Nine daily life activities, lettered A to I, go into a two-circle Venn diagram labeled Long Ago, Today, and Both. 3rd graders compare the early 1900s with now, placing items such as reading by an oil lamp, riding a big yellow school bus, and playing with friends outside. Students write only letters, which keeps the task short. The 3-page sheet supports C3 Framework D2.His.2.3-5, and the answer key puts three letters in each section.
D2.His.2.3-5
“Compare life in specific historical time periods to life today.”
The full diagram, where pairs like hand washing (E) and the electric washing machine (I) show one chore done two ways.
A table lists the nine activities, from washing clothes by hand on a board and learning in a one-room schoolhouse to playing games on a smartphone and using an electric washing machine.
On page 2, students write each letter in the Long Ago circle, the Today circle, or the overlapping Both section. Pictures of an oil lamp, a washboard, a school bus, and a washing machine sit around the circles.
A, E, and G go in Long Ago. C, F, and I go in Today, and B, D, and H go in Both.
Ten-minute check
Letters instead of phrases make this quick. Give students about ten minutes, then ask a few to explain why doing chores (D) belongs in the middle.
Partner talk
Have partners find the pair that shows one chore done two ways: washing clothes by hand on a board (E) and using an electric washing machine (I). Then ask which other letter has a partner across time.
Extension
Students add one item of their own to each section and give it the letter J. A candle for Long Ago or a microwave for Today gets reluctant writers going.
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