teach you about the society where they come
from and how people lived.
b) From what you learned about each artifact, explain how the societies
are the same, how they are different, and how they compare with
our life today in Canada.

6. Prepare your oral presentation of the artifacts. Be prepared to speak about the
following items:
Explain a little about each artifact.
Explain what each artifact tells you about the communities it came from and how
people lived. (e.g. How did people use it? For what purpose? Why?, etc.)
What do the artifacts tell you about how the communities were the same and how
they were different.
Explain what the artifacts tell you about how the communities were the same and
different from present-day Canada?

This creation part of the project will be completed at home with parent supervision. Some
class time will be allotted for research.
 Due Date: Thursday, April 13, 2017

2Dear Parents,

The oral presentations of the artifacts will occur in the gym on

Thursday, April 13, 2017. The entire school will rotate through to view
and listen to students talk about their artifacts. The artifacts will be
graded at this time and most of the grade will be based on the oral
presentation. Please see the attached success criteria for grading
guidelines.

Students are expected to present their projects to other students,

teachers, and parents who visit their exhibits. Each student will be
graded individually by their teacher, who will come to visit each exhibit
and hear students oral presentations and see their artifacts. Students
are not expected to make a presentation to the class as a whole.

We understand that parents will be assisting their child in the creation

of the 2 artifacts. We recommend that you help and share in the joy of
creating and learning about early societies. With this is mind, student
learning demonstrated in the oral part of the project will be
weighted more heavily than the artifacts themselves in the overall
assessment of the project.

Any questions....please dont hesitate to ask your childs teacher.

Historically yours,

Mrs. Fong and Mrs. Whittaker-Taylor

3Name:________________________
Early Societies Artifacts Success Criteria

Language (Oral Communication):

I speak in a highly organized way when presenting my structure/artifact.

1 2 3 4
I speak with good volume, pace, and good expression in my voice.
1 2 3 4
I speak with confidence and make eye contact with my audience
1 2 3 4

Social Studies:

I have explained a little about what each artifact is and talked a little about the
communities each comes from.
1 2 3 4
I have explained what each artifact tells us about the communities it came from and
how people lived. (e.g. How did people use it? For what purpose? Why?, etc.)
1 2 3 4
I have explained what the artifacts tell us about how the communities were the same
and how they were different.
1 2 3 4
I have explained what the artifacts tell us about how the communities were the same
and different from present-day Canada.
1 2 3 4
My artifacts contain all the necessary elements (e.g. labels where appropriate,
attention to detail, neat and interesting appearance, etc.).
1 2 3 4

Feedback: Overall Grade: