Three kinds of time
Time can be split into three parts.
- The past is what already happened: yesterday, last year, when your grandparents were children.
- The present is what is happening now: today, this minute.
- The future is what hasn’t happened yet: tomorrow, next summer, when you grow up.
| Past | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday | today | tomorrow |
| last week | this week | next week |
| when I was a baby | now | when I’m a grown-up |
| long ago | right now | someday |
Words that tell about time
- Past: yesterday, before, long ago, once upon a time, last year, was, played, jumped
- Present: now, today, at the moment, is, play, am jumping
- Future: tomorrow, later, next, someday, soon, will play
Yesterday I played at the park. Today I am reading. Tomorrow I will visit Grandma.
Learning about the past
History is the story of what happened in the past. We can learn about the past by:
- asking older people, like grandparents, about when they were young
- looking at old photos
- reading books about long ago
- visiting museums
- looking at artifacts: objects people made or used long ago, like old tools, toys or dishes
Then and now
Many things have changed over time. Things change when they become different.
| Long ago | Today |
|---|---|
| people wrote letters by hand and mailed them | people send texts and emails |
| people read by candlelight or oil lamps | we use electric lights |
| people travelled by horse, wagon or canoe | we drive cars, ride buses and fly in airplanes |
| clothes were washed by hand on a washboard | we use washing machines |
| children played with wooden toys and hoops | children play with many kinds of toys, including video games |
| one-room schoolhouses had children of all ages together | schools have many classrooms |
Some things stay the same! Children long ago and today both love to play, have families, go to school and celebrate holidays.
Your own past, present and future
You have a history too!
- Past: You were a baby. You learned to walk and talk. You started school.
- Present: You are the age you are now. You like certain foods, games and friends.
- Future: You will grow taller, learn new things and maybe have a job you love.
The future
We can’t know the future for sure, but we can make plans and guess what might happen. We can also help make the future better by taking care of the Earth, being kind and learning new things.
Try it yourself
- Sort these into past, present or future: I will go to camp. I ate breakfast. I am writing.
- Ask a grandparent or older friend: "What was school like when you were my age?"
- Make a "Then and Now" poster showing toys, phones or transportation long ago and today.
- Draw three pictures of yourself: as a baby (past), now (present) and grown up (future).
- Bring in an old object from home, an artifact, and tell the class what it was used for.
Tip for families
Look through old family photos together. Talk about what has changed and what has stayed the same.
Quick recap
- The past already happened, the present is now, and the future hasn’t happened yet.
- History is the story of the past.
- We learn about the past from people, photos, books, museums and artifacts.
- Many things change over time, but some stay the same.
- You have your own past, present and future.