📖

Then and Now: Streets and Buildings

Communities Change Over Time

Day 16of 180
Week 4of 36
25Minutes
← Day 15Day 16 of 180Day 17 →
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Identify how community buildings and streets change over time

2

Compare photographs of past and present community structures

3

Understand that change is a natural part of community life

📖 Scripture Connection

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (WEB)

God creates seasons of change in our world, including how communities develop

📦 Materials Needed

  • Old and new community photos
  • Large white poster board
  • Glue sticks
  • Colored pencils
  • Child-safe scissors
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a circle and show them several old and new photos of local community buildings. Ask them to look closely and notice differences.

💭 Review Question: What do you think your neighborhood looked like a long time ago?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain how communities change over time, with new buildings replacing old ones, streets getting wider, and neighborhoods growing.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Buildings can look different as years pass
  • Some old buildings stay the same
  • Communities grow and change like we do
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Can you spot something in the photo that looks the same?
  • What looks different about these buildings?
3Activity: Community Change Poster (8 min)
hands-on

Create a poster showing how community buildings change over time

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide poster board into 'Then' and 'Now' sections
  2. Glue old and new photos in appropriate sections
  3. Draw additional details around photos
  4. Share poster with family
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use fewer photos and focus on one main building

Challenge: Add dates and short descriptions of changes

4Closing (2 min)

Review what we learned about community changes

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about how places change?
  • Why do you think buildings look different over time?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for helping our communities grow and change. Help us appreciate the old and the new.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how people used to travel!

💎 Memory Verse

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Make a simple hand motion for 'season' and 'time' while saying verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First graders are beginning to understand the concept of change and time progression

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use local photos if possible
  • Encourage curiosity about community history
  • Make comparisons fun and engaging
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children might find abstract time concepts challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to notice differences between old and new images

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Take a neighborhood walk to identify old and new buildings
  • Ask grandparents to share stories about how their community looked when they were young
  • Create a simple family timeline of home or community changes

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 17 →Back to History & Social Studies