Unit Plan 21 (Grade 3 Social Studies): Change and Continuity in Communities

Focus: Compare past and present using old and new maps and pictures of the same place, and begin to notice which parts of communities change and which stay the same, while evaluating sources for facts, opinions, and perspectives.

Grade Level: 3

Subject Area: Social Studies (History • Inquiry/Source Thinking)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students act as community historians, looking closely at old and new photos and maps of the same places (streets, parks, schools, or neighborhoods). They learn to spot change (new buildings, different transportation, land use) and continuity (features that stayed the same, like a river, a road, or a landmark). Students also begin to evaluate sources, asking: “Does this show facts, or someone’s opinion?” and “Is this a useful source for my question?” By the end of the week, each student will create a “Then and Now” comparison page that shows both change and continuity and includes one reflection about fact vs. opinion or different perspectives.

Essential Questions

• How can we tell the difference between the past and the present in pictures and maps of the same place?
• What are examples of change and continuity in our community over time?
• How do photos, maps, and stories help us understand how communities change?
• How can we tell if a source is showing us a fact, an opinion, or one person’s perspective?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Distinguish past and present using artifacts, photos, maps, and accounts of the same or similar places.
2. Identify at least two examples of change and two examples of continuity in a community when comparing old and new images/maps.
3. Use paired sources (e.g., 1900s street photo vs. today’s street view) to describe how one location has changed over time.
4. Evaluate simple sources (photos, short texts, captions) for relevance to a question and identify whether statements are facts, opinions, or perspectives.
5. Create a “Then and Now” comparison page that labels changes and continuities and includes at least one statement about fact vs. opinion/perspective.

Standards Alignment — 3rd Grade (C3-based custom)

• 3.C3.Hist.2 — Distinguish past and present using artifacts, photos, maps, and accounts; note change and continuity.
  • Example: Compare a 1900s street photo with today’s street view.
• 3.C3.Inq.3 — Evaluate sources for relevance and basic credibility; distinguish fact, opinion, and perspective.
  • Example: Identify which paragraph is opinion vs. fact in a community newsletter.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell when a picture or map shows the past and when it shows the present.
• I can point out what has changed and what has stayed the same in a place over time.
• I can say whether a sentence is a fact (can be checked) or an opinion (someone’s feeling or belief).
• I can explain why a source (photo, map, or text) is helpful for answering a question about change.
• I can create a Then and Now page that clearly shows change and continuity in a community.