Then & Now Activities- Past and Present

Help young learners explore how life has changed over time with these engaging, hands-on past and present social studies activities for Kindergarten–2nd grade.

This resource introduces students to the concept of past vs. present by comparing daily life long ago to life today. Through kid-friendly readings, discussion, movement, and interactive cut-and-paste activities, students will build a foundational understanding of how people lived, traveled, and worked in different time periods.

Students will explore what life was like 200 years ago, 100 years ago, 50 years ago, and today, while also learning how transportation has changed over time—from walking and animal travel to wagons, ships, trains, cars, and airplanes. These activities make history meaningful, interactive, and easy to understand for young learners.

What’s Included:

Active Game:

• Kid-friendly, teacher led reading: A Kid’s Life: Past & Present
• Interactive Then & Now movement game
• Printable Yes, I’d Like That / No, Thank You signs

Transportation Over Time Worksheet:

• Kid-friendly, teacher-led reading: Transportation Over Time
• Cut-and-paste transportation timeline activity
• Timeline picture pieces for sorting and sequencing

Skills & Concepts Covered:

• Comparing the past and present
• Understanding how daily life changes over time
• Identifying chronological order
• Learning about historical transportation
• Listening comprehension and discussion
• Supporting ideas with simple reasoning

Standards Alignment

California Social Studies Standards (K–2):

• K.4.1 – Students compare and contrast locations of people, places, and environments and describe their characteristics
• 1.4.1 – Understand how families lived in the past and how they live today
• 1.4.2 – Compare everyday life in different times and places
• 2.1.1 – Describe changes in community life over time (including transportation and daily life)
• 2.1.2 – Identify how people and events have shaped the present

C3 Framework Indicators (K–2):

• D2.His.1.K-2 – Create a chronological sequence of multiple events
• D2.His.2.K-2 – Compare life in the past to life today
• D2.His.3.K-2 – Generate questions about individuals and groups who have shaped the past
• D2.Geo.1.K-2 – Use maps and representations to describe locations and movement (transportation connections)

Perfect For:

• Social studies lessons
• Homeschool curriculum
• Past and present units
• Transportation studies
• Hands-on and discussion-based learning

*This activity is part of the My World, My Story Extension Pack. It's NOT part of the full-year My World, My Story course here but can be added on as a supplement.