Then and Now History Unit Stage 1
Duration: 10 weeks
Theme and unit description
The theme is centred on students exploration of changes between the past
and present. Students will look at a variety of aspects of daily lives how they
were then, in the past, and now, in the present. Students will begin
processes of historical inquiry, such as looking at how things have changed,
why they changed and how we now they have changed.
Literacy Connections
Students will read texts as a class to make comparisons on varying daily
lives of people from different places. These texts align with Midtowns
English program, such as exploring guided reading, unfamiliar texts and
letter-sound correspondence (A is for Aunty).
Students will also compose letters and compare the changing formats of
communication over time.
Focus questions
- How has daily life changed over the course of time?
- How has technology changed over the course of time and how has this
impacted our daily life?
- How are families different now from how they were in the past?
Numeracy Connections
Students will observe the change in the school garden over time and will
record this using photographs and a timeline. The class will then combine
information and, with teacher support, make a graph and report on the
garden to be posted to the school blog.
Outcomes
HT1-1: communicates an understanding of
change and continuity in family life using
appropriate historical terms
HT1-3: describes the effects of changing
technology on peoples lives over time
HT1-4: uses skills of historical inquiry and
communication
Skills
Comprehension: chronology, terms and
concepts
discuss and recount stories of family and
local history
distinguish between the past, present and
future
Use of sources
identify and compare features of objects
from the past and present
Research
pose questions about the past using
sources provided
Explanation and communication
use a range of communication forms
(oral, graphic, written, role-play) and
digital technologies
Concepts
Continuity and Change
-What aspects of daily/family life that have
changed or stayed the same over time
Cause and Effect
-What has caused this change and what impact
has it had on daily life
Perspectives
-Looking at and acknowledging the different
viewpoints people have had throughout the past
and present.
Empathetic Understanding
-Developing skills in empathy through analysis
and understand how other lived in the past.
Significance
-Understanding the importance of history and the
events that have led to our world today.