Then & NowGrade 1 Social Studies for Kids

How phones, travel and schools changed from long ago to today.

Then & Now helps first graders compare life long ago with today: phones with dials, travel by horse and kids writing on slates. Kids sort old and new things, then build timelines from long ago to today.

  • Grade 1 · Ages 6–7
  • 1 lesson
  • 2 games
  • 4 practice questions
  • About 20 min
  • Learn it
  • The Why? question
  • Then or Now?
  • Then or Now?
  • Then & Now Quiz

Social Studies course · Grade 1

Then & Now · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Long ago, phones had dials, people rode horses and kids wrote on slates. Sort old and new things, then build timelines from long ago to today.

  • Then or Now?

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • First history skills

    Comparing past and present is how kids begin to understand history.

  • Timelines

    Putting things in order builds sequencing skills used in reading and math.

  • Connecting generations

    Learning about the past sparks conversations with grandparents and older relatives.

Inside Then & Now

How the Course Works

A short read-aloud lesson first, then hands-on games and a quiz to lock it in.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Learn it

    A short read-aloud lesson in 5 steps.

  2. Step 2 · Think

    The Why? question

    Why do things change over time?

  3. Step 3 · Sorting game

    Then or Now?

    Sort old and new things, then build three timelines.

  4. Step 4 · Timeline game

    Then or Now?

    Sort old and new things, then build three timelines.

  5. Step 5 · Quiz

    Then & Now Quiz

    4 questions to check what stuck.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Long ago means a time before you were born. Today means now.

Long ago, phones had cords and dials. Today, many phones fit in a pocket!

Long ago, people rode horses or walked. Then came cars. Today, some cars are electric!

Long ago, kids wrote on small boards called slates. Today, many kids use computers too.

Some things change, and some stay the same. Kids still love to play!

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Ask a grandparent or older relative what games, phones or toys they had as a child. Compare them with your child's today.

Talk About It

Why do things change over time?

  • People invent new things
  • We find better ways
  • We need new things

Practice

Grade 1 Social Studies Practice Questions

Real questions from Then & Now. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    Long ago means…

    • A.A time before you were born
    • B.Tomorrow
    • C.Right now
    Show answer

    A time before you were born

  2. Question 2

    Which phone is from today?

    • A.Dial phone
    • B.Paper letter
    • C.Smartphone
    Show answer

    Smartphone

  3. Question 3

    Long ago, many people traveled by…

    • A.Airplane
    • B.Horse
    • C.Rocket
    Show answer

    Horse

The full course has 4 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Then & Now · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Then & Now is a grade 1 social studies course for kids ages 6–7. That is Year 2 social studies in the UK and Year 1 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Long ago, phones had dials, people rode horses and kids wrote on slates. Sort old and new things, then build timelines from long ago to today. Along the way they practice: Then or Now?.

How long does the course take?

About 20 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Then & Now is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

Keep learning

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