For this activity, you will view a Powerpoint presentation showing what your ancestors may have done for fun in the past. While viewing the powerpoint presentation:

• Look closely at the pictures from long ago.
• Think about how the things that you do for fun are alike and different from long ago.

Click here to view Powerpoint.

Now - download, print out, and complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting entertainment of the past to the present.

Click here to download Venn Diagram.

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Both in the past and today, children have enjoyed celebrating their birthdays. Here's a picture showing a birthday party from the early 1900s. You can click on the picture to see a larger image.

Each person has a special and unique birth date. Did you know that you can find primary sources that occured on your special date? In this activity you will explore the American Memory feature entitled "Today in History". Here you can search for your particular birth date and view pictures and other primary sources that are connected to your day. To begin click on the birthday cake to go to the "Today in History" site.

Now you need to search for your birth date. To do this, go down to choice #2 where it says, "Jump to a specific day in the archive." Click on the arrows to change the month and the day to match your birth date. Then click "Go". This will bring up all of the primary sources that are connected to your birth date. To learn more about the sources, click on the links provided. You can see the images larger when you click on them.

After viewing and examining the primary sources found in your birthdate search, click on the paper to download and print out a worksheet to complete.

Be sure to share your findings with your classmates!!

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Just like you, kids a long time ago enjoyed watching movies and cartoons. Of course, it was much more difficult for them since they couldn't just turn on their televisions and find the cartoon network. Here is an example of a movie from the year 1916. Watch the movie, then print out the worksheet and share your thoughts about the similarities and differences to what we see today.

Click on the filmstrip to view Krazy Kat and Ignatz Mouse at the circus. (Note - be patient, this may take a little minute or two to load.)

Now that you've gotten a taste of a cartoon from long ago, click on the picture to download and print a worksheet.

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