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Saving the National Treasures
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
Ask students what they think an artifact is. (It is an object made by a human.)
Ask students to describe the personal artifacts they save. Why are the
artifacts important? What do students do, if anything, to preserve their
artifacts?
Ask students to name the country's important founding documents. Ask
students what it is about these documents that make them important. When
were they written? By whom? What does each document declare? (See Activity
Answer for more information.)
After Watching
Lead a discussion about the encasement design chosen to house the Charters of
Freedom. What does it protect the documents from? (Examples include oxygen
exposure and light damage.) Have students name some design features. (It has a
highly polished frame to ensure airtight seal, and a clear colorless glass to
aid viewing.) Discuss how the meaning of the Declaration of Independence has
changed since 1776. What part of the document was most important to the
founding fathers? What part of the document is important today?
Experts spent five years and $5 million to design and build the new
encasements. Why are these documents important to U.S. citizens? Why is it
important that they should be preserved? Why is it important that they be
available to the public?
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