Past and Present
To develop understanding of personal history and change over time.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Understanding the World
- Learning area: Understanding the World
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Talks about own past experiences
- Notices how they have changed since babyhood
- Uses past tense vocabulary
- Compares old and new objects
Materials
- Baby and now photos of each child
- Old and new objects for comparison
- Timeline displays
- Memory books and family history items
Instructions
Request baby photos from families and create 'Then and Now' displays. 'Look at you as a baby! You were so tiny! Now you're big and can do so many things!' Help children see their own history.
Create personal timelines with children. 'First you were a tiny baby, then you learned to crawl, then walk, and now you can run and jump!' Use photos to sequence events.
Compare old and new objects. 'This is an old telephone from when grandparents were little. How is it different from phones now?' Let children explore and notice differences.
Use past tense language naturally. 'Yesterday we went to the park. Before that, we painted pictures. What did we do before lunch?' Help children sequence recent events.
Invite grandparents or older community members to share memories. 'Mrs. Jones is going to tell us about when she was a little girl. Things were quite different then!' Connect generations.
Create 'memory books' where children record significant events from their lives. 'What's something you remember that was special? Let's draw a picture and write about it.'