A Diary Page from 1895

Compare a child's life long ago with life today.

Read the diary

Listen as your teacher reads the diary. Then answer the questions.

A Diary Page from 1895

October 4, 1895. Dear Diary, Today I walked to my one-room schoolhouse. I wrote on a slate with chalk. At recess, my friends and I rolled wooden hoops. After school, I carried water and helped feed our horse. I wore a wool dress and boots. Our family traveled in a horse-drawn wagon. The diary ends here. Today, many children use paper and pencils at school, play with balls, help with different chores, wear many kinds of clothes, and travel by car or bus.

What did the child use at school long ago?

Question 1 optionsA. Paper and pencilsB. A ball and a bookC. A slate and chalkD. A car or bus

Draw a line from each long-ago part of the diary to its example.

After school, the child helped feed the .

Circle the two details about long-ago life.

Which pair shows how playthings changed in the diary?

Question 5 optionsA. Slate and chalk; paper and pencilsB. Wooden hoop; ballsC. Wool dress and boots; car or busD. Horse-drawn wagon; one-room schoolhouse

Compare long ago and today

Think about the diary. Sort, circle, and tell how life changed.

Sort each example from the diary.

What does the diary show about chores?

Question 7 optionsA. Children in both times helped with chores.B. Children in both times used a slate and chalk.C. Children long ago traveled by car or bus.D. Children today traveled in a horse-drawn wagon.

Circle the two details that show ways life changed.

Which is the best summary of the diary?

Question 9 optionsA. Children used the same toys and school tools in both times.B. Children long ago went to school, but they did not do chores.C. Some things changed, while children in both times played and helped with chores.D. Children today traveled and dressed just like the diary child did.

10.

Tell one way life was different long ago and today. Use one detail from the diary.