4th Graders Create Time Capsule

What parts of our culture will seem ancient in 10 years? The 4th Grade is answering that question by creating a time capsule that they will open as graduating seniors in 2014. The time capsule, which was compiled by the 4th Grade during their annual study of ancient cultures, traveled on Monday to the Gates Mills Library, where it was deposited by students in the Hawken archives. Students filled the capsule with a wide variety of everyday items, ranging from favorite candy wrappers to CD`s of favorite songs, a photo of an iPod, sports jerseys, and a copy of The Plain Dealer featuring a lead story on about the threat of bird flu. Items with special meaning for the class were also included, such as a note from victims of Hurricane Katrina thanking students for responding with a truckload of backpacks and stuffed animals. When teacher Diane Siska posed the question, "Which of these items will seem ancient when you graduate?," students were quick to mention technological items. One child commented that "the CD was a good choice because we`ll hear the music we used to like, but also because we probably won`t even have CDs anymore." Another mentioned a Sprite can within the capsule, speculating that cans will be replaced by plastic in 2014. Not everything will change, however, insisted one student: "We`ll still have M&M`s, for sure.\"