Children are struck by the magic of time capsules. Parents and teachers can take advantage of this cool way to teach and learn. A Time Capsule is a fun and easy activity to help children get a better understanding of themselves, their family, their friends, and their place in time.

As a family project, parents should involve the kids, making for a fun weekend project and an answer for what to do on a school vacation. Teachers will benefit from a captive audience. The school weathervane's Time Capsule can be a  class-wide or school-wide project. Teachers can also use the opportunity to lecture about the art and history of weathervanes.

Imagination and history are the focus of these projects.  Instruct kids to think about their place in time and think up and scrounge items that they feel will intrigue future children. Make it a hands-on experience. Have them write, draw, and build the artifacts they will include in the small capsule.

Below is a list of some ideas kids may consider as their addition to the Time Capsule project. Have Fun and be sure to include their photo and age!

• Kid's predictions for the future are priceless. One that recently appeared in the Providence Journal by Monica Parrillo is "In 100 years they will have invented a 'Thinking Pen'. As soon as you think something, the 'Thinking Pen' will write it down for you. It will even write in your handwriting! There will also be 'Thinking Pencils' for schoolwork."
  

• Paint or draw a 'vision of the future'.
  

• Include homework assignments and report cards. "I wonder what the President got in math in the first grade?"
  

• Make a greeting card to the future and have everyone sign it.
  

• Make a small scrapbook of your favorite things.
  

• Include a small collectible toy like a Hotwheels car or Beanie Baby.
  

• Make your inclusion thematic like "My first School Year", "The Junior Prom", Our new school, or Graduation.
  

• Include some of the hot trading cards, stickers, and candy wrappers.