Terry Judson: 9th & 10th Grade Global Studies
Queens, NY

Unit: Religion

Project: Powerpoint Presentations

Project Outline

Project Description

Teacher Reflections

Printable PDF of this page

 

List of Projects:

1. Time Line about Founder, Texts and Key Events

2. Mapping the Spread of Religions

3. Powerpoint Presentation on Religous Beliefs

Selections from Each Assignment:

1. Time Line

Description:

1. Work in groups of three or four. There must be six groups. Only two speakers of the same first language or from the same religious background are allowed in each group.
2. Choose one belief system from the list below. Create a timeline for the belief system you chose using the materials provided by the teacher.

•  Hinduism
•  Judaism
•  Christianity
•  Buddhism
•  Islam
•  Confucianism/Taoism

3. Find eight to twelve events. Each group member must find three or four events.                   

Your time line should include the following elements:

•  Beginning of the belief system •  Births/Deaths of important figures •  Historical events that influenced the belief system, such as battles, political leaders, conflicts, divisions. •  When Sacred texts were written •  Construction of important buildings

4. Do not copy timelines in the books; find your own events in the readings. Write neatly in letters large and neat enough to be read across the room. Be sure to document the years correctly (BC, AD). Make a Title for your timeline.

Writing Paragraphs For The Timeline

1. Write a paragraph about each event on your timeline. Write only about one topic in each paragraph.   Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
2. While you are writing the paragraph, try to answer the following questions:

•  What is the event? •  Why did this happen? ( causes ) •  Why was this event important? (What were the lasting effects ?)

2. Mapping

Belief Systems: How do they spread? What conflicts happened when they spread?

1. Read about the Belief System assigned to your group. Answer the following questions.

• Where did the Belief System begin? Who was the founder?

• A. Where did the Belief System spread? B. How did it spread? (possible answers: trade, missionaries, military conquest, migration (people moving), government help)

• Where did the Belief System conflict with other Belief Systems or ideas? What was the opposing Belief System or idea? Why was there conflict?

2. Read about the growth and spread of Belief Systems. Use the index below. Find: •  The geographic area (place) where the Belief System began •  The largest area the Belief System influenced •  Areas where the Belief System conflicted with other Belief Systems

3. Use color markers to draw maps showing the spread or growth of the Belief System.

4. Label the oceans and land areas on your map. Mark the capital cities or other important landmarks. Your project will be graded on neatness and completeness.

3. Powerpoint

Description: In this project we will learn about the basic beliefs and practices of influential world Belief Systems.

Step one : Each group of three will research and present six topics to the class. Each group member will choose a topic from list 'A' and a topic from list 'B' to research and present. Fill out chart on the bottom of this sheet to help with your group planning.  

Step two : Begin your research by looking in the books in class for the answers to the questions in the Research Notes. Later there will be time to research the internet for quotes and images for your Power Point presentations.

Step three : Use the Powerpoint Planning Sheets to plan your presentation. Write the text that will appear on the screen and sketch a picture of the image you want to include. On the lines at the bottom, write the words you will say to describe the screen while you are presenting it. Remember to use your own words.

Step four : Present Power Point Projects. Listen carefully to the presentations of other groups and fill out the Listening Sheet. These will be handed in with the finished project.

Step five : Hand in a complete individual portfolio:

• This sheet
• Your research notes
• The power point planning sheets
• Your completed Listening Guide
• A copy of each Power Point screen
• Other homework and assignments

Powerpoint Research Notes (Questions powerpoint presentations should focus on)

List A:

1. The Beginning: When did the Belief System start? Where did it start? Who was the founder? Can you find out what other Belief Systems influenced the beginning?

2. Sacred Texts: When were the Sacred Texts written? Can you find out who wrote them? Find a quote from the Sacred Text. It could be a famous quote or the first or last lines from the text.

3. Contributions

• What type or style of art is connected to the Belief System?
• What type or style of architecture is connected to the Belief System? What are some famous buildings from this Belief System?
• What type or style of literature is connected to the Belief System? Can you find a famous story and summarize it?

List B:

1. Worship, Prayer, Celebrations and Holidays

• How do followers of this Belief System worship, pray or celebrate?
• When do they worship, pray or celebrate? How often? What day?
• Is there a special place for these events?

2. Personal Questions

•  What does this Belief System teach about how a person should behave? (What should a person do or not do?) How can one be a good person?

•  What does the Belief System teach about what happens after death?

•  What is the purpose of life? Why do people exist?

•  OPTIONAL: Can a person know or understand the higher power?

3. The 'Big' Questions

•  What does the Belief System teach about a higher power? Does the higher power control everything or do some things 'just happen'?

•  What does the Belief System teach about the beginning of the universe. Was it created or did it always exist?

•  What does the Belief System teach about the end of the world? Will it go on forever?

•  What does the Belief System teach about why bad things happen?

OPTIONAL: What does the Belief System teach about roles of males and females. Are they the same or different? Is one better or more important?