School Then and Now Unit – Worksheets, Projects & Slides (Grades 1–4)

School Then and Now — a ready-to-teach elementary history unit (Grades 1–4). Step back in time and help your students discover what school was like a hundred years ago. Young historians compare one-room schoolhouses, slate boards, chalk, and strict daily routines with the bright, busy classrooms they know today. Along the way they practice asking questions, reading for detail, and explaining how and why school has changed over time. No background knowledge is required for you or your students.

What's included

This series opens with a clear overview and then moves through three connected units: School 100 Years Ago, Slate, Chalk & Lessons, and Comparing Then & Now. Each unit contains five ready-to-use resources: a step-by-step lesson plan, a differentiated worksheet built around a detailed reading passage and a matching word bank, a hands-on project or primary-source activity, a complete answer key, and a slideshow with picture prompts to spark class discussion. You can teach the units in order for a full story of change over time, or pull a single worksheet when you need a focused, standards-friendly activity. Together they build vocabulary, reading comprehension, and genuine historical thinking.

• Three levels of differentiation — Basic, Standard, and Plus — so every learner can access the same topic, plus an extension project task for early finishers.
• Varied task types, including sorting, labeling, short writing, cut-and-paste, and compare-and-contrast activities.
• A vocabulary word bank in every worksheet to support English language learners and build content-area language.
• Cited, kid-friendly sources and clear historical images that make the past feel real and trustworthy.
• No-prep and classroom-tested — simply print or assign, with no extra materials to gather.
• Instant digital download so you can start teaching today.

Format & use

Every file arrives as a print-ready PDF plus an editable Word or PowerPoint version, so you can adjust reading levels, swap images, or translate a page in minutes. This is an instant digital download with no shipping and nothing to wait for. Use it for guided reading, learning centers, sub plans, homework, morning work, or a full multi-week unit on community, family, and daily life.

Bring the past to life with these School Then & Now teaching resources and worksheets — engaging, print-and-go history activities your grades 1–4 students will talk about long after the lesson ends.