Time Capsule

Grade Levels: Middle School

Objectives:

• to explore personal characteristics of Jewish children in concentration camps and the ghetto

• to make a time capsule of events and photographs following survivors from the ghetto and concentration camps to freedom, and information available today about them or their family.

Sunshine State Standards:

• Grades 6-8
  • SS.A.2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.8, 3.3.1, 3.3.2

View all Sunshine State Standards

Materials:

• a plastic gallon milk container for each student
• thin sheet of Plexiglas, approximately 8" x 10"
• strapping tape
• old magazines that can be cut up
• art supplies
• created artifacts: pictures, tools, programs, menus, post cards, book pages, etc.
• varnish (optional)

Procedure:

1. Ask the class if they are aware of what a time capsule is. Explain that sometimes we try to capture what a particular moment in time was like, so that in the future, people can better understand what life was like for people.
2. Access a website such as "The Secret Room" and collect things that you can envision were important to Corrie ten Boom. Explain to students that they are going to create a time capsule that captures what life was like when the the Holocaust occurred, what a concentration camp looked like, a prisoner's barracks, a workhouse. Brainstorm some of the items that might help others understand who one of the Holocaust victims were.
3. List students' suggestions on the board. Lead the class to classify the suggestions under such titles as: characteristics, activities, ideas, feelings, or interests.
4. Instruct the class to bring in some artifacts that represent each of these areas to create them. These may include downloaded photographs from the web, created notes or letters, etc. Tell them that their artifacts must be able to fit in a gallon milk container.
5. When the class is ready, distribute a milk container to each student. Instruct them to cut the container in half. After placing the artifacts inside, use strapping tape to completely seal the container and the plexiglass together. The time capsules may be decorated, in a collage form, with cut out words and pictures from the magazines. Decoupage varnish will help to preserve their beauty.
6. Create a Holocaust display shelf for the time capsules.

Assessment:

• Students may enjoy a small group "show and tell" session before inviting the school.
• Invite parents to come for a show.
• Contact the local Holocaust Memorial Museum to schedule a visit with your class. Ask if the students would be welcome to bring their time capsules for display.

Post Field Trip Activity

• Have students write a reaction paper on their experience at the museum and new information that they acquired from their visit.
• Have students include :
  • the description of five artifacts or pieces of information that impressed them
  • an explanation of what impressed them about each one
  • what is important in eyes of history
  • how valuable is this to the Jewish people and why?

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust
Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology,
College of Education, University of South Florida © 2005.