- Time
Capsule of Family Memories
- BY RACHEL
WEBB
Time capsules
are a fun way to celebrate the New Year or can be made anytime
as a fun way to preserve your family memories!
The first time
capsules were found in temples in Egypt and Babylon. Those ancient
time capsules were filed with small statues and scrolls as was
their custom. Some modern day religious temples still practice
this tradition of placing items of significance in the corner
stone of the building.
You can make
your own time-capsule as a fun new year activity for your family
or as a party favor for guests.
MAKING A
TIME CAPSULE
There are many
different items that can be used as the housing for your time-capsule.
As long as the capsule is made out of a non-biodegradable material
like plastic, metal or heavy duty rubbers. You can purchase small
square banks that have a combination lock at office supply stores
or use kitchen food storage containers with a lid.
If the time
capsule is for children you can make it out of large plastic
Easter eggs and use silicone caulking to seal the two sides together
after it is filled. Kids would also enjoy making a capsule out
of the plastic boxes watches come packaged in.
TIME CAPSULE
ITEMS
When deciding
what to put in your time capsule think of interesting topics
that were of significance in the past year. You could include
headlines clipped from a newspaper or magazine. Remember to think
of both local and world events as well. Include items of social
and scientific interest as well as objects of everyday life like
photographs of your car, postage stamp or grocery store receipt
so you can compare the price of gas or milk.
Backup your
computer and add the CD to your time-capsule. If you store your
recipes on the computer you may want to print out your favorites
and include those as well.
If you are
a scrapbooker, it would be fun to copy a few of your favorite
family pages and add them to your time capsule.
You can purchase
plastic file folders that have a top clasp that folds over so
your pages and other memorabilia can lie flat.
Children would
enjoy cutting pictures out of a magazine showing the hottest
toy of that year or the latest fashion trend. Just as we look
back at the popularity of Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmo,
Beanie Babies, Pokeman or Scooters, these are items that are
sure to be left behind in a few years and will be fun to remember
when the capsule is opened.
Include ticket
stubs from a special trip sporting event or theatrical play.
Add the oldest coin you can find and a current coin from this
year. This is a good time to add the latest State quarter that
is available. Make a recording of your favorite singing group
or pictures of your friends.
All ages would
enjoy writing a letter to the future and tell the people what
life is like for you now. Be sure and include your favorite family
traditions, your worries and your joys too!
OPENING
YOUR CAPSULE
The family
will enjoy making a treasure map of where the time-capsule is
buried so you can remember where to find it again. Hide the map
in the back of a picture frame holding a family photograph.
Let the family
decide when you want to open the time-capsule and look forward
to sharing the memories of how much your family has grown and
how the world has changed.
Copyright 2001
Rachel Webb
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