Residents at Hednesford residential home Littleton Lodge watched through the window with delight as local children buried a time capsule in their gardens.
The metal cylinder, which is now concealed under the ground outside the home on Bishop Street, was filled with drawings and writing from some of the youngest pupils at Poppyfields Primary Academy.
Sixty children from Reception and Year 1 stuffed the capsule full with their memories and experiences of living through the pandemic. They hope that future generations will learn what it was like to be a young child during Covid when they dig it up in 50 years’ time.
A plaque, to be sited near to where the capsule is buried, will say it is not to be opened until 2071. By then, the children who contributed to the project will be in their mid-50s.
Single-form entry school Poppyfields first opened to pupils in 2019 and is directly opposite Littleton Lodge care home, which launched 18 months later. Staff at both settings have been working hard to build a relationship between the children and the residents, despite them not yet being able to meet face-to-face.
Headteacher Becky Scordis said: “We discussed with the children the impact Covid has had upon people and families.
“We talked about the things that had changed for them, for example everyone around them wearing masks, lots of extra handwashing going on and no birthday parties to go to.
“The children designed their own face masks, posters and information about hand washing to go into the capsule.
“This important project gave the children the opportunity to express their thoughts about the pandemic and be able to understand how what they were experiencing had never happened before and that they were a huge part of history.
“They also enjoyed the opportunity to share their ideas and work with the residents of the care home.”
Rachel Ellis, home manager, Littleton Lodge, which is operated by Ideal Carehomes, said: “The residents at Littleton Lodge were very interested to see all of the children’s hard work.
“They watched with excitement through the window as the children then dug a hole and buried the capsule in our garden.
“The residents really value the relationship they are building with the children from Poppyfields Primary Academy.
“We will continue to work together with the school to keep up this very important and rewarding intergenerational contact.”