Then-and-Now Chart
Past vs present two-column frame.
The Then-and-Now Chart is a blank two-column organizer that lets students compare how something looked, worked, or felt in the past with how it appears today. One column is labeled "Then" and the other "Now," giving young learners a clear visual scaffold for change-over-time thinking. It works equally well for a first grader tracing how their town has changed, a third grader contrasting colonial tools with modern ones, or a fifth grader comparing communication before and after the internet. Teachers can project it on a whiteboard for whole-class discussion or hand it out as a note-taking page during a read-aloud. Parents use it for kitchen-table history chats sparked by old family photos.
Learning objectives
- Identify specific changes between a historical period and the present day
- Organise contrasting details in a side-by-side visual format
- Build chronological thinking and sequencing vocabulary
- Support evidence-based reasoning with recorded observations
- Develop comparison writing skills before a formal essay
How to use this template
- Download and print one copy per student, or display on a shared screen for group work.
- Write the topic being compared at the top (e.g., 'Transportation' or 'My Neighborhood').
- Fill the 'Then' column with details, images, or notes from the past period being studied.
- Fill the 'Now' column with corresponding present-day information.
- Use completed charts as reference when writing a comparison paragraph or joining a class discussion.
Classroom & home ideas
- Pair with a picture book about historical change and have students note details from illustrations into each column.
- Use as a graphic organizer during a museum visit or virtual field trip, capturing past artifacts vs. modern equivalents.
- Assign as a family homework activity where students interview a grandparent and record 'then' answers in their own words.
- Laminate copies for a reusable centre activity where students use dry-erase markers across multiple social studies units.
- Project a blank version and fill it collaboratively to model academic vocabulary like 'in the past' and 'today.'
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
What age group is this chart designed for?
It is designed for grades 1 through 5, roughly ages 6 to 11. The open format works for early readers using drawings as well as older students writing full sentences.
Can I use this for subjects other than social studies?
Yes. Science teachers use it to compare life cycles at different stages, and ELA teachers use it to track how a story character changes from beginning to end.
Is there a version with more rows for detailed comparisons?
This printable has open-ended rows you can subdivide by hand. For longer lists, simply print two copies and stack them, or draw extra lines in the blank space.
How do I adapt it for students who prefer drawing over writing?
Leave the columns blank and instruct students to sketch rather than write. The two-column structure supports visual comparison just as well as written notes.
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