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Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now is a free printable Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies worksheet on comparing perspectives past and present, aligned to Common Core standard D2.His.4.K-2. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now

D2.His.4.K-2

NameDate

Draw a line from each one to what it means.

1.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • In 1871 a child of eleven at work was
  • In 1912 a flooded street meant
  • In 1868 a mill's noise was
  • In 1871 water for a house meant
  • A.Neighbours carrying furniture upstairs
  • B.Carrying it from a pump or a well
  • C.Accepted as the price of the work
  • D.Ordinary, and the family needed the wages
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Now water for a house means
  • Now a flooded street means
  • Now a child of eleven at work would be
  • Now a workplace's noise is
  • A.A tap fed from the reservoir
  • B.Warnings, barriers and insurance claims
  • C.Measured and limited by law
  • D.Against the law, and a matter for the authorities

LessonPrint · D2.His.4.K-2 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. In 1871 a child of eleven at work was — D (Ordinary, and the family needed the wages) 2. In 1912 a flooded street meant — A (Neighbours carrying furniture upstairs) 3. In 1868 a mill's noise was — C (Accepted as the price of the work) 4. In 1871 water for a house meant — B (Carrying it from a pump or a well)
  2. 2.1. Now water for a house means — A (A tap fed from the reservoir) 2. Now a flooded street means — B (Warnings, barriers and insurance claims) 3. Now a child of eleven at work would be — D (Against the law, and a matter for the authorities) 4. Now a workplace's noise is — C (Measured and limited by law)

Questions about Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now

What does the Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now worksheet cover?

It practises comparing perspectives past and present — 2 questions for Kindergarten to Grade 2, all on Common Core D2.His.4.K-2: Compare how people in the past saw things with how people see things now. The instruction to pupils is “Draw a line from each one to what it means”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now practise?

D2.His.4.K-2 — D2.His.4.K-2, in the History domain for Kindergarten to Grade 2. The published standard reads: “Compare perspectives of people in the past to those of people in the present.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now is written for Kindergarten to Grade 2, typically ages 7-8. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.4.K-2, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now come with an answer key?

Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now can I print?

25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach D2.His.4.K-2?

Yes — “Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now” is a 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 plan for D2.His.4.K-2, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now is the practice that follows it.

More practice for D2.His.4.K-2

Compare how people in the past saw things with how people see things now.

Teaching this next? Ordinary Then, Unthinkable Now is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Kindergarten to Grade 2 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.4.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.