Here are four links to directions for each age group using the School Time Capsule Project.
1) Recruiting Time Capsule Postmasters to make project possible:
https://schooltimecapsule.blogspot.com/2019/05/time-capsule-postmasters-needed.html
2) Elementary School (Pk-5) Recommendations:
https://schooltimecapsule.blogspot.com/2020/02/pk-5-time-capsule-project.html
3) Middle School (6-8) Recommendations:
https://schooltimecapsule.blogspot.com/2020/02/middle-school-6-8-time-capsule-project.html
4) High School (9-12) Recommendations:
https://schooltimecapsule.blogspot.com/2020/02/high-school-9-12-time-capsule-project.html
Starting a School Time Capsule Project does not require the 43 cubic ft inside space, 700-pound vault recommended, usually online at Costco, https://www.costco.com/hardware-safes.html. Just now, (2-26-20) I could not find the type vault we have purchased 9 of over the past 2 years, but vaults available at Costco change often. Vaults can be secured many places. A vault with 40 cubic feet inside space is recommended, unless the class size in your school is significantly below 200. The extra space is rarely a problem.
The vault is both a place to store the letters and a symbol of how truly valuable planning for the future and studying family history are. As students pass the vault daily they may be reminded of the letters inside from their loved ones, and plans they have in the vault as well as updates they may be planning.
This goal setting process helps students improve their own lives more than just about anything else. Only our students can make it all work. That is the power of the message. This is their future built on their work.
Questions are welcome.
Bill Betzen
bbetzen@aol.com.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Elementary School (Pk-5) Time Capsule Project Recommendations
It is recommended that the first act with the Time Capsule Project start with parents as they enroll their child in Pre-K. With the application ask that the parent submit a simple letter to their child about their dreams for them. They are asked to read it to their child at home and then sealed into an envelope addressed to their child to be brought to school. At school it is placed into the School Time Capsule, the 700-pound vault placed in a very visible location of the school lobby. Hopefully the location allows it to be seen by parents and students as often as possible.
Let parents know that such letters from each parent to their child, and grandparents if they also want to be involved, will be requested each year as their child will be changing rapidly. They will be returned each year so they can be updated and changed as needed every year.
The process changes in the third grade as the child will initiate the process with a letter they write to each parent and other relative they want a letter back from. Here is recommended wording for directions that can be given students for writing this letter beginning in the third grade:
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Directions for 3rd through 5th grade students for the first of two Time Capsule Project writing lessons each year:
***************************************
The existence of these letters from parents and students themselves will be in the background as school work continues. As goal issues come up during class it can be mentioned as something that will be updated next year.
This letter writing is recommended for the start of the school year but it can be done at any time the teacher in a grade find it convenient. If possible, for the entire school to do the letter writing at the same time may be easiest.
Each year, before the letter writing starts the Time Capsule Postmaster Volunteers will need to have a day to sort the letters into the classes students are currently attending. It is recommended that each year the class roster with home addresses be placed into the class container and into the vault to help in knowing the students.
Each year some students may have moved out of the school. It is recommended that if they school they are moving to is also a school with a Time Capsule Project, that the letter be sent to that school to help welcome them and continue the letter writing there. If it is not a Time Capsule Project school, then send the letter to the new home address.
The first weeks of what would be the 6th grade it is recommended that the Postmasters sort the letters by the new schools the students are attending and have the letters delivered to that school if they are Time Capsule Schools. If not, again, just mail the letters to the home address.
Since most of the students will be going to the middle school in the feeder pattern, most of the letters will be going to that school. If this transition is managed well and students know their letters will be following them to the new middle school, this may lessen the loss of students during this often painful transition when as much as 12% of enrollment is lost.
Questions are welcomed! Bill Betzen, bbetzen@aol.com
Let parents know that such letters from each parent to their child, and grandparents if they also want to be involved, will be requested each year as their child will be changing rapidly. They will be returned each year so they can be updated and changed as needed every year.
The process changes in the third grade as the child will initiate the process with a letter they write to each parent and other relative they want a letter back from. Here is recommended wording for directions that can be given students for writing this letter beginning in the third grade:
===================================================================
Directions for 3rd through 5th grade students for the first of two Time Capsule Project writing lessons each year:
What are your dreams for me?
Time Capsule Project Letter Student Directions
Elementary School 2-20-20
Time Capsule Project Letter Student Directions
Elementary School 2-20-20
Write a letter to each of the most important adults in your life. Write to each parent, grandparent, and/or other relatives, or even school staff, if you want letters from them.
Ask them to write you a letter telling you their dreams for you.
Ask that they also write one story from your family’s history, or your history with them. It can be a story they want you to remember and maybe someday share with your own children.
As your parents and/or relatives finish their letter, immediately read it with them. Ask them questions so you can understand their letter well.
Bring the letters you have received to school. Bring them on the day your teacher says you will write a letter to yourself for the Time Capsule.
In class, first prepare the return envelope for all your letters. Put your name and home address on the envelope with your phone number. As the return address place your teacher's name, your grade, and the name and address of the school you attend, and finally the date you are addressing the envelope. Your teacher will check this envelope as you write your letter to yourself.
You will write a letter to yourself about your thoughts on the letters you have received and what they said. Then you write about your own dreams for your future. When finished place your letter into the self-addressed envelope you have prepared. Seal it and they will be collected to be placed in the School Time Capsule in the container for your grades letters.
Your envelope will return to you in one year.In class, first prepare the return envelope for all your letters. Put your name and home address on the envelope with your phone number. As the return address place your teacher's name, your grade, and the name and address of the school you attend, and finally the date you are addressing the envelope. Your teacher will check this envelope as you write your letter to yourself.
You will write a letter to yourself about your thoughts on the letters you have received and what they said. Then you write about your own dreams for your future. When finished place your letter into the self-addressed envelope you have prepared. Seal it and they will be collected to be placed in the School Time Capsule in the container for your grades letters.
***************************************
The existence of these letters from parents and students themselves will be in the background as school work continues. As goal issues come up during class it can be mentioned as something that will be updated next year.
This letter writing is recommended for the start of the school year but it can be done at any time the teacher in a grade find it convenient. If possible, for the entire school to do the letter writing at the same time may be easiest.
Each year, before the letter writing starts the Time Capsule Postmaster Volunteers will need to have a day to sort the letters into the classes students are currently attending. It is recommended that each year the class roster with home addresses be placed into the class container and into the vault to help in knowing the students.
Each year some students may have moved out of the school. It is recommended that if they school they are moving to is also a school with a Time Capsule Project, that the letter be sent to that school to help welcome them and continue the letter writing there. If it is not a Time Capsule Project school, then send the letter to the new home address.
The first weeks of what would be the 6th grade it is recommended that the Postmasters sort the letters by the new schools the students are attending and have the letters delivered to that school if they are Time Capsule Schools. If not, again, just mail the letters to the home address.
Since most of the students will be going to the middle school in the feeder pattern, most of the letters will be going to that school. If this transition is managed well and students know their letters will be following them to the new middle school, this may lessen the loss of students during this often painful transition when as much as 12% of enrollment is lost.
Questions are welcomed! Bill Betzen, bbetzen@aol.com
Middle School (6-8) Time Capsule Project Recommendations
Once you have studied the history and achievements of active School Time Capsule Projects and decided to start one for your school, the goals to be achieved are the following:
1) Introduce it to your students and prepare for the first writing lesson. Remember, each set of letters require two class periods, one to write letters to each parent and relative the student wants letters back from and the second after having received these letters to put them into one self-addressed envelope. Then the student writes a letter to themselves reflecting on letters received and planning and updating their plans for their own future. (At home students could write letters to as many relatives as they want, anywhere in the world, using any language necessary. They mail them.) They write separate letters to each individual as everyone has a different family history with a different set of stories to write about.
2) Introduce this project to parents every chance you get. Let them know that the goal is to help students know their roots and develop their plans for the future, a process that never ends. These will be documents that will help their child start a better awareness of how to plan for the future.
3) From the very start begin to recruit School Time Capsule Project Postmasters. They will be volunteers who help this project year to year in each classroom. They sort letters from the previous year so that they can be handed out to the students each year before the next round of letter writing. It is recommended they be allowed to hand out the letters as a form of reinforcement. If they do not enjoy seeing the positive responses of the students in getting their year old letters back, they may not be the right folks for the job.
If all goes well your middle school will be receiving students who have already been introduced to the Time Capsule Project and who have been writing and receiving letters about their families dreams for them, and reading stories from their family history, for many years. Hopefully they will have letters waiting for them at your school that they wrote in the 5th grade. But you will always have students just starting. We begin there.
2) Introduce this project to parents every chance you get. Let them know that the goal is to help students know their roots and develop their plans for the future, a process that never ends. These will be documents that will help their child start a better awareness of how to plan for the future.
3) From the very start begin to recruit School Time Capsule Project Postmasters. They will be volunteers who help this project year to year in each classroom. They sort letters from the previous year so that they can be handed out to the students each year before the next round of letter writing. It is recommended they be allowed to hand out the letters as a form of reinforcement. If they do not enjoy seeing the positive responses of the students in getting their year old letters back, they may not be the right folks for the job.
Pass out the letters for any of your students received from their previous grade. Explain to all what those letters are and pass out directions like this to read with the class for this assignment.
===================================================================
Directions for 6th through 8th grade students for the first Time Capsule Project writing lesson:
What are your dreams for me?
Directions for the Time Capsule Project Middle School Letters 2-20-20
Directions for the Time Capsule Project Middle School Letters 2-20-20
Write a letter to each of the most important adults in your life. Write to your parents, grandparents, guardians or other relatives. You may even write to school staff you may be close to. Write to adults from whom you would like a letter describing their dreams for you.
You may write your letter in any language and you may write additional letters at home with your parents help as needed.
You will write such letters each year. You change a lot in one year. You will write letters to the adults observing your changes. They will describe how their dreams for you have changed as you change.
Ask them to each also write one story from your family’s history. It can be a story about themselves or any relative. It should be a story they consider valuable. It should be a story they want you to pass on to your children someday.
When your parents and/or relatives finish their letter, read it at home with them as soon as possible. Ask them questions you may have. The goal is for you to understand the letter.
Bring all the letters you have received to your Language Arts Class. Do this on the day planned to write a letter to yourself. On that day your teacher will give you an envelope. It will hold all the letters you have received. Place your name and address on this envelope. The return address is the date, your teachers name, grade, school, and school address. You will then write a letter to yourself about your own plans for the future.
Place the letter you write into this self-addressed envelope with all your letters. Seal it. That envelope will be placed into the School Time-Capsule by the Postmaster. This should happen each year until you graduate.
Every year you will receive back the envelope with your letters before you write the next set of letters. The only differences will be in the 8th and 12th grade. Those years you will write letters planning your life 10-years into the future. Those same years the relatives writing to you will also describe their dreams for you 10-years into the future. These 10-year letters will remain inside the School Time Capsule for 10 years.
In 10 years your class will have a 10-year reunion. At that reunion you will receive these envelopes back. School staff will invite you to speak with the then current students in your former middle school. You will give your recommendations for success to them. You will describe life after middle school and the work you do.
***************************************
The existence of these letters from parents and students themselves will be in the background as school work continues. As goal issues come up during class it can be mentioned as something that will be updated next year.
This letter writing is recommended for the start of the school year but it can be done at any time the teacher in a grade find it convenient. If possible, for the entire school to do the letter writing at the same time may be easiest.
Each year, before the letter writing starts the Time Capsule Postmaster Volunteers will need to have a day to sort the letters into the classes students are currently attending. It is recommended that each year the class roster with home addresses be placed into the class container and into the vault to help in knowing the students.
Each year some students may have moved out of the school area. It is recommended that if the school they are moving to is also a school with a Time Capsule Project, that the letter be sent to that school to help welcome them and continue the letter writing there. If it is not a Time Capsule Project school, then send the letter to the new home address.
The 8th grade letters remain in the vault, with a listing of all students and a check made on that listing for everyone with an envelope in the vault.
Questions are welcomed! Bill Betzen, bbetzen@aol.com
High School (9-12) Time Capsule Project Recommendations
Once you have studied the history and achievements of active School Time Capsule Projects and decided to start one for your school, the goals to be achieved are the following:
1) Introduce it to your students and prepare for the first writing lesson. Remember, each set of letters require two class periods, one to write letters to each parent and relative the student wants letters back from and the second after having received these letters to put them into one self-addressed envelope. Then the student writes a letter to themselves reflecting on letters received and planning and updating their plans for their own future. (At home students could write letters to as many relatives as they want, anywhere in the world, using any language necessary. They mail them.) They write separate letters to each individual as everyone has a different family history with a different set of stories to write about.
2) Introduce this project to parents every chance you get. Let them know that the goal is to help students know their roots and develop their plans for the future, a process that never ends. These will be documents that will help their child start a better awareness of how to plan for the future.
3) From the very start begin to recruit School Time Capsule Project Postmasters. They will be volunteers who help this project year to year in each classroom. They sort letters from the previous year so that they can be handed out to the students each year before the next round of letter writing. It is recommended they be allowed to hand out the letters as a form of reinforcement. If they do not enjoy seeing the positive responses of the students in getting their year old letters back, they may not be the right folks for the job.
Here is one recommendation for directions for 9th through 12th grade students for the first Time Capsule Project writing lesson:
1) Introduce it to your students and prepare for the first writing lesson. Remember, each set of letters require two class periods, one to write letters to each parent and relative the student wants letters back from and the second after having received these letters to put them into one self-addressed envelope. Then the student writes a letter to themselves reflecting on letters received and planning and updating their plans for their own future. (At home students could write letters to as many relatives as they want, anywhere in the world, using any language necessary. They mail them.) They write separate letters to each individual as everyone has a different family history with a different set of stories to write about.
2) Introduce this project to parents every chance you get. Let them know that the goal is to help students know their roots and develop their plans for the future, a process that never ends. These will be documents that will help their child start a better awareness of how to plan for the future.
3) From the very start begin to recruit School Time Capsule Project Postmasters. They will be volunteers who help this project year to year in each classroom. They sort letters from the previous year so that they can be handed out to the students each year before the next round of letter writing. It is recommended they be allowed to hand out the letters as a form of reinforcement. If they do not enjoy seeing the positive responses of the students in getting their year old letters back, they may not be the right folks for the job.
Here is one recommendation for directions for 9th through 12th grade students for the first Time Capsule Project writing lesson:
What are your dreams for me?
Directions for the first Time Capsule Project letter
High School Students 2-20-20
Directions for the first Time Capsule Project letter
High School Students 2-20-20
Write a letter to each of the most important adults in your life. Write to each parent, grandparent, guardian or other relative separately. You may also write to school staff you may be close to. Write to adults from whom you would like a letter describing their dreams for you and their separate histories.
You may write your letters in any language.
You will be writing such letters each year. You change a lot in a year. You will write letters to the adults observing your changes. They will describe how their dreams for you have changed as you change.
Ask them to each include one story from your family’s history in their letter. It can be a story about themselves or any relative. It should be a story they consider valuable. It should be a story they want you to pass on to your child someday.
When your parents and/or relatives finish their letter, read it with them. Ask them questions so you understand it. The goal is for you to understand the letter.
Bring all the letters you have received to your Language Arts Class. Do this on the day planned to write a letter to yourself. On that day your teacher will give you an envelope. It will hold all the letters you have received. Place your name and address on this envelope along with your cell phone number and email address. You will then write a letter to yourself about your own plans for the future.
You will also place the letter you write into your self-addressed envelope. You will place that envelope into the School Time-Capsule. This will happen each year until you graduate.
Every year you will receive back this envelope with your letters. The only differences will be in the 12th grade. That year you will write a letter planning your life 10-years into the future. Your senior year the relatives writing to you will also describe their dreams for you 10-years into the future. Your senior year letters will remain inside the school time capsule for 10 years.
On that 10-year envelope include another relatives address and phone number, someone who you believe will not move, someone who may be able to help locate you in 10 years.
In 10 years your class will have your first 10-year class reunion. At that reunion you will receive these envelopes back. School staff will invite you to speak with the then current students in your former high school, possibly on Career Day. You will give your recommendations for success to them. You will describe life after high school. You will give the recommendations you wish you had received. You can also talk about the recommendations you may have received and now regret not having followed.
But for now, plan the future you want. Describe how you will achieve it.
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