Comparing Life in the Past and Present

Which of these was NOT a way people communicated long ago?

• Writing letters

• Sending telegrams

• Using text messages

• Speaking face to face

How did children usually get to school 100 years ago?

• By school bus

• By walking or horse-drawn wagon

• By subway

• By car

What did people use to keep food cold before electricity was common?

• Electric refrigerator

• Ice boxes

• Microwave

• Freezer

Which game did children NOT play 100 years ago?

• Jump rope

• Hide and seek

• Video games

• Marbles

How did people wash clothes long ago?

• Using a washing machine

• Using a washboard and bucket

• Using a dishwasher

• Using a dryer

Why do you think people used candles and oil lamps for light before electricity?

• Because they liked the smell

• Because electricity was not available

• Because they were cheaper than light bulbs

• Because they were brighter than flashlights

Imagine you lived 150 years ago and needed to travel to another town. Which way would you most likely travel, and why?

• By airplane, because it is fast

• By horse and wagon, because cars and planes did not exist

• By car, because roads were good

• By motorcycle, because it is fun

Which of these jobs was common long ago but is rare today? Explain why.

• Computer programmer

• Ice delivery person

• Web designer

• Flight attendant

If you wanted to clean your home 100 years ago, which tools would you use and why?

• Vacuum cleaners, because they are easy to use

• Robot vacuums, because they work by themselves

• Brooms and mops, because electric cleaners were not common

• Electric sweepers, because they are fast

Think about how people shopped for food long ago. How is it different from how we shop today? Give one example.

• People used online grocery stores in the past

• People shopped at small local markets and farms, while today we often use supermarkets or online stores

• People always used drive-through restaurants

• People only bought food from large supermarkets