Then and now

How life has changed within living memory: toys, clothes, transport and school

Name:

Date:

Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Which of these toys is from a long time ago? A) A tablet computer B) A wooden spinning top C) A games console D) A robot dog
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2
True or false? Mobile phones have been around for hundreds of years. A) True B) False
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3
Which of these did children NOT have a long time ago? A) Books B) Wooden toys C) Tablet computers D) Skipping ropes
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4
Fill in the blank: The way things were a long time ago is called the ___.
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5
Match each thing to whether it is old or new. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Wooden rocking horse, Smart watch, Wax candle, Tablet computer Right: Old, New, Old, New
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6
How did most children travel to school 100 years ago? A) By car B) By aeroplane C) On foot or by bus D) On a scooter
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7
True or false? Looking at old photos can help us learn about the past. A) True B) False
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8
Put these in order from oldest to newest. Put these in order: Smart phone, Wooden spinning top, Black-and-white television
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9
Which of these would your great-grandparents most likely have used when they were little? A) A laptop B) A wax candle for light C) An electric car D) Headphones
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Answer key

Then and now · for parents and teachers

1
A wooden spinning top
A wooden spinning top is a very old toy. Children played with them long before computers were invented.
2
False
False. Mobile phones are quite new. Your grandparents did not have them as children.
3
Tablet computers
Tablet computers are new. Long ago, children played with toys like skipping ropes and read paper books.
4
past
The past is the time that came before now. Today is the present.
5
Wooden rocking horse → Old; Smart watch → New; Wax candle → Old; Tablet computer → New
Things made of wood or wax tend to be old. Things with screens and batteries are usually new.
6
On foot or by bus
A long time ago, very few people had cars. Most children walked to school or took the bus.
7
True
True. Old photos are a great way to see how clothes, toys and houses used to look.
8
Wooden spinning top, Black-and-white television, Smart phone
Wooden toys came first, then black-and-white TVs, and smart phones are the newest of the three.
9
A wax candle for light
Long ago, many homes did not have electric lights. People used wax candles or oil lamps for light.