Grade 10
Grade 10
HERITAGE PROJECT
TEACHER GUIDE
GRADE 10
2025
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................3
2. PROGRAMME OF ASSESSMENT AND WEIGHTING OF TASKS.......................................................4
3. QUALITY-ASSURANCE PROCESS FOLLOWED................................................................................5
4. STRUCTURE OF THE HERITAGE PROJECT......................................................................................7
5. GRADE 10 HERITAGE PROJECT....................................................................................................11
ANNEXURE B.......................................................................................................................................15
ANNEXURE C: EXAMPLE OF A COVER PAGE FOR A HERITAGE PROJECT:.........................................16
ANNEXURE D: EXAMPLE OF A TEMPLATE FOR NOTE-TAKING DURING RESEARCH..........................17
ANNEXURE E: GUIDELINES ON HOW TO WRITE A BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................18
ANNEXURE F: EXEMPLAR...................................................................................................................19
EXAMPLE OF A HERITAGE PROJECT....................................................................................................20
1. INTRODUCTION
The Heritage project in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is
weighted at 20% of the final mark, underscoring its significant role in the overall
academic performance of learners. Given this substantial weighting, learners must
invest considerable effort and dedication to complete this project to the best of their
ability. This project not only contribute to academic success but also provides an
opportunity for learners to engage deeply with South Africa’s history and cultural
heritage, developing critical research skills and a deeper understanding of historical
processes. To do justice to this project, learners must approach it with thorough
preparation, attention to detail, and a commitment to producing high-quality,
evidence-based work. The research and heritage projects require careful planning,
rigorous analysis, and the ability to connect historical knowledge with contemporary
relevance, making them a vital component of the learning journey.
The final Grade 10 mark is calculated from the examination that learners write (out of
150 marks converted to 60%) plus school-based assessment (out of 100 marks
converted to 40%). The curriculum policy document stipulates SEVEN formal tasks
that comprise school-based assessment in History.
Introduction
The heritage project in Grade 10 accounts for 20% of the total school-based
assessment (SBA). It is, therefore, essential that this be a significant piece of work.
This project offers learners the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, knowledge
and understanding of History.
The heritage project can be written on any local heritage topic in Grade 10.
Heritage can be defined as a set of values, traditions, rituals and cultural practices
that any group of people value and uphold its significance. Heritage has to do with
group identity. Heritage varies from individual, family, community, nation and
country.
Examples:
Individual Prayer Times
Family: Birthdays
Community: Umkhosi Wamaganu
Nation: Umhlanga Reed Dance
Country: National Braai Day
The choice of heritage topic needs to be made, taking into consideration the
context of your school and the available resources to which learners have
access.
This project provides learners with an opportunity to embark on a process of
historical enquiry. Conducting original research involves the collection, analysis,
organization and evaluation of information, and the construction of knowledge.
Clear, written instructions with due dates and the assessment criteria
(Assessment Rubric) must be given to learners at the beginning of the school
year to allow adequate time for the preparation and completion of the project.
The progress of learners about the research project must be monitored on an
on-going basis.
It is essential that learners submit original work. To reduce the likelihood of
plagiarism, the key question or research topic should be changed every year.
Develop a key question for your Heritage Project (within your context).
Analyse and answer the key question.
Identify a variety of relevant source materials to help answer the key question.
Select relevant examples from the source material which can be used to
substantiate the line of argument.
Organise relevant information to write a coherent, meaningful and logical answer
to the key question.
Some suggestions of what can be done with the Heritage Project when it is
completed:
The Heritage Project could be displayed at your school, community hall or local
library. Exhibiting the learners' work is very important. It gives learners a sense
of purpose and shows them that their ideas and efforts are of value to their
school and community.
Learners could give an oral presentation of their heritage project to the class,
grade, school, or local community. This allows learners to speak about their
research and share their 'new-found' knowledge.
Organise a class debate on the key question.
Hold a History Evening at which learners could be allowed to present their work
to friends, family, and members of the community. This will be an ideal platform
to showcase the work of the school's History Department in an endeavour to
promote the History Subject at the FET level.
For example, copying sentences directly from a Grade 10 history textbook on the
Colonial Expansion without crediting the source would be considered plagiarism.
In a reference list:
Clark, N. (2017). A History of Apartheid in South Africa. Cape Town: Oxford
University Press.
Mandela, N. (1964). Rivonia Trial Speech, Pretoria High Court.
Example:
Direct quote from a textbook: "The Soweto Uprising in 1976 marked a significant
turning point in the struggle against apartheid" (Thompson, 2016, p. 88).
Always ensure that quotations are brief and relevant to the argument. If a quote is
used too much without adding an analysis, it may seem like you are over-relying on
the work of others.
Original: "The apartheid government’s enforcement of the Group Areas Act forced
many non-white families to relocate to designated townships" (Smith, 2015, p. 62).
Paraphrased: During apartheid, laws like the Group Areas Act led to mass
relocations of non-white South Africans to townships (Smith, 2015, p. 62).
Full reference: Lodge, T. (1999). Resistance and Reform: South African History.
Johannesburg: Macmillan.
Example:
If analysing Nelson Mandela’s speech, you would say: "Mandela’s assertion that he
was prepared to die for equality demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the
struggle" (Mandela, 1964).
3. Do research in the school library, local library, or on the internet, if available, about
heritage on the topic chosen, or provide learners with the sources. Learners must select
sources that are appropriate for their topic.
4. Learners should make notes during their research, and record the information in their
own words. Teachers must be particularly vigilant that learners do not simply download
and use information from the internet without reworking it. Their assignments must
include a list of references consulted. Refer learners to the note on plagiarism.
5. Teachers must provide a clearly worded task for the learners. The task must include
time frames for each stage of the assignment and the assessment criteria that will be
used for assessment. The dates within the time frames will include a date for planning
to be completed; a date for rough work to be completed; date for the final product.
Teachers will check the work at each stage.
6. The project needs to include the ideologies and debates about heritage, linked to the
monument or topic chosen. The chosen topic or example must is used to illustrate these
debates.
PHASE: FET
Heritage assignment (compulsory)
The focus and resources for the assignment are heritage sites, museums, monuments,
oral histories, commemorative events, family and community traditions and rituals, local
history, school history, and family history.
What is heritage?
The word ‘heritage’ can be used in different ways. One use of the word emphasizes our
heritage as human beings and concerns human origins in Africa. Another use of the
word relates to the ways in which people remember the past, through heritage sites,
museums, the construction of monuments and memorials, and in families and
communities (oral history). Some suggest that heritage is everything that is handed
down to us from the past.
The content detail is not specified in order to provide the choice to study local, regional,
or national examples of heritage.
Possible themes for projects, which learners should consider, include:
• what is meant by heritage and public representations?
• memory and oral histories as heritage.
• the importance of the conservation of heritage sites, monuments and memorials.
• debates about heritage issues and how the past is represented, for example at
heritage sites, museums, monuments, memorials, families, and communities
• how memorials are constructed in different knowledge systems, for example,
monuments, ritual sites, and grave sites; and
• African origins of humankind as world heritage.
The assignment should include a research component to teach research skills in Grade
10.
Conducting oral interviews can be a powerful method for gathering qualitative data.
Here’s a structured guide to help you through the process:
Transcribing interviews accurately is crucial for data analysis. Here are some guidelines
to follow:
3. Start Transcribing
Play the Recording: Listen to the recording in segments, pausing frequently to
transcribe accurately.
Use Playback Tools: Utilize transcription software that allows for easy pausing
and rewinding to ensure accuracy.
Needs
Needs Attention
Criteria Excellent (5) Good (4) Satisfactory (3) Significant
(2)
Improvement (1)
4-5 3-4 2-3 1-2 0-1
1. Understanding
the Context and
Concepts of Deep understanding Good Basic understanding Limited Very limited
Heritage of heritage concepts understanding of some connections understanding understanding,
(5) and effective and appropriate with weak minimal concept
contextualization. connections to connections connections.
the context.
10 - 9 8-7 6-5 4-3 2-0
Extensive and in- Good research Adequate research Limited research No research or
DUE DATE 1 2. Source selection depth research, from 4-6 credible using 3-4 sources, using fewer than irrelevant
and depth of exploring multiple sources, but but lacks critical 3 sources, sources with no
Research perspectives from 5-7 some lack of depth, mostly minimal critical engagement.
credible sources. depth in descriptive. analysis.
(10) Shows critical exploration or
engagement and analysis.
integration of diverse
viewpoints.
20 - 17 16 - 13 12 - 9 8-5 4-0
Well-constructed, Good argument Adequate Weak argument, No discussion or
3. Construction of evidence-based though lacks discussion, but lacks lacking unsupported by
Discussion Based argument with critical depth in analysis depth, critical coherence and evidence,
on Evidence analysis, multiple or perspectives. analysis, or logical critical incoherent.
DUE DATE 2 perspectives, and Mostly coherent flow. engagement with
(20) logical coherence. with the use of evidence.
Strong use of evidence.
evidence to support
claims.
5 4 3 2 0
4. Reflection Thoughtful, insightful Good reflection; Basic reflection; Minimal No meaningful
reflection showing some critical limited critical reflection; lacks reflection or
(5) critical engagement. thought engagement. critical thinking. engagement.
is evident.
5 4 3 2 1
5. Plagiarism No plagiarism Minor issues but Some plagiarism Significant Major plagiarism
was detected; all work no significant is identified but does plagiarism, but detected; very
(5) is original. plagiarism. not dominate the the original work little original
DUE DATE 3
work. is still present. work.
5 4 3 2 1
6.
Acknowledgment All sources Most sources Some sources cited; Several sources Little to no
of Sources are properly cited with acknowledged; multiple formatting missing or citation of
(5) no errors in formatting. minor citation errors. incorrectly cited. sources; major
errors. errors.
Comment: ____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Breakdown:
Understanding of Context and Concepts: 5 Marks
Source selection and depth of Research:10 Marks
NAME OF SCHOOL
NAME OF LEARNER
SUBJECT
RESEARCH TOPIC
KEY QUESTION
STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY:
DATE: _____________________________________________________________
For a book:
Author (last name, initials). Title of book (Publishers, Date of publication).
Example:
Dahl, R. The BFG. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1982).
For an encyclopaedia:
Encyclopaedia Title, Edition Date. Volume Number, 'Article Title', page numbers.
Example:
Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1997. Volume 7, 'Gorillas', pp. 50-51.
For a magazine:
Author (last name first), 'Article Title'. Name of magazine. Volume number, (Date): page
numbers.
Example:
Jordan, Jennifer, 'Filming at the top of the World'. Museum of Science Magazine.
Volume 47, No 1, (Winter 1998): p 11.
For a newspaper:
Author (last name first), 'Article Title'. Name of Newspaper. City, state publication.
(Date): edition if available, section, page number(s).
Example:
Powers, Ann, 'New Tune for the Material Girl'. The New York Times. New York, NY.
(3/1/98): Atlantic Region, Section 2, p 34.
For a person:
Full name (last name first). Occupation, date of interview.
Example:
Smeckleburg, Sweets. Bus Driver. 1 April 1996.
For a film:
Title, Director, Distributor, Year.
Example:
Braveheart, Director Mel Gibson, Icon Productions, 1995.
ANNEXURE F: EXEMPLAR
Key Question:
Task Description:
In this task, Grade 10 learners will research what factors contributed to South Africa’s
cultural heritage, focusing on both tangible and intangible aspects such as language,
architecture, traditions, and social structures. Learners will explore how colonial powers
shaped the country’s cultural landscape and examine the legacy of colonialism on
modern South African identity.
Task Guidelines:
1. Introduction:
Provide a brief overview of colonialism in South Africa, highlighting key periods
and events (e.g., Dutch colonial rule, British colonial rule, the impact of the 1910
Union).
3. Conclusion:
Reflect on the lasting impact of colonialism on South African culture and
identity. How do contemporary South Africans view their colonial heritage
today?
4. References:
Learners must consult at least 3 sources, including books, journal articles, and
reliable online resources. They should use citations in their work.