Skip to content
LessonPrint

Then They Thought, Now We Think 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.

Next setLesson plan

One paper per pupil

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

All 25 sets ask different questions.

Then They Thought, Now We Think

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.
  • Long ago light after dark came from
  • Now people think a long journey is
  • Now children spend the day
  • Long ago people thought a long journey was
  • A.Candles and lamps
  • B.At school
  • C.A whole day by horse and cart
  • D.A few hours in a car or train
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Now light after dark comes from
  • Long ago children worked
  • Now a message takes
  • Long ago a letter took
  • A.Electric bulbs
  • B.On farms and in mills
  • C.A moment to arrive
  • D.Many days to arrive

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

Answer key — Then They Thought, Now We Think

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Long ago light after dark came from — A (Candles and lamps) 2. Now people think a long journey is — D (A few hours in a car or train) 3. Now children spend the day — B (At school) 4. Long ago people thought a long journey was — C (A whole day by horse and cart)
  2. 2.1. Now light after dark comes from — A (Electric bulbs) 2. Long ago children worked — B (On farms and in mills) 3. Now a message takes — C (A moment to arrive) 4. Long ago a letter took — D (Many days to arrive)

Questions about Then They Thought, Now We Think

What does the Then They Thought, Now We Think 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 Then They Thought, Now We Think 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?

Then They Thought, Now We Think 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 Then They Thought, Now We Think 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 Then They Thought, Now We Think 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 Then They Thought, Now We Think free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Then They Thought, Now We Think, 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 — “Then They Thought, Now We Think” 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. Then They Thought, Now We Think 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? Then They Thought, Now We Think 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.