The local history museum has dropped its exhibit labels, and 3rd graders help the curator sort 15 of them into Long Ago, Today, and Both. Items range from churning butter and a telegraph machine to streaming movies and e-books, with writing letters and cooking meals in the Both column. Two curator questions follow. The 3-page sheet lines up with C3 Framework D2.His.2.3-5, and the answer key gives the full sort plus sample answers.
D2.His.2.3-5
“Compare life in specific historical time periods to life today.”
The three-column sort, especially the Both column, where going to school and cooking meals show what has stayed the same.
A table holds 15 labels, including horse-drawn wagon, video calls, washing clothes by hand, playing board games, steam train, and touchscreen tablet.
Students write each label into one of three exhibit room columns. The directions warn that some things existed in both time periods, and four labels belong there.
Question 1 asks which item was hardest to place and why. Question 2 asks for one new item of their own for Long Ago, Today, and Both.
Five labels go in Long Ago, six in Today, and four in Both, with example additions such as oil lamps, smartwatches, and reading books.
Pairs sort
Cut the label table into cards and let pairs argue before they write. Writing letters is the one students fight over, since people still send them.
Before you start
Many students fill only two columns on a first try. Point out the Both room and ask for one example before anyone writes.
Fast finishers
Question 2 has no single answer. Students who finish early can add three items to each column and swap them with a partner to check.
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