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Then and Now: A Child's Life

Chart comparing life in pioneer days
to now.
                                                  Line of Inquiry:
Collecting water from the "well"


  • inventions have been made that impact the things we do
  • changes in daily life.

We watched a short video depicting the life of a child during pioneer times.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkZyejHU5Aw
After the video, the children made a chart comparing their lives with that of a pioneer child. They found that many activities are the same: washing up, cooking, but the manner in which we do them has changed. We listed what machines have been invented that have changed how we do things compared to the pioneer times. The children came to the conclusion that life is easier now because there are so many things to help us: cars, electricity, stores, washing machines.

Esme noted that she helps her mom do laundry but she puts it in a machine and pushes buttons. We decided to wash clothes as if we were in the pioneer days. The children had to gather the clothes, get the water, wash the clothes and hang them to dry. Esme commented that doing laundry with her mom is much easier. Byron added that "it's better to be a kid now because we don't have all those chores."


Clothes hanging to dry

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