Then and Now: Discover How Family Life Has Changed!

You can look at how things were long ago and how they are today. This is called a then and now comparison. It helps you learn about your Family Stories and where you come from.

Long ago, families lived very differently. Today, you have cars, electric lights, and refrigerators. Long ago, families used candles, horses, and iceboxes instead.

Homes and Light

Long ago, homes in Canada had no electric lights. Families used candles and oil lamps to see at night. Today, you can turn on a light switch in your home.

Food and Cooking

Long ago, families cooked meals over a wood fire. They kept food cold in a cool icebox or cellar. Today, you use an electric stove and a refrigerator.

Clothing

Long ago, families made their own clothes by hand. They knitted mittens from wool and made moccasins from animal hide. Today, you can buy a winter coat at a store.

Getting Water

Long ago, families carried water from a well outside. Homes had no indoor taps. Today, you turn on a tap to get clean water right away.

Travel and School

Long ago, children walked long distances to school every day. Families used horses and wagons to travel. Today, you can ride a school bus or travel by car.

Toys and Play

Long ago, children played with handmade wooden toys. There were no video games or plastic toys. Today, you have many kinds of modern toys to enjoy.

Sending Messages

Long ago, families wrote paper letters to talk to people far away. Letters took many days to arrive. Today, you can send a message in seconds using a phone.

What Has Stayed the Same?

Even though many things have changed, families have always loved and cared for each other. Families still share meals together. Love and caring have stayed the same across all Generational Changes.

Ancestors: Your ancestors are the family members who lived before you were born, like your great-grandparents and their parents. They are part of your family history.

Generation: A generation is a group of family members born around the same time. Your grandparents are one generation, and your parents are another generation.

Family Heirloom: A family heirloom is a special old object passed down from one generation to the next. It holds memories and meaning for your family.

Oral History: Oral history is when grandparents and elders share memories from their past by speaking out loud. Listening to their stories helps you learn about long ago.

Genealogist: A genealogist is a person who studies and records family history. They find out how family members are connected across many generations.

Family Tree: A family tree is a diagram that shows how your family members are related. It includes parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

Timeline: A timeline shows important events in the order they happened. It helps you see how things changed from the past to today.

Icebox: An icebox was a box filled with large blocks of ice used to keep food cold before refrigerators were invented.

You can look at old family photos and compare them to photos taken today. Notice the clothing, hairstyles, and homes in the pictures. Ask a grandparent to share a story about life when they were young that is oral history!

You can also make a family tree to show how your family members are connected. Learning about Family Artifacts like old tools and toys can show you how people lived long ago.

You can learn even more about your family history by exploring these connected topics.

In Family Stories, you will hear the memories and tales that grandparents and older family members share. These stories help you understand what life was like long ago, just like then and now comparisons do.

In Family Artifacts, you will explore old objects like tools, toys, and clothing that belonged to your ancestors. These special items give you clues about how families lived in the past.

In Generational Changes, you will discover how each new generation of your family has lived differently from the one before. This topic builds on everything you learn from comparing then and now.

You do not need to know anything special before starting this topic. Just bring your curiosity! As you learn about then and now comparisons, you will be ready to explore family stories, artifacts, and generational changes in even more depth.