Tue, Feb 16, 2021
Oscar Paz
A Window in Time: Time Capsules with Local Teachers
This past year with the museum closed and students at home, our education program at the MAH had to rethink everything about how we reached local students. My personal favorites to come out of this past year were hosting webinars in our first virtual exhibit, Queer Santa Cruz, launching free Downloadable History Lesson Plans, and our most recent collaboration building TIME CAPSULES with three Santa Cruz Elementary Schools.
This epic, #museumfromhome project came out of brainstorming how best to use our space and empower students to share this moment through their eyes, while connecting them to our new exhibition, In These Uncertain Times. Just like the artists in the exhibition, we wanted to highlight the creativity and compassion found within Santa Cruz County students.
Inside the museum we identified three empty display windows in the first-floor lobby that could be the perfect home for student's mini-exhibits. We invited three schools, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, Bay View Elementary, and Spring Hill School, to participate.
Sudents participated by contrubting personal artifacts of their choice that they felt captured their shelter in place story. There were multiple objectives of “Window in Time.” To provide space for students to unlock their story of hope and grief by reflecting on this year and the impact of COVID-19. A chance to collaborate dynamically around the challenges of shelter in place and distance learning. Lastly, to encourage students to select objects that have extraordinary meaning and encapsulate their lives throughout this pandemic
Inside the museum, we identified three empty display windows in the first-floor lobby that could be the perfect home for the students' mini-exhibits. We invited Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, Bay View Elementary, and Spring Hill School to join us in this experimental program, we aptly titled a Window in Time.
Students participated by contributing personal artifacts of their choice that they felt captured their shelter in place story. Teachers then worked with them to reflect on this past year, document stories, and name their displays.
We were overjoyed by the level of care each student gave to selecting their objects. It was heartwarming to be able to offer a creative outlet for students and see them reflect on the array of emotions this year has brought on. The project exceeded our expectations and despite a lot of hesitations around distance learning, we were still able to collaborate, empower, and celebrate the power of storytelling to get us through uncertain and difficult times.
Students participated by contributing personal artifacts of their choice that they felt captured their shelter in place story. Teachers then worked with them to reflect on this past year, document stories, and name their displays.
We were overjoyed by the level of care each student gave to selecting their objects. It was heartwarming to be able to offer a creative outlet for students and see them reflect on the array of emotions this year has brought on. The project exceeded our expectations and despite a lot of hesitations around distance learning, we were still able to collaborate, empower, and celebrate the power of storytelling to get us through uncertain and difficult times.
If you're interested in bringing time capsules to your classroom or homeschooling network, we've adapted this program into our In These Uncertain Times Virtual Field Trips. And as always, The MAH is here to help bring local art and history to your students. Please feel free to contact me at oscar@santacruzmah.org so we can connect.
A Window in Time
Take a look at the displays on view at the MAH. You can see them in person once the museum is able to reopen.
