Social Studies For Kindergarten Worksheets - Free Printable

This worksheet is called "Then and Now Sort", and it's designed to help students learn about how things have changed over time by sorting items into two categories: "Long Ago" and "Today".

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🔍 Instructions on the Worksheet:

- Cut out the flap page and glue it into your notebook.
- Cut along the dotted lines to make flaps.
- Glue the "long ago" and "today" pictures under the correct flap.

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🧩 Task:

Sort the 10 small images at the bottom into the correct category — Long Ago or Today — based on when they were commonly used or invented.

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✔ Step-by-Step Solution:

Let’s look at each image and decide whether it belongs in Long Ago or Today:

#### Images (from left to right):

1. Pencil
- Used for writing long before modern technology.
- ✔ Long Ago (and still used today, but historically significant)

2. Cell phone (mobile phone)
- Invented recently; not available in the past.
- ✔ Today

3. Book
- Books have existed for centuries, but printed books became common long ago.
- However, this looks like a modern book with a cover. But books as reading material are from long ago.
- Still, since it’s a basic book, it can be associated with both. But the context here likely means Long Ago because it contrasts with digital devices.
- ✔ Long Ago (especially compared to tablets)

4. Child reading at desk
- Schooling has been around for a long time, but desks and formal education systems developed in the past.
- This is more of a historical scene.
- ✔ Long Ago

5. Horse-drawn carriage
- Before cars, people used horses for transportation.
- ✔ Long Ago

6. Fan (electric fan)
- Electric fans were invented in the late 1800s, so not ancient, but not modern either.
- However, in the context of this worksheet, it's considered Today since it requires electricity.
- ✔ Today

7. Car (automobile)
- Cars were invented in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
- But since this is a modern car, it’s Today.
- ✔ Today

8. Lamp (with lampshade)
- Electric lamps are modern. Oil lamps existed long ago, but this appears to be electric.
- ✔ Today

9. Tablet (digital tablet)
- Modern device, invented in the 21st century.
- ✔ Today

10. Quill pen and inkwell
- Used in ancient times before pens and pencils.
- ✔ Long Ago

11. Microscope
- Invented in the 17th century, but widely used in modern science.
- But since it’s a scientific tool that didn’t exist in pre-industrial times, and the picture shows a modern one, it’s more associated with Today.
- ✔ Today

12. Notebook with pencil
- Notebooks and pencils are modern tools.
- ✔ Today

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📊 Final Sorting:

#### ✔ Long Ago:
- Pencil
- Book
- Child reading at desk
- Horse-drawn carriage
- Quill pen and inkwell

#### ✔ Today:
- Cell phone
- Fan
- Car
- Lamp
- Tablet
- Microscope
- Notebook with pencil

Wait! That’s 12 images, but only 10 are shown. Let’s recount:

Looking closely at the image:
There are two rows of 5 boxes, so 10 total items.

Let’s list them again correctly:

1. Pencil
2. Cell phone
3. Book
4. Child reading at desk
5. Horse-drawn carriage
6. Fan
7. Car
8. Lamp
9. Tablet
10. Quill pen and inkwell

Wait — there’s no microscope or notebook with pencil in the second row? Let's double-check.

Actually, looking at the original layout:

- Row 1: Pencil, Cell phone, Book, Child reading, Horse-drawn carriage
- Row 2: Car, Lamp, Tablet, Quill pen, Inkwell (but wait — it’s actually a microscope and a notebook with pencil?)

No — let’s recheck:

From the image description (based on standard versions of this worksheet):

The bottom row includes:
- Car
- Lamp
- Tablet
- Quill pen and inkwell
- Microscope

And the first row:
- Pencil
- Cell phone
- Book
- Child reading
- Horse-drawn carriage

So the 10 items are:

1. Pencil
2. Cell phone
3. Book
4. Child reading at desk
5. Horse-drawn carriage
6. Car
7. Lamp
8. Tablet
9. Quill pen and inkwell
10. Microscope

Now we sort these:

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✔ Correct Sorting:

#### Long Ago:
- Pencil ✔ (used historically)
- Book ✔ (printed books from long ago)
- Child reading at desk ✔ (schooling tradition)
- Horse-drawn carriage ✔ (pre-auto transport)
- Quill pen and inkwell ✔ (writing tools before pens)

> These are all items that were used before modern times.

#### Today:
- Cell phone ✔ (modern invention)
- Car ✔ (modern vehicle)
- Lamp ✔ (electric lighting)
- Tablet ✔ (digital device)
- Microscope ✔ (modern scientific tool, though early versions existed, but this is a modern one)

> These are modern inventions or technologies.

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✔ Final Answer:

#### Long Ago:
- Pencil
- Book
- Child reading at desk
- Horse-drawn carriage
- Quill pen and inkwell

#### Today:
- Cell phone
- Car
- Lamp
- Tablet
- Microscope

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🎯 Explanation:

This activity teaches historical comparison — understanding how tools, transportation, and communication have evolved. Students learn that some things (like pencils) have stayed similar, while others (like phones and tablets) are new.

Students should cut out each item, glue it under the correct flap ("Long Ago" or "Today"), and explain why they chose each one.

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✔ Tip for Teachers/Parents: Encourage discussion: “Why do you think the quill pen was used long ago?” or “How is a cell phone different from a book?”

This builds critical thinking and historical awareness in young learners.