Social Studies · Grade 2 · Heritage and Identity: Changing Family and Community Traditions · Term 1

Family Traditions: Then & Now

Children compare traditions from long ago with traditions practised today, discovering that some traditions stay the same while others change.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Heritage and Identity: Changing Family and Community Traditions - Grade 2

About This Topic

This topic introduces students to the concept of continuity and change through the lens of family and community traditions. In the Ontario Social Studies curriculum, Grade 2 students begin to understand how their own lives connect to the past. By comparing traditions from long ago with those practiced today, children identify that while some customs evolve due to technology or migration, others remain steadfast as a way to preserve identity and heritage.

Students explore how celebrations, clothing, and daily routines have shifted over generations. This foundational historical thinking helps them appreciate the diversity of experiences within their own classroom and the broader Canadian context. This topic comes alive when students can physically compare artifacts or participate in a simulated 'then and now' environment where they experience the pacing and tools of different eras.

Key Questions

1. Compare family traditions from the past with those of today.
2. Analyze why some traditions persist while others evolve.
3. Evaluate the impact of changing traditions on family identity.

Learning Objectives

• Compare specific family traditions from the past with those practiced today.
• Explain why certain family traditions have changed over time.
• Identify similarities and differences in family celebrations across generations.
• Analyze how family traditions contribute to a family's identity.

Before You Start

My Family and Community

Why: Students need a basic understanding of family structures and community members to discuss family traditions.

People and Places

Why: Students should have a foundational understanding of the past and present to compare traditions across time.

Key Vocabulary

Tradition	A belief, custom, or way of doing something that has been passed down from one generation to another.
Heritage	The traditions, beliefs, and values that are passed down from parents and ancestors; it is part of our identity.
Ancestor	A person from whom one is descended; someone who lived a long time ago.
Generation	All the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively; for example, parents are one generation and their children are another.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students often believe that 'old' means everything was black and white or boring.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that the past was just as colorful and exciting as today, but our records (like photos) were limited. Using hands-on artifacts helps students see the craftsmanship and vibrancy of historical items.

Common Misconception

Children may think traditions only happen on holidays.

What to Teach Instead

Clarify that traditions include daily or weekly habits, like a Sunday dinner or a specific way of saying goodbye. Peer discussion allows students to realize they all have unique daily traditions.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: Artifact Investigation

Set up stations with pairs of items representing 'then' and 'now' (e.g., a washboard and a photo of a washing machine, or a rotary phone and a smartphone). Students rotate in small groups to touch, sketch, and discuss how the function of the object has stayed the same while the form has changed.

40 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The 'Why' of Change

Provide students with a specific tradition, such as birthday celebrations. Ask them to think about one thing that is the same as their grandparents' time and one thing that is different, then share with a partner to find commonalities across their families.

15 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Family Photo Museum

Students bring in or draw a picture of a family tradition. They display these on their desks or walls, and the class walks through to identify which traditions look 'old-fashioned' versus 'modern' based on the clues in the images.

30 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Families might compare old photographs of holiday celebrations with current ones, noticing differences in decorations or activities. For example, a family might compare how they used to make holiday cookies from scratch versus using a pre-made mix today.
• Students can interview grandparents or older relatives about traditions they followed when they were children, such as specific games played or stories told during family gatherings.
• Museums often have exhibits that showcase historical homes or daily life from past eras, allowing visitors to see how objects and routines have changed compared to modern times.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with two Venn diagram circles labeled 'Traditions Then' and 'Traditions Now'. Ask them to write or draw at least two traditions in each circle and one tradition in the overlapping section that is the same.

Quick Check

Ask students to share one tradition their family does now that they think their grandparents did not do when they were young. Prompt them to explain why they think it changed.

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Why do you think some family traditions stay the same while others change?' Encourage students to share ideas about technology, moving to new places, or new family members.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach traditions if a student feels they don't have any?

Broaden the definition to include 'classroom traditions' or 'community traditions.' Focus on small, repetitive acts like a morning greeting or a favorite playground game. This ensures every child feels included in the conversation about shared heritage.

What is the best way to involve families in this topic?

Invite families to share a short story or a photo of a tradition via a digital platform or a take-home interview sheet. This connects the classroom learning to the real-life experiences of the students' diverse backgrounds.

How can active learning help students understand changing traditions?

Active learning, such as role-playing a traditional game from 100 years ago, allows students to feel the differences in daily life. Instead of just reading about the past, they use their bodies and senses to compare experiences, which makes the concept of 'change over time' much more concrete for seven-year-olds.

How do I handle traditions that have been lost over time?

Frame this as a natural part of social change. Discuss how some traditions change because we find new ways to do things, while others are intentionally revived to keep a culture alive, connecting back to the importance of cultural preservation.