/ ~e_ Cracking History's Cold Cases: Unsolved

Mysteries Research Project

PROJECT OUERUIEW ••• BUILDING A "CASE FILE" The Task: Create a Case File around one of history's unsolved mysteries

History is filled with unsolved mysteries. Whether it's historical, scientific,

supernatural, medical, or just down right unexplainable- you will get the chance to

become a detective and try to crack the case. Your task in this research project is to

choose one of those mysteries and present a plausible theory or theories to explain it.

You will research a variety sources to uncover possible theories and the clues that

support them. After you conclude your research, you will create a "Case File". This

case file will include 2 components: a 1-2 page essay with a Bibliography/Works

Cited page attached and a creative final product to display your research and findings

to your class.

Part 1: Type a 1-2 PAGE RESEARCH ESSAY (Use provided essay examples given to help you format your own.)

Will be written in a 5 paragraph research paper format, including the following information-

• A catchy TITLE (centered and size 14 max)

Attention!!! All text for the rest of this essay will be left aligned, a line spacing of 1. 5, and a font size 12.

I

I

• INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH An introductory paragraph that includes a HOOK, The_sis, _and introduces a

Question about your unsolved mystery that readers wrll thrnk about as they

read (grab their attention and keep them hooked from beginning to end).

• FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH 1. BACKGROUND: An explanation of the mystery. Facts surrounding the

mystery and information on the topic- WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY

• SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH 2. Different theories about the mystery:

0 What is the theory?

O Why is it believed by some or many? (NOTE: You might have multiple paragraphs here for multiple theories if you

need to explain more than one.)

• THIRD BODY PARAGRAPH 3. Address one or more of the following in this paragraph­

□ Do you have a theory? O Which theory seems most valid? Do you believe one over the other?

Explain why. 0 How much have the theories changed over time?

0 If this mystery was solved, would it change history and public opinion about this topic, as we know it?

• CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH Wrap up the essay with a final statement, reflection of your final thoughts on

what you've researched, a personal opinion on the cold case you are trying to

crack, or speak out to society about why this is important and should be solved, or never forgotten.

• BIBLIOGRAPHY/WORKS CITED 15 THE LAST PAGE OF

DOCUMENT- must have 2 sources cited, but may have more

2

.P~ 2: Create an interesting final product that will display your research and findings to your class. Part 2 will really impact your readers' understanding and interest level in your unsolved mystery. You will present your creative display final product to your class. Choose one below or a combination of two of them. If you have another creative idea, other than the ones listed, check with your teacher and see if your idea will work. Get

creative and have fun!!!

Journal Newscast Google Entries- Segment Timeline The ABCs Slide individual or or of of Show double Interview Events

perspective

Interactive Other: Diorama Dramatic UMI Make a (Scaled Re-enactment [Unsolved Your choice. Poster, down (LIVE or Mystery Clear with Brochure,

model) prerecorded) Investigation] Mrs. Elliott or Display session (like CSI) first!

with the class

GmJNG STARTED- PLANN1No ~ R£s£ARcH

STEP 1: BRAlNSTORM IDEAS Browse through the unsolved mystery list of topics. Narrow it down to 2 ideas. Choose 1 and the other will by your backup.

Final Product Idea # 1

Backup Idea # 2

I am researching

K: What I already know •••

W: What I want to know?

Q: Questions I have??????

I)

1)

s)

d

ST[p ~: NOTE TAKING, COLLECTING EVIDENCE

HOW TO TAKE NOTES along the way and keep up with data: Keep track of all notes, data, pictures, videos, websites, and website URL addresses (to cite your sources) in your GOOGLE DRIVE. Google Drive> 6th grade> ELA folder> Embedded Assessments> Create a NEW

FOLDER and name it "Research"

STEP 3: PROJECT TIMELINE

Date Goal for the Day/Week

Thurs & Fri Research: Know your topic, Begin gathering 4/11 and 4/12 evidence, Note Taking, Create a Google Doc for

Research

Wed & Thurs Computer Lab Research: Research and Intro to 4/17- 4/18 Essay Writing (Part 1)

Tues Computer Lab Research: Research and Intro to 4/23 Essay Writing (Part 1)

* Leadership gone

Fri Talent Show- shortened schedule 4/26

Mon Continue Essay Writing (Part 1 ), Begin Creative 4/29 Project (Part 2)

* Orchestra gone

Tues Computer Lab Research: Finalize Essay Writing (Part 4/30 1 ), Begin Creative Project (Part 2)

* Band gone

Wed Print Final Essay and turn in when ready and 5/1 Continue Creative Project (Part 2)

* Choir gone

Friday DUE DATE for Turning in Your Final Essay and

May 10th Bibliography/Works Cited

May 16-21 In Class PRESENTATIONS DUE of Part 2

~ ;~~ 11: FINAL CHECKLIST for PRESENTATION

'# /art 1 Research Essay Paper MUST HAVE: / 0 CREATE A GOOGLE DOC FOR YOUR FINAL ESSAY AND WORKS

CITED AND NAME IT "Unsolved Mysteries Research Essay"

0 Catchy Title

D 5 paragraphs or more (depending on your topic and theories)

0 1-2 pages total (1 is the minimum, 2 is the maximum)

D No graphics

0 Works Cited as a last page in the document

O Revise and Edit your doc for Grammatical Errors

0 Staple all together and turn in on the due date: May 10th.

Part 2 Creative Display MUST HAVE: 0 CREATE A GOOGLE DOC FOR YOUR CREATIVE PRESENTATION

AND NAME IT "RESEARCH PRESENTATION"

D You must have a TITLE slide with your name on it as well. This

counts as slide 1.

D Must complete 10 slides total and do not exceed a maximum of 20

slides.

D Each presentation should be between 2-5 minutes long.

O You will make eye contact with your audience.

D You will present your information to your class in a creative way. It

must reflect the your research and knowledge from your typed essay.

You will be the expert on your topic, so you must really know what

you are talking about as you present.

D Be prepared to answer questions from the class and teacher after

your presentation.

D Have all the necessary materials ready for your presentation.

,.

(

E aw.pie esea?S .pay on Stonehenge Unsolved Mystery ~---_. W\ it\e- ,...... __

e_~ If Stones Could Talk

Stonehenge is considered by many.to be one of.the great Seven Wonders of the World.1/.Jok f There are few ancient structures in the world that captivate the imagination like Stonehenge. This

intriguingly mysterious, Neolithic monument is located near Amesbury in Wiltshire, England and

draws thousands of spectators to its arena each year. However, no one actually knows why it was

? built in the first place, what its purpose was, and who built it. Very little is known about the people

who built this since they left no record. Many different theories surround this mysterious place, and • what we really know about it. The "who's," "how's," and "why's" behind this majestic monument are

based on many myths, guesstimates, and theories. Although we have no definite answers for ,.

1l\lS1S Stonehenge~s existence, each theory today adds to the mystique, as well as hints to its true origin and

purpose.

Whoever built Stonehenge, it's easy to say, were an extremely advanced society, either on

purpose or by complete accident. The only ones that seem to know the real answers, are long gone.

Scientists say it was constructed 5,000 years ago and built in many stages that range from the

Neolithic period to the Bronze Age. Theorists and realistic purposes for it lean toward ideas such as:

a temple of the sun, a holy sanctuary in the midst of blessed ground, an ancient clock, a place to

predict eclipses.

(~o~ ~.i.) One theory is that Stonehenge's exact solar and lunar alignment was built to predict eclipses

for worshipping. It acted like an eclipse calculator. Strong evidence proves that the stones were

mathematically placed to show when and where an eclipse might occur. This theory is widely

accepted since the ancient Druids that were said to have inhabited the Stonehenge area and put a

lot of faith into the appearances of eclipses. According to their beliefs, an eclipse was a sign from

the gods that perhaps they had done something wrong and by worshiping it, they could make it

right. It also is said that seeing it, brought good luck and was a sacred, rare event. In a society

which worshiped gods for all the mysteries of the world, the eclipse must have been very

special. The builders of Stonehenge must have marveled at the sight of this holy event, which

happened every four years.

1

---

PART :J.: Example Research Essay on StoMnenge Unsolved Mystery

(intQ'IJ ~~) . . . A second theory is that Stonehenge was a widespread sundial (a clock used m ancient times}, ~

~ ·

an "astronomical observatory'' and calendar, all in one. When the sun rises, it casts a shadow

through an opening in the one side of Stonehenge. As the day passes, the shadow moves across the

middle showing the druids the time of day. In 1963, British astronomer Gerald Hawkins proposed a

hypothesis for at least one purpose of this ancient monument. Standing in the center of Stonehenge,

Hawkins recognized twenty-four lines of sight amongst the stones, and later discovered that these

lines pointed to significant astronomical events. The most famous of these are the alignments that

point to the spot on the horizon on which the sun rises on the summer and winter solstices; but there

were many lines pointing to the rising and setting of the full moon near to those dates as well.

Hawkins discovered that Stonehenge was not only a religious site, but also an "astronomical

observatory'' and calendar. Back then, people had no way of telling the time or keeping records of

events. This theory would have allowed these ancient people to have a calendar in which to base

time, months, years, seasons, weather patterns, and give a glance into the heavens above.

Stonehenge really boggles the mind when you look at all the possibilities it holds. Were the

• people back then so intelligent that they knew how to predict eclipses or were they just busy trying • • to tell time? In my opinion, the most realistic theory is eclipse prediction. There are too many

coincidences for it to have just been an accident. They must have been an advanced civilization

which understood the most complicated mathematics and building techniques. It is not so

:S1 unrealistic to assume this. We know so little about the culture back then to say that they couldn't

~ have figured it out.

r l~-\\\ts Ts Maybe no one will really ever know who built Stonehenge or what it was used for. The fact

that these prehistoric monuments withstood time, war, stages of civilization, and is still standing

today, is baffling. To us in the 21st century, there are a great number of facts surrounding all ·of

these theories, some better than others. Until this mighty stone giant decides to finally reveal its

secrets to us, Stonehenge will always remain a big question mark in history. If only stones could

talk, what stories would they tell?

2

Exa.Mp{e Resea.rch ESSO.!:J on Stonehet'\[Je Unsolved M!:Jster!:J

Works Cited

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history/

www .history.com/topics/british-h istory/stonehenge

Darvill, T, Stonehenge: Biography of a landscape (Stroud, 2006)

www.faculty.virginia.edu/rwoclass/astr1210/eclipses-stonehenge.html

Newham, CA, The Astronomical Significance of Stonehenge (Leeds, 1972)

3

The Rock Riddle

For hundreds of years, scientists and incredible ·masterminds failed to solve the

impossible question: what was the history behind Easter Island? Easter Island is a

fairly small island off the coast of Chile. It is known for its Moai, or its stone faces that

tower thirteen feet off the ground. These colossal statues have been living on Easter

island for a presumed 1000 years! Though, nobody is sure what the purpose was for

the native inhabitants of Easter Island carving and moving the mighty eighty-six ton

pieces of stone approximately 1000 years ago. Though, due to new technology,

archaeologists and histologists have been able to crack the unsolved mystery of Easter

Island.

Anybody could easily say that the Rapa Nui (native inhabitants of Easter Island),

were a very intellectual and creative society. Considering the fact that it is still

somewhat hard to carve stone by hand in current times, anybody who could do it 1000

years ago just goes to show that they were pretty advanced. The construction of Moai

statues was finally ended around 1722 when the Dutch and other European explorers

landed there. Within another century, the Moai started to tumble and fall down. No

one knows if they were simply just pushed over it if they were neglected. Though,

nobody was really sure why the Rapa Nui would go out of their way to carve thousands

of pieces of heavy stone if they were just going to be abandoned. Even though the

Moai ended up being abandoned, today we will provide theories for why the Rapa Nui

built the Moai in the first place.

One theory formed was that the Rapa Nui built the Moai to scare off intruders.

This would actually make sense. The Rapa Nui weren't a co111bative society. Probably

anybody would be successful in trying to take over Easter Island. Though, this theory is

disproved because if the Rapa Nui made the Moai for security, then why are most of

the Moai located in the middle of Easter Island? If the Rapa Nui created the Moai to

scare off intruders, they should have placed the Moai along the coast of Easter Island

so any newcomers would have gotten scared off.

A second theory is that the Moai statues were built to honor chieftain or other

important people who had passed away. They were placed on rectangular stone

platforms called ahu, which are.tombs for the people that the statues represented.

The Moai were intentionally made with different characteristics since they were

intended to keep the appearance of the person it represented. This was just a theory

until recently, scholars realized that the the Moai were facing inward towards the land,

therefore meaning that the Moai were created to honor the people or deities within

the Rapa Nui itself. On top of this, descendants of the Rapa Nui have also stated that

the Moai were built to honor other important people.

After some pretty convincing evidence, theorists have came to a final thought

and conclusion that the Moai Statues were built to represent or honor passed away

chieftain and important people. So in the end after all the doubts and assumptions

made by people that the question would never be solved, it finally came to an end.

Thanks to science and technology, archaeologists and histologists have sliced the big

wonder of Easter Island right in half!

Works Cited:

https://www.livescience.com/24021-easter-island-rapa-nui.html

https ://www.easterisland.travel/easter-island-facts-and-info/moai-statues/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/noya/ancienUmysteey-easter-island. html

https://www.history.com/topjcs/easter-island