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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 6 of 14

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.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 2.6a; 2.6b · what has changed and what has stayed the same in communities, from photos and other evidence

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 New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 6 of 14 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: 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

    Past and present both describe time. “Present” means…

    • long ago
    • never
    • now

  2. Question 2

    How can you learn what life was like when your grandparents were young?

    • Ask a pet
    • Ask them questions
    • Guess only

  3. Question 3

    A timeline of your life could start with…

    • next year
    • the day you were born
    • your next birthday party

  4. Question 4

    Which person is from an older generation than your parents?

    • your classmate
    • your grandparent
    • your sibling

  5. Question 5

    A timeline shows…

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

  6. Question 6

    A family tree shows…

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

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