Time Capsule, Saving memories for the future

We have had a number of schools setting up time capsules and so we thought it would be a good idea to write a post about the subject.

As always it is up to your imagination what you put in yours but some interesting ideas so far have been:

• Get the children to write a piece about what they would like to be when they are older, they can then illustrate this and you can scan the work in. This will be an interesting piece for children to look back on when they are older.
• One school have recorded a video where eadh child sits in front of the camera and says what they like about their school (a few also ad libbed and told us who their favourite friend was)
• Take photos and videos throughout a normal school day, interesting topics include
• Dance or Games
• Reading with another year group
• Arts and crafts (remember you can scan in any pieces of work)
• Science
• Another interesting activity is for the children to write about what they think the world will be like when they are older, flying cars, teleportation, they can draw pictures about what they think people will be wearing/how they will dress.
• Maybe a project about their town as it is now for people to look at in the future.
• School trips are a nice item to document in the capsule.

Unfortunately we feel it necessary to talk about the protection of children whilst producing the capsule (What a terrible terrible thing to have to do).

• Never put a childs full name with a video/photo, a first name seems to be acceptable to parents.
• Be mindful of the sort of images that are used, particularly games/dance
• Just be sensible, dont let this topic put you off. Unfortuantely there are plenty of sites that cater to these weirdos, so they do not need to scour innocent sites.
• Protect yourself (and it may be a legal requirement where you live) Get permission from parents to include their child in the capsule.

Now that topic is gladly over with we have also included below how the site applies to the UK school curriculum (If anyone would like to send us details about the US curriculum we will happily post it)

Information Technology
Pupils should be taught to gather information from a variety of sources.
Enter and store information in a variety of forms – written, videos, photographic.
Retrieve information that has been stored.

Pupils should be taught how to share their ideas by presenting information in a variety of forms.
To present work effectively.

Pupils should have the opportunity of working with a range of information and investigating the different ways it can be presented.
Talk about the use of ICT
Explore a variety of ICT tools. ( scanner, digital camera, video recorder etc)

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History

‘History isn’t just about the past. It’s about why we are who we are – and about what’s next.’

Pupils should be taught to identify different ways in which the past is represented.
Understand changes in their own lives and the way of life of their family and others around them.
Communicate their knowledge and understanding of history in a variety of ways.

Geography

Should be taught to answer questions on what it is like to live in this area.
Observe and record information.
Use secondary sources of information (the capsule could be used in years to come)as they would be able to retrieve info. stored in variety of ways.
Pupils should be aware of their local environment and changes.

Science

Pupils must be aware of the main stages of human life – changes as they grow.

P.S.H.E

Need to be able to recognise what they like and dislike.
Share opinions on things that matter to them.
That they belong to various groups and communities, such as family and school.
Feel positive about themselves.
Literacy

Pupils should be taught to vary their writing to suit the purpose and reader.

The range of purposes for writing should include
a) to communicate to others
b) to explore experience
c) to organise and explain information.
Pupils should be taught the value of writing for remembering and developing ideas.

The range of readers for writing should include teachers, other adults, children and the writers themselves.

The range of forms of writing should include narratives, poems, notes, lists, captions, records, messages, instructions.
Speaking

Children need to speak clearly, fluently and confidently to different people.
They need to speak with clear diction.
Choose words with precision.
Organise what they are going to say.
Focus on main points.
Include relevant detail.
Listen, understand and respond to others.
Make relevant comments.

Check out some examples of school capsules by going to the100yearwebsite.com and typing in school to the search tool.