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1st grade · Social Studies · Unit 2 of 13

School & Travel Long Ago

Then and now

What your child practices

How schools and communities worked in the past, and how people traveled by wagon, stagecoach, sailing ship and steam train before cars and airplanes.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 1.7c; 1.8a · how school, travel and family life long ago compare with today, from old photos and objects

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Long ago, there were no cars or fridges.
  2. People traveled in wagons and on sailing ships.
  3. Grandparents can tell us about long ago.

Example: Long ago, how did people cross oceans? There were no planes. Wind pushed big ships. Answer: on sailing ships

School & Travel Long Ago in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 2 of 13 in 1st grade Social Studies, after Changes in My Life and before My Community.

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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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 is a way to travel today?

    • a car
    • a covered wagon
    • a stagecoach
    • a horse and buggy

  2. Question 2

    Long ago, many children helped at home by…

    • doing farm chores
    • ordering food online
    • using a dishwasher
    • playing video games

  3. Question 3

    Which is faster?

    • a sailboat
    • a horse
    • an airplane
    • walking

  4. Question 4

    Long ago, people lit their homes with…

    • neon signs
    • light bulbs
    • candles and oil lamps
    • phone lights

  5. Question 5

    What is the same about school long ago and today?

    • There are no books
    • There is one room
    • Children learn to read
    • Kids use slates

  6. Question 6

    Long ago, a mail carrier on horseback rode for the…

    • Pony Express
    • school bus
    • fire truck
    • Space Station

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