Second Grade Time
Class Time Capsule
Social Studies/Math Activity
In this activity, children will record information about themselves and the
class. Then they will include this information in a time capsule that they will
reopen at the end of the year to see how they have changed.
WHAT YOU NEED
WHAT TO DO
- Tell children that they are going to make a class time capsule to see how
they grow and change during the school year. Brainstorm with children the
kinds of things to include in the time capsule. Children may want to include
things such as pictures of themselves, stories they've written, facts about
themselves, and a daily class schedule.
- Distribute copies of Tell
About Yourself, read it aloud, and have children fill out only the top
part. Explain that they will complete the sheet at the end of the year.
Children may draw a picture to tell about themselves and attach it to this
sheet. Some children may want to include information that may change, such
as their height or the number of teeth they are missing. When they have
recorded the information, children can place their sheets into the time
capsule. Next, distribute copies of the My
Favorites survey form, read it aloud, and have children fill out only
the top of the form. Again, explain that they will finish the form at the
end of the year. Do not put these in the time capsule yet.
- Divide the class into four groups and have each group use the information
on the My Favorites survey forms to make a graph about one of the topics on
the form. Then have children place the survey forms and the graphs into the
- Allow a few days for children to collect or create other things they want
to include in the time capsule. Then, with children, seal it and choose a
date near the end of the school year to open it.
- When you open the time capsule, have children complete their Tell
About Yourself sheets. They can also review the information on their My
Favorites sheet and add new information (if some of their favorites have
changed). Have groups make new graphs, using the new information. Then have
children read their completed sheets and graphs to see how they have changed
as individuals and as a group. If children drew pictures of themselves at
the start of the year, they may want to draw a new picture of themselves. If
you included photos of the children, take new photos for comparison.
Whatever information children initially included, they should revisit it to
see what changes may have occurred.
Create a checklist of different types of school work for children to include
in the time capsule for comparison to school work done at the end of the year.
The list could include a story or handwriting sample, some math problems, the
names of books a child is reading, etc.
Copyright © 1997 Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights
Stimulate a child's interest in reading and in history by using some of the
following ideas, which may be modified for use at home, at school, or in the
library. The most important and enduring suggestion is to expose children to
books and to people who love books and to provide opportunities for children to
read and learn.
Read to your children.
Read with your children.
Read in front of your children.
- Have children create a historical time-line based on their own lives
(dates of important events: birth, first teeth, first words, first day of
- Continue with personal family histories. Place the events in the context
of larger, global issues and events.
- Ask the children to establish historical time-lines for characters or
events in a favorite historical novel. Incorporate actual events and dates
of personal importance on the time-line.
- Illustrate the time-line with drawings, photos, cut-outs, and other
- Have children prepare 24-hour charts to compare their daily activities
with those of a character in one of their books (include what they do before
breakfast, what they eat, what they wear, what time they go to bed, etc.).
- Invite grandparents or people who have lived in the community for a long
time to talk to the children about life long ago.
- Write and illustrate the stories.
- Make a book of the stories.
- Have children research and record the history of their community.
- Draw a map of the community.
- Using a world map, have children pin-point the homes of their ancestors.
- Create a family tree.
- Dramatize a favorite scene from a novel or picture book.
- Make toys that would have been familiar to those of settler children (e.g.
shadow-puppets, apple-head dolls).
- Play games that would have been familiar to those of settler children
(e.g. Fox and Geese).
- Write a letter to a favorite character telling him about life today.
- Create a story quilt (or mural) with each child contributing a piece (or
- Prepare imaginary time capsules.
- Create one capsule with objects which will describe life today to children
living 100 years from now.
- Create another with objects which would have been important to children
living 100 years ago.
- Create a classroom newspaper. Have students prepare book reviews and
articles with historical interest as well as current events.
- Have children prepare shoebox scenes or models to illustrate a part of a
story or aspects of history which they like. Use playdough, plasticine,
balsa-wood, cut-outs, Fimo, paint and other materials.
- Have older children make a BIG book of real or imaginary stories, based on
their reading or their own lives, to share with younger children.
- Discuss what memories, questions, or ideas are generated by a story.
- Encourage children to keep a diary.
- Have children make a list of favorite books about Canada's history to
share with others.
- Let older children conduct a debate on the values, benefits, or problems
of contemporary and past lifestyles (e.g. discipline in the classroom,
"children should be seen and not heard", etc.).
- Have a history night: play games, tell stories, sing songs, eat foods of
- Look through family photograph albums and, where available, old department
store catalogues and magazines. Discuss the differences between now and
- Visit a history museum.
- Research and discuss the way people have recorded time (sun-dials, clocks,
- Set aside a time every day for reading at home and in the classroom.
Travel back in time to the