What Makes an Item Important?
A time capsule is a container
that stores a selection of objects that are seen as important or items that are
typical of the present time. This time capsule is then buried in the ground for
future discoveries. The time capsule is a lot like your treasure chests. To
create your chests, you all researched and created important documents about
your explorers and then used them to teach others. You stored these important
documents in your treasure chests. If we were to bury your chests, they would
be time capsules for others to discover, view, and learn information about your
explorer’s life and journey. Why do you think people choose to put items into a
time capsule? Watch the video, and think to yourself…Why did they choose these
items? Record your thinking below!
All of you have
a story to tell and your story is important. How you share your story with the future
will vary. Some of you may use objects, while others may use pictures. Videos have become a popular way to share and
store important events, along with words written on paper. Think about how people in your family have
shared stories with you. Have items been passed down to you? Stories told? Pictures
shared? If so, these items are more than likely important documents that you
value and cherish, and are documents you would never want to lose.
Brainstorm a list of things below that you have saved over the years that you would put in your time capsule. The list of items you list should be the important things that you would never want to lose.
Brainstorm a list of things below that you have saved over the years that you would put in your time capsule. The list of items you list should be the important things that you would never want to lose.
Looking at a list of items that you have written, pick one item that you feel is the MOST important to you! Answer the following questions!
Why did you save this item?
If you had to sell this item, what would you price it at?
What memories does this item give you?
Was this item passed down from other family members?
Would your family sell this item, why or why not?
What criteria would you use to decide if this item was important enough to save?
Why did you save this item?
If you had to sell this item, what would you price it at?
What memories does this item give you?
Was this item passed down from other family members?
Would your family sell this item, why or why not?
What criteria would you use to decide if this item was important enough to save?
Historical Documents
Just like you all feel your time capsule items are important, the United States, as well as many other countries, have items from the past that are important. These documents are called historical documents. And even though these documents might not actually go into a time capsule, they are forever remembered, reviewed, studied, and displayed. Historical documents help define who we are as a country, what we believe, how we respond to situations, etc. What are these documents? Well...there are thousands, but to give you a bit of background, here is a short clip to get your wheels turning.
What Historical Documents?
Just as you had to answer some tough questions about your important time capsule item, you also have to look at historical documents and think about those same questions. We will be looking at historical documents and determining which documents we really feel should go into the "United States Time Capsule". Brainstorm with your partner a list of historical documents you can recall or think of. At home tonight, talk with your parents and ask them to recall any important historical documents they can think of. Be ready to share tomorrow!