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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 6 of 10

Then & Now

Generations and change over time

What your child practices

Generations in a family, using photos, interviews and timelines, and how technology and traditions change from the past to the present.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 2.4.20.1 · how the relationship between people and the environment has changed

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A generation is people born around the same time: you, your parents, your grandparents.
  2. Older relatives can tell us about the past.
  3. Tools change: oil lamps then, electric lights now.

Example: Which is a tool of the past: an oil lamp or a tablet? Before electric lights, people burned oil for light. Oil lamps are from long ago. Answer: an oil lamp

Then & Now in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 6 of 10 in 2nd grade Social Studies, after Citizens & Leaders and before Our Community Changes.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which came first? A rotary phone or a smartphone?

    • rotary phone
    • smartphone
    • They came together

  2. Question 2

    A family tree shows…

    • a map of a town
    • who is in a family and how they are related
    • what the weather will be

  3. Question 3

    Which person is from an older generation than your parents?

    • your sibling
    • your grandparent
    • your classmate

  4. Question 4

    A timeline shows…

    • events in order of time
    • only colors
    • only weather

  5. Question 5

    Your parent is older than you. Who is younger?

    • you
    • your grandparent
    • your parent

  6. Question 6

    Long ago, how did families keep in touch when far apart?

    • They used text messages
    • They wrote letters
    • They sent video chats

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