Long Ago
and Today!
Introduction
Have
you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up one day during a different
time in history? Here’s your chance! Step into my imaginary time
machine, close your eyes, touch your nose, wiggle your toes, and POOF! You
have been transported back a few hundred years into Colonial America. Your
journey awaits you!!!
Task
Your will work in partners to answer questions about what it was like to live
long ago.
You and your partner will need to research life long ago. You will be researching clothing, family life,
homes, school,
transportation, and games. You and your partner will discuss what you
learned about life long ago.
Process
To answer the questions, follow the links below.
Clothing
The pioneers could not go to the store when they needed new clothes. Use the links below to find out how the pioneers got their clothes.
http://www.museumsofwv.org/kids/pioneers_clothing.html
http://www.city.markham.on.ca/mpl/history/pioneerkids_clothing.htm
Watch a video with two pioneer children describing their clothing.
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002611F/video/clothing.mpg
Questions:
What tools were used to make cloth for clothing?
Where does wool come from?
Daily Life
To get the things they needed, pioneers had to trade the things that they had made or grown. Watch this slide show about a farmer getting ready to trade his goods for the things his family needs.
http://www.history.org/kids/visitUs/colonialPeople/farmer.cfm?page=1
Questions:
Name three things that a family might produce for trade in a nearby town.
What are some things that a pioneer family might need to purchase after trading the goods that were made or grown?
Homes
Pioneers had to make homes from resources that were close at hand. Families living near forests made use of trees and built log homes. Click the link below to see images of several different types of log homes.
http://www.logcabinvillage.org/gallery.htm
Families living on the prairies had to make use of the plants and soil to build their houses since trees were not available. These houses were called sod houses or “soddies”. Click on the links below to see photos of sod houses.
Photo 1
http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndirs/exhibitions/pioneer/camera/78.htm
Photo 2
http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndirs/exhibitions/pioneer/camera/46.htm
Click this link to take a short interactive quiz about sod houses.
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/settlement/kids/021013-1603-e.html
Try your hand at building a sod house.
http://americanhistory2.si.edu/ourstoryinhistory/tryonline/buildsodhouse.html
Questions:
What resources are needed to be available for building log houses?
How are sod bricks held together in a sod house?
Schools
Long ago schools had only one room and one teacher. Just like today, the children had to follow rules.
Questions:
What did builders use to build schools long ago?
List one thing children used to write with in school.
Transportation
Long ago people did not have cars to drive.
Questions:
What were covered wagons made of?
Games
If children long ago wanted a toy, they would have to make it themselves. People would very rarely be able to go to a store to by a toy. They also played many games. Some of the games children played long ago were very similar to games we play today, but they had different names.
http://www.prairie.district96.k12.il.us/Museum/games.html
Questions:
List 3 games children long ago played.
Name one game that children used to play long ago that is like a game we still play today. What did children call the game long ago and what do we call it now?
Conclusion
Welcome back to the present! I hope you enjoyed your journey into the past. Think about what you have learned during your exploration. Do you think you would be happy living long ago? What would you miss the most about the present? What do wish could be more like life long ago in the world today?
Now enjoy these fun games at:
http://www.history.org/kids/games/