Build a Rift: Historical Mashups

⚔️ Build a Rift: Historical Mashups (30–35 min)

Objective

Encourage creative thinking and cross-cultural synthesis by combining Champions, Artifacts, and Events into imaginative historical mashups.

Materials

• Time Rift cards (Champions, Artifacts, Events)
• Paper, pens/pencils, or comic strip templates
• Optional: classroom “Rift Wall” for displaying work

Setup (3–4 min)

• Each student draws 1 Champion, 1 Artifact, and 1 Event card.
• Teacher explains: students will imagine a short story or comic strip where these three elements collide.

Activity

1. Brainstorming (5 min)

• Students jot quick notes: Who are the characters? Where are they? What’s the conflict?
• Example prompt: “What happens when Musashi finds a Khutga knife during the Fall of Rome?”

2. Story/Comic Creation (15–18 min)

• Students write a short narrative (½–1 page) or sketch a comic strip.
• Emphasize how the artifact or event changes the Champion’s story.

3. Pair/Small Group Share (5–6 min)

• Students exchange stories with a partner or small group.
• Peers give quick feedback: What was surprising? What was historically clever?

Extension (Optional, 5–7 min)

• Students post their mashups on a classroom “Rift Wall.”
• Volunteers read aloud or display their comics for the class.

Assessment

Formative Options

• Observe brainstorming notes and group sharing for creativity and historical connections.
• Quick checklist: Did students integrate all three card types? Did they highlight historical impact?

Summative Options

• Collect stories/comics and assess with a rubric:
  
  • Historical accuracy or clever use of context
  • Creativity of mashup
  • Clarity of narrative or comic strip
• Alternative: Short reflection (3–4 sentences) on what they learned about blending cultures/events.

⏱ Total Time: ~30–35 minutes (extension pushes closer to 40).

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⚔️ Build a Rift: Historical Mashups Worksheet

🎴 Step 1: Card Draw

• Champion Card: __________________________
• Artifact Card: __________________________
• Event Card: __________________________

💡 Step 2: Brainstorming Notes

• Who are the characters? __________________________________________
• Where are they? __________________________________________
• What’s the conflict? __________________________________________
• Example prompt: “What happens when Musashi finds a Khutga knife during the Fall of Rome?”

✍️ Step 3: Story or Comic Creation

• Write a short narrative (½–1 page) OR sketch a comic strip.
• Highlight how the artifact or event changes the Champion’s story.
• Draft space: __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

🤝 Step 4: Peer Share

• Partner/Group Feedback:

• What was surprising? __________________________________________
• What was historically clever? __________________________________________

✨ Reflection

• One thing I learned about blending cultures/events: ______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

• One idea I’d like to expand further: _____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

🌟 Extension (Optional)

• Post your mashup on the classroom “Rift Wall.”
• Volunteer to read aloud or display your comic.

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