Families in the Past

Curriculum Area

Subject: Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
Year Level: Year 1
Curriculum Code: ACHASSK030
Content Descriptor: The differences in family structures and roles today, and how these have changed or remained the same over time.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify features of families today and in the past.
• Compare family roles and routines across generations.
• Discuss how family life has changed over time using real-life examples.

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Lesson Duration

Total Time: 60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

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Materials Needed

• Visual flashcards of families from different time periods
• A selection of old and new household objects (e.g., rotary phone vs. smartphone)
• Large A3 paper and coloured markers for group work
• A printed or projected image of a family home from 50+ years ago
• Whiteboard and markers
• Family timeline worksheet for individual reflection

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction - “What is a Family?” (10 minutes)

• Begin by asking students, “What does the word ‘family’ mean to you?”
• Show images of different family structures (e.g., nuclear, single-parent, extended families).
• Discuss how families may look different but share love and responsibilities.

Engagement Activity:

• Pair students up and have them share one special thing their family enjoys doing together.

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2. The Past vs. Today – Comparing Families (15 minutes)

• Display an image of a family from 50+ years ago and ask, “What do you notice?”
• Guide discussion with key questions:
  • What kind of clothes are they wearing?
  • Do they have modern technology like we do?
  • What kind of jobs do you think the parents had?

Hands-on Activity:

• Place old and modern household objects in front of students (e.g., typewriter vs. computer, traditional washing board vs. washing machine).
• Let students inspect and guess how objects were used in daily family life.
• Discuss how families’ daily routines, cooking, and communication methods have changed.

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3. Exploring Family Roles (15 minutes)

Storytelling Approach:

• Read a short story or recount from a grandparent’s perspective about growing up in Australia 50+ years ago.
• Ask students to identify what was different and what has stayed the same in family roles (e.g., who cooked, how children helped at home).

Group Activity:

• Divide students into small groups. Each group is assigned a different time period (past or present).
• They draw a simple picture of a "day in the life" of a family during that time.
• Groups share and compare their drawings.

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4. Reflection – My Family’s History (15 minutes)

Discussion Prompts:

• Has your family changed in any way over time?
• What roles do different family members have today?

Individual Activity:

• Students complete a Family Timeline Worksheet, drawing or writing one thing that has changed and one thing that has stayed the same in their family traditions.
• Encourage students to ask their parents or grandparents about their own childhood after the lesson.

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Conclusion & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

• Review key points by asking: “How were families different in the past?”
• Have students share one fun fact they learned.
• End with a question for home discussion: "Ask someone in your family about their childhood. How was it different from yours?"

Optional Extension:

• Assign students to bring in an old family photo (with permission) for a classroom display on changing family life.

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Assessment & Evidence of Learning

• Informal observation during group discussions.
• Participation in hands-on activities.
• Family Timeline Worksheet – ensuring students show an understanding of changes over time.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support for diverse learners: Provide picture cues and sentence starters for discussions.
• Extension for advanced students: Encourage research on a specific aspect of past family life (e.g., school, entertainment).
• Cultural inclusion: Acknowledge and include diverse family structures from different cultural backgrounds.

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This engaging and interactive lesson allows students to develop an early understanding of historical change while making personal connections to their own family experiences.