NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this bell ringer activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

The Civic Season Pavilion inside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History features a 28-foot mural inviting visitors to add their wish for America’s future, as we approach the U.S. 250th birthday. The letters will be collected into a time capsule and stored in the Smithsonian archives to be opened in 2075.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of the time capsule?
2. Where is the Smithsonian?
3. When will the time capsule open? Why did the innovators choose that date?
4. Who is Alex Edgar, and what does he do?
5. How will the notes written by children be stored over 50 years?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. When the time capsule is opened in 2075, what do you predict will be different in the world? What are you afraid of? What are you hoping for?
2. If you had the opportunity to put a note in the time capsule, what would you say?
3. What other items do you believe should be added to the time capsule? Why?

Media literacy:

Why did the Smithsonian decide to ask children about their wishes rather than adults?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Watch the video below about a time capsule that was found in 2021. The video is over two hours long, it is recommended that you start at 1:20.

Discuss:

1. What items in the time capsule are most different from what we have in the U.S. today?
2. Were you surprised by any of the items in the time capsule? If yes, which ones?

Written by Payton Alfieri, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Episcopal High School, and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.

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