- Define and explain Past, Present, Future in your own words
- Use key terms such as Timeline accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Past, Present, Future: sort pictures and words into what happened, what is happening, and what will happen.
Sort pictures and words into what happened, what is happening, and what will happen.
Key ideas
Your life is history too
When you were born, what your first word was, the day you started school — these are all events in history because they happened in the past. Future historians could learn about the world today by studying the lives of ordinary children. You do not have to be famous to be part of history.
The past lives in stories
Not everything from the past is written down. Families keep history alive by telling stories: how grandparents met, where they grew up, what school was like. Asking questions and listening carefully is real historical work.
Key term — Timeline: A line that shows events in the order they happened, with earlier events on the left and later ones on the right.
Sort these into past and present: your breakfast this morning, your third birthday.
Past: your third birthday. Present: your breakfast this morning.
Answer: Past: your third birthday. Present: your breakfast this morning.
- Mixing up yesterday and last year Use clue words: yesterday means one day ago, while last year means many months ago. Check which event happened longest ago first.
- Putting the newest event first Always start with the oldest event. On a timeline, the past sits on the left and today sits on the right.
Practice
A line that shows events in the order they happened, oldest first.
To remember people and events, and to pass memories down to younger family members.
Being born comes first.
Any two older relatives, for example a grandmother and a great-uncle.
Quick check
Which of these best defines "Timeline"?
Put these in order: you learned to walk, you lost your first tooth, you were born.
- Past, Present, Future: sort pictures and words into what happened, what is happening, and what will happen.
- Your life is history too: When you were born, what your first word was, the day you started school — these are all events in history because they happened in the past.
- Chronology: The arrangement of events in the order they happened.
- Watch out for: mixing up yesterday and last year