Creating Time Capsules of Early Man

Task: You are most likely familiar with the idea of a time capsule. They are created to commemorate time periods; people place important items inside a container for future generations to analyze. Early humans did not do this for us in an organized way. Here is your opportunity to help "preserve" their history.

Directions: Each group will be assigned a specific species of early man. You will then be asked to assume one the following roles to contribute to your group’s visual:

1. The Orator: In the persona of your species, answer the following question and create at least 3 quotes (in English!) that could have been spoken by an early human.

What do you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel everyday of your life?

2. The Artist: Create a collage of images that depict the life of your species. Keep in mind what tools would have been used daily.

3. The Recorder: Invent headlines that describe what your species contributed to the evolution of humans. Draw a graph that shows the relationship between modern humans’ time on earth and your species time on earth.

4. The Humorist: Create a joke and/or comic strip that pokes fun at the species of human that came before you. Think about "knock, knocks" and "what’d ya get when you cross…" types.

5. The Organizer: Must title the group's work and place any important information from the chart below on the project.

Australopithecine
Homo Habilis Homo Erectus Neanderthal Cro-Magnon

1. 4 million to 1 million B.C.E

2. Found in southern and eastern Africa

3. brain size 500 cm³

^{4.
First human like creatures to walk upright.}

^{5.
Could carry children, see better than previous hominids}

^{6.
Had the opposable thumb.}

^{7.
Lucy is one of these.}

1. 2.5 million to 1.5 million BCE

2. Found in East Africa

3. Brain size 700 cm³

^{4.
First to make stone tools used to butcher meat}

^{5.
Lived through as many as 10-18 Ice Ages (advances and retreats of
glaciers.)}

1. 1.6 million to 30,000 BCE

2. Found in Africa, Asia, and Europe

3. Brain size 1,000 cm³

^{4.
Developed technology:   ways of applying knowledge to meet
needs.}

^{5.
First to migrate, use fire, and develop basic language.}

1. 200,000 to 30,000 BCE found in Europe and Southwest Asia.

2. Brain size 1,450 cm³

^{3.
First to have ritual burials.}

^{4.
Did not have strategy in hunt}

1. 40,000 to 8,000 BCE

2. found in Europe

3. Brain size 1, 400 cm³

^{4.
Fully modern humans}

^{5.
Created art and had hunting strategy.}

^{6.
Ice Man is one of these.}