Then and Now

These pictures are called "rollovers." Put your cursor on the picture and see what happens. Then answer the questions.

Homes

List 3 ways these houses are different. How are they the same?

 

What room is this? How is this room the same or different as today?

Can we find the same things in today's bedrooms? List the things that are the same as today.

This is an "outhouse." What was it used for? How is it different than today?

Family Life

Look closely at the "then" picture. How many chores do you see? List them. Why are family chores easier today? What are some chores that are still the same?

Transportation

Does this look like a car? It is very old! How is this car different than the cars today? How is it the same?

 

How do you think this fire wagon moved? Do you think it was easy to put out fires? Why?

This was the very first airplane! It was built by the Wright Brothers in 1903. Can you figure out how long ago that was? What do you have to do to find the answer?

Why do you think ships today are faster than ships from long ago?

Communication

Did you ever see a telephone like this? What part do you speak into? What do you think the "crank" was for? How are telephones now different than telephones then?

What is this? How is this and today's computer similar? List 2 ways.

Cameras are very different today. List 3 ways they are different.

Play

Do you think children from long ago had time to play games? Why?

When your parents were little, there were no cds. They had records. How do you think records were played?

This is very different than what we have today. Can you list the ways it is the same? What do you think it sounded like?

Clothing

Who wore this kind of hat? What is it called? Do people today wear this kind of hat?

Make up your own question about how women dressed then and now.

Work

How is farming still the same? List 3 ways.

This man is a "blacksmith." What kind of work did he do? What do "blacksmiths" of today do? Are they still called blacksmiths?

This is a very old iron. How do you think it got hot?

School

How can you tell this school is from long ago?

What kind of things did teachers need long ago? Do teachers still need those things? What do you see in the picture that is in your classroom?

• If you have finished your work and you would like to see more pictures from "then," click here to go to Pioneer Camera.
• Try this site to see how toys have changed over time. Click here now.
• Click here see pictures from the Northern Great Plains Collection from American Memory.
• Try this puzzle to see how people farmed in the past.

Please note that all pictures used are from the Google Image Search. This activity is being used for educational purposes in school.

Updated 11/04