Changes Within Living Memory — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: History KS1 — changes within living memory, where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life
Overview
Pupils explore how everyday life has changed within living memory by comparing aspects of life today with those of their parents' and grandparents' childhood. They look at changes in toys, technology, homes, and transport, developing an understanding of chronology and how life evolves over time.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the term 'living memory' and what it means.
- Identify changes in everyday life between the past and the present.
- Use vocabulary such as 'past', 'present', 'then', and 'now' correctly.
- Use photographs, objects, and interviews to find out about the past.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show two images: a modern smartphone and a 1980s telephone. Ask: which is older? How do you know? Introduce the idea that things change over time.
Explain 'living memory' — things grandparents can remember from when they were children. Show side-by-side comparisons across four categories: toys (spinning tops / teddy bears vs electronic games), technology (black-and-white TV vs tablet), transport (1960s car vs modern car), homes (coal fires vs central heating). Discuss: what changed? Is everything different? What stayed similar?
As a class, sort a set of images into 'past' and 'present' using a simple two-column grid. Discuss clues — clothing, image colour (black-and-white vs colour), object design.
Pupils complete a 'Then and Now' sheet, drawing or labelling one item from the past and its modern equivalent (e.g. a toy or piece of technology). Add one sentence: 'This has changed because…'
Share responses. Ask: what do you think might change by the time you are a grandparent? Introduce the idea that change continues into the future.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils often think 'the past' means very long ago (e.g. dinosaurs, kings and queens) — clarify that living memory means within a person's lifetime.
- Thinking that older means worse — discuss that some things were different rather than worse.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Basic understanding of time (yesterday, last week, a long time ago).
- Ability to compare two images and identify similarities and differences.
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