In These Uncertain Times: Santa Cruz MAH Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Made by School Programs at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

In These Uncertain Times: Time Capsule Project 2nd-5th grade Background 2020 has been a dramatic and unforgettable year, unlike any other year we have experienced.

The daily lives of people in our community, and across the world, have changed in response to COVID-19. This lesson invites students to participate, from home, in the MAH’s exhibition In These Uncertain Times by creating a time capsule that will capture their shelter-in-place story through objects of their choosing.

On March 16, 2020, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel declared a shelter-in-place order directing residents to only leave their house for essential activities. The order was in effect through April 7.

Objective • Students will unlock their story of hope and grief by reflecting on this year and the impact of COVID-19.

• Students will collaborate on an interactive project detailing the challenges of shelter in place and distance learning.

• Students will collect objects that have extraordinary meaning that encapsulate their lives throughout this pandemic.

Abi Mustapha, an anchor artist for In These Uncertain Times, was invited to spend two months as part of an artist residency titled Still Processing. During the summer of 2020, she created large-scale illustrations in the MAH’s Solari Gallery.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

Expanding by Abi Mustapha

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Prep & Materials We recommend following these steps but adjust accordingly to your class or group.

To begin this project, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the exhibition: In These Uncertain Times. Begin to formulate a discussion that you would like to have with your students. We recommend following this timeline and a classroom presentation at the end.

Step 1: Browse the exhibit page. You can read a blog post highlighting Abi Mustapha, one of the artists featured in the exhibit. Once you feel ready, you can read the reading material together or assign it to your class for a group discussion later. Spend as much time answering our suggested questions and talking about Art & Healing. Once you feel like your students are ready, move to the hands-on activity.

Step 2: Ask your students to grab some paper and a pencil. This will be used for the brainstorming activity.

• Begin with an ice breaker and then brainstorm. Have your students make a list of things they would like to have inside their time capsule and what container they want to use.

Decide on a due date for your class.

• If you (the teacher) are making a time capsule, share it with your students. Remind students that this is an opportunity to reflect on the past year. Tell them what you put in it and why. Did you pick a date to open it? It’s just as important to share your experience as well. Have your students finalize their items and containers. Begin to place items inside.

Is there a minimum of items? You decide.

Step 3: Plan a virtual show-and-tell presentation! Have students share, if they want, what they put inside their time capsule.

Save the date! Plan a future exhibit in your classroom.

Suggested Materials • One container

Some ideas: Mason glass jar, Large plastic Tupperware, Paint can, Cardboard box or shoebox

• Objects selected by the student for the time capsule Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

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Instructions First, we suggest you begin by introducing the exhibit to your students.

You can assign all the reading material before you start this lesson.

After, you can ask the following questions that go along with the reading material.

• Ask: What do you think about the title of this art exhibit, In These Uncertain Times? Why do you think the museum picked this title?

After some discussion, assign the reading material (pages 5-8) if you haven’t already. We have some suggested questions to go along with the reading material. These can be assigned questions that students write an answer to and turn in.

Ask: Why do you think the nurse, Tawnya Gilbert, wanted art in hospitals?

Ask: How do you think the image of George Floyd will inspire hope for change?

Ask: How would you define or explain healing through art?

Ask: Is there something or someone at home that reminds you that things will be okay? What, or who is it?

Ask: If you were going to turn in an art piece to the exhibit, what would you turn in and why?

Ask: Can you think of other ways art can help us feel better?

Now, time to transition to your time capsule. Feel free to use this prompt: “Alright, everyone. You are now going to make your time capsule.

We will work on picking some personal items that have been with us during 2020. Things that tell your story during Covid-19, social distancing, or distance learning. Keep in mind that this project is part of an art show called In These Uncertain Times. This is a community-based art show. Does anyone know what that means? (wait for an answer). A community-based art show means that the people that live in a community get to show their work. In this art show, people that live in Santa Cruz are showing their art made during Covid-19.”

Ask: Have you ever made a time capsule*? Where have you read about time capsules?

A time capsule is a container that has things inside of it from the present. People put things inside to tell their history or story. Things that tell us something about what they went through. What they saw. These things can vary.

Ask: Why do you think people make time capsules? How do you think this time capsule can help us heal and reflect? Why do you think it’s important for us to share our past experiences with others in the future?

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

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Hands-On Activity Time to get started! Remembering the past can be difficult for a lot of us. Looking back at all the things we missed out on and the people we have lost due to this pandemic can bring pain. Be prepared to pause and reflect as needed with your students. Nevertheless, remind them that the power of storytelling will help us get through this together. This lesson focuses on bringing awareness to our personal stories and finding a sense of connectivity.

Start with a small ice-breaker! Either “21 questions” or “put a finger down if….”.

Ex: During shelter-in-place, did you learn how to play an instrument? Did you teach yourself a new skill? Did you learn a new language?

Ex: Put a finger down if you baked cookies this year. Put a finger down if you learned how to ride a bicycle, skateboard, or roller skate. Put a finger down if you got a pet.

Next, time to brainstorm! Have your students make a list of 10 things they did, learned, or enjoyed during covid. From here, ask if there are any objects that go along with their list. Can any of these items be placed inside their capsule?

Students can choose to make an actual time capsule with an opening date, but remind them that they won’t be able to open their time capsule once it’s done. Thus, students should not include items that are used frequently. Otherwise they can just make one to share with the class and not seal.

Collect items and place in time capsule! Once they have their items selected, ask them to make another list of the things that will go inside their capsule. Finally, you could ask them to choose one item in particular and have them write about why they chose it.

Optional Presentation Schedule a virtual show-and-tell presentation. Design it so there is time for healing and connecting.

Questions to keep in mind: • • • •

Should students keep their time capsules until they can open them in person together?

Do you want to plan a classroom exhibit in the future?

Should students make a short video explaining what’s inside their time capsule?

Should students write a letter about their time capsules?

Closing Thank you for participating and for contributing to the exhibit In These Uncertain Times. By sharing your story, you have made a connection to your community in more than one way. Reflecting on the past as a group and listening to each other’s experiences creates a healing space for us to continue to stay strong during tough times. Whether you just collected items or you actually made a time capsule, the goal was to share your Covid story and allow a process of collective healing.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

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In These Uncertain Times Creativity, Community, and Compassion In the summer of 2020, the MAH received over 150 pieces of artwork from our creative community. This show is about the art people made in Santa Cruz during Covid-19. Below are some highlighted art pieces in the show.

Surviving Covid Project by Tawnya Gilbert • Tawnya is a nurse and wanted to bring art to hospitals • She collected art for people to enjoy while they were sick or working at the hospital

Faces of George Floyd by Isaac Klotz • This is a collage of George Floyd’s face with pictures of people at protests • Isaac wanted to honor George Floyd with his art • He used over 1,500 pictures

Expanding by Abi Mustapha • Abi Mustapha is a professional artist who wanted to make art that showed joy and love • This is a black woman smiling, she is full of joy • Under her are flowers growing out of the dark and hard times in the center

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Art & Healing Now, more than ever, it is important to take care of each other and ourselves. We can do this by practicing art and healing. Sofia drew her colorful hand. She needed something to remind her that it will be okay. Jamie used an art journal to talk about her feelings and emotions.

Here are some creative ways to find healing through art: • • • • • • • • • •

Drawing, coloring, painting, collaging, & sculpting Sewing, knitting, & crocheting Writing short stories, letters, notes, & postcards Make an art journal or start a diary Take pictures of nature Make a stuffed animal Decorate your house or a room with your art Collect flowers for a bouquet Start a garden and keep notes in a journal Watch art videos

“Stop! It will be okey” by Sofia Treadwell “Sofia is a 9-year-old artist. At the start of the pandemic, she sat down and made this out of the need to reassure herself that it will all be ok. The piece remains on our mantle as a colorful reminder to all of us to stop worrying and remember that it will all be ok.” - Sofia’s Parent How can art make me feel better?

• Help with feeling down or lonely • Better mood • Explore your feelings with art (selfexpression) • Feel relaxed and calm • Focus better • Practice mindfulness • Make people feel happy with your art 2020 Art Journal by Jamie Keil “My creativity and healing through this shelter in place has been through art journaling. This has been an extremely soothing activity and a way to process my feelings and emotions.”

- Jamie Keil

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Time Capsules Time capsules can help share a moment in history with the future. They hold a special event or important moment. You are going to be making your time capsule. The main idea of this time capsule is Covid-19, shelter in place, and distance learning. If you could put 2020 in a container, what would you include? Follow these steps to stay organized.

Step 1: Pick a container To start, find a container that will work as your time capsule.

What do you want your container to be?

What size? A wooden box, a shoebox, a paint can, or a glass jar are all great options. Try to find something you already have at home.

Step 2: Make a list Now, make a list of things you want to put inside.

What items will you pick to tell your story?

Remember our brainstorm activity? Use that list to find your items.

If you run out of ideas, think about what type of things you use often. Things that you read.

Hobbies. Skills. Interests. Did you learn a new skill, like knitting? (yarn) Did you complete puzzles with your family? More so than usual? (puzzle pieces) Did you learn how to play new board games? Which one was your favorite? (game pieces)

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Continue to Build & Reflect

Step 3: Make your time capsule Gather your items and place them inside your capsule.

• Make two lists of the things in your capsule and put one list inside. One list will help the person opening it know what you put inside. The other list is for you to keep.

• Mark the capsule with the current date and then write an opening date.

Made: January 15th, 2021 Open: January 15th, 2025 • Decorate the outside of your time capsule. Stickers are a great choice!

Step 4: Store it, share it, and wait!

You did it! Now we must wait until the date comes to open our time capsule. In the meantime, is there someone you want to share your time capsule with?

• Send a letter to a person telling them about your time capsule. You can even include a picture!

• Share it with your classmates.

• Where is your capsule going to live? Pick the best spot to store it. A hidden closet in your house? A secret spot only you know. In your room?

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Continue the Learning The Museum of Art & History (MAH) thanks you for using our online resources to continue the learning from home or school. By sharing your stories, you have made a connection to your community. The museum thanks you for being a great educator and we look forward to working together in the future. Know that we are here to support all teachers & students in as many ways as possible. Let us know how! Keep in touch and reach out if you think of another opportunity to enrich our students.

Want to visit the MAH for free? Send us a few pictures of some projects with a sentence explaining what they are to oscar@santacruzmah.org and we will send you a free family pass for your class or your student!

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

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