Who Changed the World?
- Influential Figures of the
Past
Project Goal: Learn about an influential figure from history and share their story in a
creative way!
Deadline: May 2nd
Step 1: Choose Your Hero!
Think about people who have made a big difference in the world. Scientists, inventors,
artists, leaders - the possibilities are endless! Here are some ideas to get you started:
● Martin Luther King Jr. (Civil Rights leader)
● Marie Curie (Scientist)
● Leonardo da Vinci (Artist & Inventor)
● Golda Meir (Prime Minister of Israel)
Step 2: Research Time!
Once you've chosen your person, gather information about their life and achievements. Here
are some resources to help:
● Libraries & Encyclopedias
● Websites (check with your teacher for approved sites)
● Documentaries or Biographies (books or movies)
Focus on some of these important details (Prepare 2 typed pages maximum):
Early Life and Influences:
● What was their childhood like?
● Who were their role models or mentors?
● Were there any specific events that sparked their interest in their field of
achievement?
Achievements and Impact:
● Can you describe a specific accomplishment of theirs and its lasting impact?
● How did their work overcome challenges or change existing ideas?
● Did they face any opposition or controversy?
Personal Qualities:
● What personality traits helped them achieve their goals?
● Did they have any unique skills or talents?
● What are some interesting facts or stories about their personal life?
Legacy:
● How is their work remembered today?
● Did they inspire others to follow in their footsteps?
● What lessons can we learn from their life and achievements?
Digging Deeper:
● Are there any interesting quotes or sayings from this person?
● Is there a museum, landmark, or monument dedicated to them?
● Can you find a primary source document related to their work (e.g., a letter,
speech)?
Step 3: Get Creative!
Part A: The Crossword Challenge
● Create a crossword puzzle with at least 10 clues related to your chosen
figure.
● Include key vocabulary words from your research and dates where relevant.
● Write the clues with numbers corresponding to the squares in the puzzle.
You can use this website to create your crossword:
https://crosswordlabs.com/browse
Part B: Movie/Book Poster Power!
● Imagine a movie or book based on the life of your influential figure.
● Design a poster for this fictional movie or book using Canva (a free online
design tool) or by hand.
● Your poster should be eye-catching and include:
○ A title related to your figure.
○ An image (drawing, photo) that represents their life or achievements.
○ A short blurb (a few sentences) summarizing the story.
Remember:
● Use your creativity! Have fun with this project and show off what you've
learned.
● If you need help with research or using Canva, ask your teacher for
assistance.
Rubric (25 Points):**
Content and Research (6 pts)
Category Excellent (6 pts) Good (4 pts) Needs Low (1 pt)
Improvement
(2 pts)
Content Shows a Provides Some Limited
& deep accurate information understandin
Researc understandin information is missing or g of the
h g of the about the inaccurate. figure's life.
chosen figure. Limited Poor
figure's life Uses vocabulary vocabulary
and appropriate use. use.
achievements vocabulary.
. Uses
sophisticated
vocabulary
related to the
topic.
Vocabulary, Language & Grammar (8 pts)
Category Excellent (4 pts) Good (3 pts) Needs Low (1 pt)
Improvement
(2 pts)
Vocabula Uses a wide Uses Limited Very
ry range of appropriate vocabulary limited
vocabulary vocabulary range. vocabulary
related to the for the topic. Sentences use.
chosen figure Sentences may be Sentences
and their are mostly unclear or are difficult
achievement clear. grammaticall to
s. Sentences y incorrect. understand
are clear and .
varied.
Grammar Sentences Minor Frequent Significant
are grammatical grammatical grammatic
grammaticall errors that do errors that al errors
y correct and not hinder make throughout
varied in understandin understandin the project.
structure. g. g difficult.
Spelling, Capitalization & Punctuation (3 pts)
Category Excellent (3 Good (2 pts) Needs Low (0 pts)
pts) Improvement
(1 pt)
Mechani No spelling, Minor errors Several Frequent
cs capitalizatio in spelling, errors in errors in
n, or capitalizatio spelling, spelling,
punctuation n, or capitalization capitalization,
errors. punctuation. , or or
punctuation punctuation
that affect that make the
clarity. work difficult
to
understand.
Creativity and Presentation (8 pts)
Category Excellent (4 pts) Good (3 pts) Needs Low (1 pt)
Improvement (2
pts)
Crosswor Creative and Crossword Crossword Incomplet
d Puzzle well-designed is complete has some e or poorly
crossword with clues missing clues designed
with clear that mostly or clues not crossword.
clues related relate to the related to the
to the figure. figure. figure.
Movie/Bo Eye-catching Poster is Some parts Incomplet
ok Poster poster with a mostly of the poster e or poorly
clear title, complete are missing designed
image, and with title, or not clearly poster.
blurb that image, and related to the
effectively blurb figure.
capture the related to
essence of a the figure.
fictional movie
or book about
the figure.
