Social Studies: Comparing Life Long Ago and Today
How daily life, tools, and communities have changed over time
Social Studies: Comparing Life Long Ago and Today
How daily life, tools, and communities have changed over time
Social Studies - Grade 2-3
- 1
Long ago, many families cooked food over a wood stove or fireplace. Today, many families use an electric or gas stove. Write one way cooking long ago was different from cooking today.
Think about the tools people used to heat food.
Cooking long ago was different because many people had to build a fire and keep it burning, while many people today can turn on a stove quickly. - 2
Circle the item that people long ago were more likely to use for transportation: horse and wagon, airplane, subway train. Explain your choice.
People long ago were more likely to use a horse and wagon because cars, airplanes, and subway trains were not common or were not invented yet in many places. - 3
Today, many people send messages by text, email, or phone. Long ago, people often wrote letters. Tell one advantage of sending a message today.
Think about how long it takes a letter to travel.
One advantage of sending a message today is that it can reach another person very quickly. - 4
Look at a classroom long ago and a classroom today. Name one thing that might be the same in both classrooms.
One thing that might be the same is that students in both classrooms learn from a teacher. - 5
Long ago, some children walked to a one-room schoolhouse. Today, many children ride a bus or car to school. Write one way going to school has changed.
Think about transportation.
Going to school has changed because many students today travel by bus or car, while some children long ago walked a long way to school. - 6
Choose whether this sentence describes life long ago or life today: Many homes have refrigerators to keep food cold. Explain your answer.
This sentence describes life today because many modern homes use refrigerators, while people long ago often used iceboxes, cellars, or other ways to keep food cool. - 7
Long ago, families often made some of their own clothing or repaired clothes by hand. Today, many people buy clothing in stores or online. What is one difference between clothing long ago and today?
Think about where clothes came from.
One difference is that people long ago often had fewer clothes and repaired them more, while many people today can buy new clothes more easily. - 8
Study the picture of two homes, one from long ago and one from today. Write two differences you notice.
Two possible differences are that the home long ago may have a fireplace for heat and the home today may have electric lights and indoor plumbing. - 9
Long ago, many people got water from a well, pump, or nearby stream. Today, many homes have faucets. Why is getting water often easier today?
Think about how far someone might have to walk to get water.
Getting water is often easier today because many people can turn on a faucet instead of carrying water from a well, pump, or stream. - 10
Write one chore that children long ago might have done and one chore children today might do.
A child long ago might have carried firewood or fed farm animals. A child today might take out the trash, set the table, or clean a room. - 11
Look at the picture of lighting long ago and lighting today. Explain how lighting has changed.
Think about what people used before electricity was common.
Lighting has changed because people long ago often used candles or oil lamps, while many people today use electric lights. - 12
Long ago, news often traveled by newspapers, letters, or word of mouth. Today, news can travel by television, radio, websites, and apps. What is one way news is different today?
News is different today because people can often learn about events almost immediately through television, websites, or apps. - 13
Some games from long ago, such as tag, jump rope, marbles, and board games, are still played today. What does this show about life long ago and today?
Think about activities that children still enjoy.
This shows that some parts of life stay the same because children long ago and children today both like to play games and have fun. - 14
Sort these items into two groups: long ago or today. Items: candle, smartphone, horse and wagon, computer, wood stove, electric refrigerator.
Think about which items need modern electricity or technology.
The long ago group includes candle, horse and wagon, and wood stove. The today group includes smartphone, computer, and electric refrigerator. - 15
Imagine you could interview a grandparent or older adult about life when they were young. Write two questions you could ask to learn how life was different from today.
Two good questions could be, 'How did you get to school when you were young?' and 'What games or chores did you do as a child?' These questions help compare life in the past with life today.