Time Capsule: Buddhism and Hinduism

The TaskYou are a member of a team of researchers that has been transported back in time to ancient India. Your team's mission is to construct a time capsule containing artifacts and information to bring back to the future for study. Because the civilizations of ancient India offer so much to sift through, many teams will go back on this mission to find, analyze, compare and contrast various items, concepts and works of art, then decide which to bring back in the limited space of their time capsule.

At the end of this time-traveling experience, each group will make a presentation and explain to the class what they determined to be the most important artifact and information to bring back.

These final presentations should be an actual group-constructed time capsule containing three artifacts that members can take out, discuss, and share with the class.

Your mission

is to build a time capsule filled with three artifacts and the information your team thinks is most important and most revealing of what religious life was really like in ancient India. Since time capsules have limited space, you will focus your efforts on one of these aspects of ancient Indian civilization:

  • the origins, beliefs, and spread of Buddhism OR
  • the origins, beliefs, and spread of Hinduism

You and your group first need to decide which religion you want to study: Hinduism or Buddhism. Next, go to the following sites and learn all you can about the origins, beliefs and spread of either Hinduism or Buddhism. Then, for the religion your team chose, determine the following:

  • What objects can you put in your time capsule that best symbolizes the religion?
  • Which person or gods most influence (d) the religion?
  • Which work of art best reveals the religion?
  • What two beliefs make either Hinduism or Buddhism different from your own religion or different from each other?
  • Which religious document should be brought back in your time capsule?
  • What are the two most positive aspects of the religion?
  • What is the most surprising thing you learned about the religion?

You and your group will have many choices to make as you go about this project. So, it is expected that you will have good reasons for choosing the items and information that you bring back in your time capsule, reasons you will explain during your presentation. Now, on to your research...and remember: you're expected to also use the books and reference materials we have in the library in addition to the websites below!

Hinduism Websites

Buddhism Websites

Tips on organizing your findings: Make sure to take notes during your group's discussion and reflection regarding what will go in your time capsule, because what you write down will form the content of your presentation. Why your group chose what they chose is all important. Keep your group's notes together in class so that they're available if one of you is absent.

Item / Rank / How does it relate to religion? / How is it significant? / Can it be shown to class?

After completing the chart, use the criteria to rank your choices. Choose the top three items to present to the class.

Time Capsule Presentation Rubric

1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Presentation / Presentation shows minimal planning as well as evidence that not all group members participated. Practice not evident. / Presentation shows some research and evidence that all group members contributed. Some practice evident. / Presentation shows substantial planning and research and that all group members contributed. Some pride is taken in the work; practice evident. / Presentation shows superior planning and research. Many members went beyond requirements. Great pride is taken in the work and presentation is nearly flawless.
Execution of Presentation / Group members show little excitement or interest in the subjects, not all members contribute a fair share, little valid reasoning is revealed concerning why items/data were chosen. Little eye contact with audience. / Group members reveal some interest in subjects. All members contribute something. Reasoning behind time capsule choices understandable. Some eye contact with audience. / Group members reveal honest interest in subjects. All members contribute a fair share. Reasoning interesting and instructive. Good eye contact with audience. / Presentation exceptionally well organized and confidently delivered by all members. Reasoning behind choices interesting, instructive, and fresh. Group sounds “expert” on their subjects.
Question and Answer / Group members can’t answer audience questions. / Group members can answer some audience questions. / Group members can answer many audience questions. / Group members can answer all audience questions.
Artifact and Information
(Counts Twice) / Few or no items/data to “show” during presentation, or quality of items is poor / Some items/data to show during presentation; quality of items average or good / Expected number of items/data to show during presentation; quality good. / Expected number of items/data to show; quality excellent, pride evident, audience engaged in presentation.