Make a time capsule and let students create their own buried treasure!
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Creating
a time capsule is exciting for students — they become engaged
in searching for objects and symbols that represent what’s important
in their lives. And it’s like burying treasure! Defined by the Oxford
English Dictionary as "a container used to store for posterity a selection
of objects thought to be representative of life at a particular time," opening
the capsule after a month, a year, or longer provides an opportunity to reflect
on the past and compare it to the present.
Use a perennial plant
to mark the site.
Make a Time Capsule
Create a time capsule with your class. Start by collecting materials. You can
ask each student to bring in an object that represents something special to them
or brainstorm as a group to identify items that represent the times, such as
a class picture, current newspaper or magazine articles, and so on. Another option
is to have each student write a letter or poem or draw a picture that represents
the most important thing in his or her life.
Next, choose a "capsule." Preserving these items can be a challenge
because the containers will have to stand up to soil moisture. Place everything
in tightly sealed plastic bags and then place the bags in a tightly sealed
container. Tape the container closed for additional protection.
Bury the capsule, and plant a perennial above or to the side of it to mark
the spot. If you plant the capsule to the side, record very specific directions,
such as “the capsule is buried 5 feet due East of the rose bush” to
help you find it
Pick a date for opening the time capsule and mark it on your calendar. Make
sure you don’t forget about it!
Finally, when it is time to open the time capsule, gather the students to
unearth the capsule. Take time to reflect on what has changed and what hasn’t.
It’s important to put the capsule in a place where no one will be able
to open until the agreed-upon time so many people opt to bury theirs in the
ground. But how do you make sure you can find it later? One option is to place
an object over the spot, such as a rock or stake, but what happens if some
one moves it? According to the International Time Capsule Society, buried time
capsules are often lost for this very reason. To avoid this problem, why not
mark the spot with a plant whose roots will keep it anchored in place?
Choosing Plants to Mark the Spot
Plants can be sorted into three categories based on their life cycles.
Understanding the distinctions will help students choose the plant or plants
to mark the site of their
time
capsule.
Annuals complete their life cycle during one growing season
and then die after they produce seeds. Annuals are further described as “cool-season” or “warm-season” depending
on the time of the year they grow. Common cool-season annuals include snapdragons,
lettuce, and cabbage. Common warm-season annuals include sunflowers, tomatoes,
and zinnias.
Biennials live for two growing seasons (usually one warm and
one cool growing season). The first season they store energy; in the second
season, they produce seeds and die. Common examples include carrots, foxgloves,
and parsley.
Perennials are plants whose life cycle is longer than two growing
seasons. We divide them into three categories:
- Herbaceous perennials have stems and leaves that die back each
winter, but grow back from the roots and underground crowns in the spring.
Herbaceous perennials do not form wood cells in their stems, although they
might look woody. Strawberries and daylilies are two examples.
-
Shrubs grow woody stems and usually have multiple trunks.
They generally grow no more than 15 feet tall.
-
Trees also have woody stems, but they usually have a single trunk that,
when mature, reaches taller than 15 feet.
Since annuals and biennials may die before it is time to dig up
your capsule, a perennial plant is your best option for making sure
your marker is effective. Keep in mind that as the plant grows its
roots will grow and spread, too. Consider planting a small perennial
that will be easy to dig up and move. Or, if you choose a larger perennial,
bury your capsule an assigned distance from your plant (for example,
10 feet due north).
For more information about time capsules visit the International
Time Capsule Society.
