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Welcome!

This research guide was created specifically for your ancient calendar presentation project. Use this guide effectively...if you do, the research process and bibliography creation will be a breeze! If you have any questions about this guide or come across broken links, please see Ms. Pronovost.


Objective: By the end of this assignment, you will have researched and analyzed an ancient calendar, and created a presentation to explain how ancient peoples used the Sun's and Moon's movements to tell time and to create calendars.

Directions: You and a partner will be assigned one of the following calendars to research. For your given cultural calendar, you will perform research to find answers to the 5 research questions, and create a poster to guide your verbal presentation.

Aztec, Babylonian, Chinese, Egyptian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Julian, Mayan, Buddhist, Japanese, Persian

A successful project will:

  • Answer all 5 research questions in detail:
    • Explain the scientific basis of the calendar (what type is it?)
    • When did this calendar originate?
    • Explain how the calendar works
    • Explain any rituals/holidays associated with the society
    • Describe one of these rituals/holidays in depth
  • Provide pictures which help to illustrate the information, with captions
  • Use 4 solid, reputable sources including 2 books. Online encyclopedias count as books.
  • Provide an APA or MLA formatted bibliography, including citations for each picture used
  • A poster, with LIMITED text to present your information

This project counts as a lab grade.

Need Help?

If you have questions about research, citations, or just need some guidance while completing an assignment, don't hesitate to ask! I'm always available to help out, either in person or via email.

- Ms. Pronovost

epronovost@shschools.com