What kinds of past-versus-present comparisons work well in kindergarten?

Strong kindergarten past-and-present comparisons use visually distinct, easy-to-picture contrasts: old-fashioned telephones versus cell phones, horse-drawn carriages versus cars, writing with a quill versus a pencil. Because kindergartners cannot yet reason about abstract historical time periods or dates, the comparisons need to rely on clear visual differences a child can identify just by looking at a picture, rather than on background historical knowledge they do not yet have. Keeping the comparisons concrete and visual is what makes this content accessible at the kindergarten level rather than a topic reserved for older grades.

How should teachers extend the past-and-present Venn diagram activity?

After completing the Venn diagram, many teachers extend the activity by asking students to bring in an old photo from home, of a parent, grandparent, or the school itself, and compare it to something similar today, connecting the abstract worksheet concept to a real artifact from the child's own family history. This kind of extension activity is a common and effective way to deepen a kindergarten history lesson beyond the worksheet itself, giving the past-and-present comparison a personal, tangible anchor that a printed worksheet alone cannot provide.

Kindergarten Past and Present Worksheets

Ages 3-6 · 1 sub-topics · Free previews · Print-ready PDFs

Free printable past and present social studies worksheets for kindergarten students (Ages 3-6). Covers Venn diagram sort.

Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher

Kindergarten Social Studies Past and Present Clear All

Past and Present▼

Past and Present: Venn diagram sort

GradeKindergarten

TopicPast and Present

Frequently Asked Questions

The all-about-me worksheet applies past-and-present thinking to the child's own life, while this history-topic worksheet applies the same Venn diagram sorting format to broader, more general past-and-present comparisons, things that were true long ago versus things true today, not limited to the student's personal experience. Both connect to the C3 Framework's history strand (D2.His.2.K-2), comparing life in the past to life today, but this worksheet is the wider, less personal application, a natural next step once a child has practiced the comparison format on something as familiar as themselves.

More social studies worksheets

Explore all of our kindergarten social studies worksheets, covering community helpers, lunar new year, community, transportation, and more.

What is ClassWeekly?

ClassWeekly offers free worksheets and printable learning resources for kids in preschool to grade 5. All worksheets are aligned to Common Core and NGSS standards and designed by educators. Become a member to access the full library and download unlimited PDFs.