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Fact/Fiction | Time Capsule | Diary

Making A Time Capsule

Here is a project that is fun for the whole family or for the classroom! A diary is only one way to glance into the world of the past. Objects from that time can be very telling as well. What objects could tell the future about the time we live in?

Getting Started:
What you will need is a durable box of some sort that is large enough to put your objects in. This is something you can keep in a safe place or burry in the ground. Tell your students, or family, to find 1-5 objects that they think will be interesting to someone in the future or even to themselves several years from now. Make sure they understand that they will not see these items for a long time so do not put anything in that they will miss or that is too valuable.

Suggested Time Capsule Objects:

• Newspaper articles or Magazines
• Drawings or photographs of themselves or their family
• A video telling about their lives (will we still have VHS in the future?)
• Have the kids write what they will be doing in 10-20 years. (or whenever you plan to have them open the time capsule)
• Various small objects that are original to our time. (a beany baby, Pokemon card, etc.)
  

Sealing and Burying:
This is the tricky part. Is there a place that you can be sure to find your box in the future? This could be in the back yard or beside your school or just in the back of an attic or closet. If you are a teacher, tell your students that you will invite them back to open the box in the future. (a good time might be when they are graduating from high school) If you are a parent, opening the box may be a fun activity on a future holiday or on your child's 18th or 21st birthday.