Hello From 2021!

Our OG Crafters Kimmy and Suzee are working on a time capsule project for school, and this activity requires lots of imagination, fun, and excitement because after they complete their capsules, they’re going to find it in the future and enjoy a sweet trip back to the past!

Never heard of a time capsule? A time capsule is a jar, box, or container that stores items like photos, letters, or other objects that you love. Then, it’s hidden away for your future self to find at a later date. And when you open it, you’ll be able to see if some of your favorite items and passions have changed or stayed the same along the way!

Follow along with Kimmy and Suzee to create your own time capsule with our activity sheet and step-by-step guide below. Then use their ideas to gain extra inspiration on what to put inside!

 

Art Supplies Needed:

 

  • An empty container: shoebox, jar, plastic bin, or other storage capsule
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape
  • Sheets of paper or construction paper
  • Paint, stickers, markers… anything you want to use to decorate!

 

*Safety first: this DIY craft requires scissors to cut out the paper. Please get help from an adult to make sure you complete this activity safely.

 

Let’s Choose Containers

First things first. You need to determine which container you’ll be using to hold your items. For Kimmy, she’s decided to add physical items to her time capsule, so she’ll be using a shoebox to keep everything tidy.

Suzee has chosen to go with a Mason jar, since she’ll be writing down her memories, goals, and favorite items on slips of paper to read in the future. 

Other storage containers work great for this activity too, like a plastic bin to store larger items, a wooden/metal box if you’re thinking of burying your capsule outdoors, or other canning jars for easier storage.

 

Decorate Your Time Capsule!

Gather your art supplies and start beautifying your container. Each art supply works well with any type of container above, so you can be as creative as you like — there are no limits to your imagination! 

Kimmy and Suzee are starting with titles to put on their containers:

 

Steps

  1. Cut out a piece of paper or construction paper (with adult supervision) to label your time capsule. Kimmy is writing “Time Capsule Celebration!” directly on her shoebox. 

  2. Next, use the glue/tape to stick the label in the center. Suzee’s jar will read: “Suzee’s Time Capsule!”

  3. Optional: Add stickers and draw fun designs with paint and colored markers to decorate your containers even more!

  4. When you’ve finished decorating, pick a date to open your time capsule (it should be far away in the future). Kimmy and Suzee are choosing to open theirs together in exactly 5 years from now! Which special day will you pick?

 

 

Into the Time Capsule!

Now is the fun part! It’s time to choose which items will go into your containers. Here are a few ideas that you can use as inspiration:

For her celebration theme, Kimmy is collecting:

  • photos and cards from her past birthdays
  • a keepsake from her first sporting event
  • her favorite book
  • homemade art projects

Suzee is making a more personalized jar, and she’s including:

  • a written note to her future self
  • what she loves the most about herself
  • a list of goals that she wants to achieve by the time she opens her jar
  • her favorites list of movies, music, hobbies, and school subjects

 

The Perfect Hiding Spot

Keep your time capsule safe by hiding it in the perfect place. It can be somewhere in your room, up in the attic, tucked away in the garage, or anywhere inside your house. You can also get help from your parents to find a great spot where no one else will find it. 

Kimmy is going to put her time capsule in the back of her bedroom closet, while Suzee will hide it inside the top drawer of her dresser. Neat!

*Fun Tip: Keep a reminder of where your time capsule is hiding by creating a map to mark the spot!

Once the time has passed and the big day arrives, you’ll open up your time capsule and be transported back to the past! You’ll remember all the great memories, dreams, and passions you had when you were younger – how exciting!

Let’s Go Pumpkin Painting!

This year, our OG Crafters are getting ready for Halloween with a homemade pumpkin painting activity! It’s a fun twist on pumpkin carving traditions, and it will show everyone in the neighborhood how much you HEART the “spooky” season. All you need are a couple of art supplies and you’re ready to create your pumpkin.

Follow our 5-step guide to add a colorful, unique decoration to your home just in time to trick or treat!

SUPPLIES

  • Pumpkin
  • OG Heart Stencil
  • Marker
  • Tape
  • Scissors or Crafting Knife (with adult supervision)
  • Paint
  • Paintbrush

*Safety first: this colorful craft requires scissors and paint. Please get help from an adult to make sure you complete this craft safely.


STEPS

  1. Print out our OG Heart Stencil here.
  2. With adult supervision, carefully cut out the heart (both inside and outside) with a pair of scissors or a crafting knife.
  3. Next, tape the heart to the pumpkin and use a marker to create an outline.
  4. Choose your favorite color and paint inside the lines of the heart.
  5. (Optional) Choose more colors to add to your heart, and write fun messages for extra pop!
Show us your colorful pumpkin creations on social media by tagging @ogdolls. Happy Halloween!

Awesome Academy: All in the Family!

 

Welcome to another day at Awesome Academy! Today, we’re going to explore family heritage with fun questions that will help you learn more about your family members and why it’s important to discover your background.

By asking different questions, you’ll discover how much the world has changed, hear interesting stories that your mom, dad, or grandparents have experienced, and feel much closer to everyone around you.

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what we’re talking about when we say family heritage.

 

 

 

What Does Family Heritage Mean?

Family heritage is the background that you and your family come from. And it’s not just your parents or grandparents, but your great-great-great grandparents (who are known as your ancestors) too. They can all be from different countries and have different nationalities, like Australian, Egyptian, Norwegian, and many others.

When learning about your heritage, you can tell you which parts of the world your ancestors lived in, if they celebrated different holidays or traditions, and it can help you discover new information about yourself that you didn’t already know.

 

How Can I Learn About My Family History?

One of the best ways to understand more about your history is to ask your family members the right questions, which can lead to new knowledge, valuable lessons, and even playful activities.

Our friend Avia learned that her ancestors were from Sofia, Bulgaria. And she even tried a traditional snack called Lyutenitsa that she made with her grandmother. It’s a mix of tomatoes and peppers that can be spread on toast or crackers and was a very popular food choice with children!

To help you get started, we prepared a printable worksheet of questions along with other fun options from the categories below. The best part about these questions is that you can ask them anywhere: at the dinner table, family gatherings, or even on a picnic.

Family Questions

1. Where did you grow up?

2. Did you share a room with your siblings?

3. What is the most important lesson your parents taught you?

 

Generational Questions

1. Tell me about some of your favorite songs (can also be books, movies, and television shows).

2. Do you remember any trends from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?

3. How is the world different today than it was when you were younger?

 

School Questions

1. Did you have a lot of homework when you were younger?

2. Did you wear a uniform?

3. What school activities or sports did you participate in?

 

Career Questions

1. How did you choose your career?

2. What did you do with your first paycheck?

3. If you could have had any other job, what would it have been?

 

Hobbies Questions

1. What was your favorite toy and why?

2. What was your favorite thing to do for fun?

3. What is one activity that you always had trouble doing?

 

Personal Questions

1. What world events had the most impact on you when you were a child?

2. What’s your recipe for creativity?

3. What are you most proud of in your life?

 

Every activity deserves a round of entertainment! We added a few silly questions to help you and your family explore fun possibilities. And we think some of their answers might surprise you.

 

Silly Questions

1. If you could have one free hour in the day, what would you do with it?

2. If you could choose any super power, what would it be and why?

3. Would you rather be able to breathe under water or fly?

4. Would you choose to go to the past and meet your ancestors or travel to the future to meet your great-great grandchildren?

 

There goes the bell! We hope you enjoyed today’s lesson, and that you’ve learned a lot more about family heritage. We’ll be back with more fun learning at Awesome Academy very soon!