The Past is PresentThe Past is Present

RationaleHistory is the study of what has been ... what has come before us.

However, the people, places, and events that comprise our history have far reaching effect. Everywhere we look today, we can see reminders of our past. In fact, our past is our present.

The following assignment is intended to heighten our awareness of this very idea.

Overview

Each student will gather one item from our present world that is named after, or based upon, some thing or some one from America’s past.

Having gathered their item, each student will then prepare a short presentation to accompany it.

Both the item and the presentation will then be shared with the class ... like show-and-tell.

Overview

This assignment is worth 40 points.

You will present on ...

Tue. 8/31 Wed. 9/1 Thr. 9/2Per. 4: Per. 5: Per. 6: Per. 7:

Presentation

When preparing the short oral presentation, all students should address the following questions:

What is the item that you have brought in?

Where did the item come from?

What historic thing is your item named after?

What is the relevance of the historic element? (Why is it so important that it has

something named after it?)

The visual that you show to the class must exhibit both the modern item that you chose AND the historic subject.

Your visuals CAN be mixed (i.e. a modern day prop + a historic picture).

All pictures must be 8.5 x 11 or larger, and printed in color, or colored by you after printing.

Visual

Item SelectionThe item that you choose to present may be of a variety of types. It could be the actual thing (like a container of

food, or toy), a photograph, illustration, or drawing, or even a recording of a television commercial or a song.

The item can come from a variety of sources: newspapers, magazines, stores, phonebooks, catalogs, television, etc.

Item Selection: Rule #1

You are not presenting a historic artifact. Do not bring in an ancient arrowhead, or your grandfather’s Purple Heart, or an old pair of wooden skis from World War II.

The item that you select must adhere to 7 basic rules:

Item Selection: Rule #2

You can not present coins & currency.

Item Selection: Rule #3

The item you select must refer to American history.

Winston Churchill was prime-minister of Great Britain.insurance

Item Selection: Rule #4

The item you select must refer to a specific event, individual, idea, or place in American history.

New England is a large

area of the U.S., and has

been important during out

entire history, not one

specific era.

Item Selection: Rule #4

The item you select must refer to a specific event, individual, idea, or place in American history.

The ship Mayflower existed for

only 14 years ... from 1609 - 1623.

Mayflower Shipping Company

√√

Item Selection: Rule #5

There must be credible proof that the thing you present is named after the thing you say it is.

There is no evidence that the company was named after Albert

Einstein. They just have the same name.

Item Selection: Rule #5

There must be credible proof that the thing you present is named after the thing you say it is.

Quaker Oats

There’s a Quaker right there on the

logo!√√

Item Selection: Rule #6The item you select can not have been created specifically to honor the person it’s named after.

the Lincoln Memorial

The memorial was built specifically to honor Lincoln. It exists because he existed.

Item Selection: Rule #6

Honest Abe’s Donuts

There is no direct connection between the two. The company just uses Lincoln’s nickname.

√√

The item you select can not have been created specifically to honor the person it’s named after.

Item Selection: Rule #7

The item you select can not have been named after the person who actually invented or created it.

Ford Motor Company

The company was founded by Henry Ford.

Item Selection: Rule #7

The item you select can not have been named after the person who invented or created it.

Henry Ford Hospital Ford didn’t open the hospital.It is just named after him.

√√

Judging Rules #6 & 7

A good way to judge Rules #6 & 7, is to ask yourself ...

“Would my item still exist if the thing from the past did not?”

If you answer “No, my item would not exist.” ... then your idea is not a good one.

If you answer “Yes, my item would still exist, but maybe

with a different name.” ... then your idea is a good one.

Judging Rules #6 & 7

CV-72 U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln

xxCV-72 U.S.S. Stephen Douglass

√√

Judging Rules #6 & 7

xxApache Attack

HelicopterWinchester Attack

Helicopter

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Judging Rules #6 & 7

Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Beavers

xx√√

Questions ?Questions ?