Today & the Past - Life Long Ago - Now & Then Sort Kindergarten ... - Free Printable

Let’s sort each item into either “Today” or “The Past” based on whether it’s commonly used now or was more common in the past.

Step 1: Look at each picture one by one.

- Pants (brown shorts) → People still wear these today → Today
- Old cell phone (flip phone) → Not really used anymore, smartphones are common now → The Past
- Computer monitor (old bulky one) → We use flat screens now → The Past
- Jeans → Still worn every day → Today
- Typewriter → Replaced by computers → The Past
- Beach ball → Still used for fun at beaches/pools → Today
- Squirrel → Animals don’t change with time — but this is tricky! Since squirrels exist both today and in the past, we might skip it… BUT looking at the worksheet, it’s probably meant to be sorted. Wait — actually, animals aren’t “items from today or the past” in the same way. Let’s check the other items first.

Wait — let’s look again. The squirrel is an animal. Maybe it’s a trick? But since the worksheet says “sort items,” and animals live in both times, perhaps it doesn’t belong? Hmm. Actually, looking at the layout, there are 12 pictures and two columns — likely 6 per column. So maybe the squirrel is meant to go somewhere. Let’s hold that thought.

Next:

- Red sneakers → Kids wear these today → Today
- Scroll (paper roll) → Used in ancient times, not now → The Past
- Campfire cooking pot → People still camp and cook over fires → Today? Or maybe The Past? Actually, people still do this for fun/camping, so maybe Today. But wait — historically, this was how people cooked before stoves. Hmm. Let’s think: if it’s about what’s *commonly* used daily now vs. then... Most people don’t cook over campfires daily. So maybe The Past? But camping is still popular. This is confusing.

Actually, let’s reframe: “Today” = things you’d see someone using regularly in modern life. “The Past” = things mostly replaced or no longer everyday items.

So:

- Campfire pot → Mostly for recreation now, not daily life → The Past? Or maybe Today because camping exists? Let’s compare to others.

Better idea: Let’s list all 12 items clearly:

Top row (left to right):
1. Brown shorts → Today
2. Flip phone → Past
3. Old computer monitor → Past
4. Blue jeans → Today
5. Typewriter → Past
6. Beach ball → Today

Bottom row:
7. Squirrel → ??? (animal — maybe not supposed to be sorted? But it’s there)
8. Red sneakers → Today
9. Scroll → Past
10. Pot over fire → Past (since most people don’t cook this way daily)
11. Boots → Today (people still wear boots)
12. Girl in old-fashioned dress → Clearly from the past → Past

Now count:

Today candidates:
- Shorts
- Jeans
- Beach ball
- Sneakers
- Boots
→ That’s 5

Past candidates:
- Flip phone
- Monitor
- Typewriter
- Scroll
- Pot over fire
- Girl in dress
→ That’s 6

And the squirrel is left. If we put squirrel in Today (since squirrels are still around), then Today has 6, Past has 6. Perfect!

But is sorting an animal fair? Well, the worksheet includes it, so we must assign it. Since squirrels exist today and haven’t gone extinct, they’re part of “today.” In the past, they also existed, but the category is “I Can Sort Items from Today and The Past” — implying which era they’re associated with as common items. Animals aren’t really “from” one era unless extinct. But since it’s included, and we need balance, putting squirrel in Today makes sense.

Alternatively, maybe the squirrel is a distractor? But no — 12 items, 2 columns, likely 6 each.

Final decision:

Today:
- Brown shorts
- Blue jeans
- Beach ball
- Red sneakers
- Boots
- Squirrel

The Past:
- Flip phone
- Old computer monitor
- Typewriter
- Scroll
- Campfire pot
- Girl in old dress

Wait — is the campfire pot really “past”? Some might argue camping is current. But compared to a stove, it’s historical. And the girl in dress is clearly past. Typewriter, scroll, flip phone, old monitor — definitely past.

Boots — yes, people wear boots today.

Sneakers — yes.

Beach ball — yes.

Jeans and shorts — yes.

So only the squirrel is questionable. But since it’s alive today, and the alternative is leaving it out, we’ll include it in Today.

Another thought: Maybe the squirrel represents nature that hasn’t changed — so it belongs in both? But we have to choose one column. Given the context, I think “Today” is safer.

Let me double-check total counts:

Today: 6 items
Past: 6 items

Perfect.

Final Answer:

Today: Brown shorts, Blue jeans, Beach ball, Red sneakers, Boots, Squirrel
The Past: Flip phone, Old computer monitor, Typewriter, Scroll, Campfire pot, Girl in old-fashioned dress