Maryland Creative Problem Solvers Instant Challenge Library

Time Capsule 3000

This is a hybrid (verbal/hands-on) challenge.

The Challenge:

Given the following materials, you must design a time capsule and the contents of a time capsule that will be sealed on December 31, 2999 and will be opened on December 31, 3999.

The Scene:

It is December 31, 2999 and you are the mayor of your town and 1 of the activities for the turn of the century is to design materials to put into a time capsule that will be opened December 31, 3999.

Materials:

10 spaghetti

10 "ziti" (pasta)

6 straws

2 rubber bands

2 sheets notebook paper

1 12" piece of string

5 paper clips

3 cotton balls

1 12" piece of wax paper

2 sheets construction paper (8.5 x 11)

5 index cards

1 paper cup

1 paper plate

8 mailing labels

1 12" piece of aluminum foil

Directions:

You will have 5 minutes to assemble the time capsule and its contents. At the end of the 5 minutes, you will have 3 minutes to explain the capsule and its contents to the judges. All contents of the time capsule must fit into it.

Scoring:

15 points creativity of the design of the time capsule
3 points for each item to go into the time capsule
10 points for the design and creativity of each item to go into the time capsule
25 points for the overall quality of the presentation of the time capsule and its contents
20 points for teamwork