Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Kaleb's Farm Long Ago: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Kaleb's Farm Long Ago is a free printable Understanding the World worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children look at farm jobs from long ago and jobs now, then draw a line to join each old farm job to the job now. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet short sentences about farm work, such as ploughing, milking, carrying food and cutting corn. Each sentence says the job still needs doing, so children think about how it was done long ago and how it is done now. They draw a line to join each old farm job to the job now. There is a star box to colour for each pair and a checklist to tick off. A grown-up reads each job aloud.
- The field still needs ploughing.
- The cows still need milking.
- Food still needs to be carried.
- The corn still needs cutting.
Why look at farms then and now?
Young children begin to understand time by comparing the past with the present. Farms are a good way in. Most children know something about tractors, cows or fields, and they like to talk about animals and machines. Looking at how a familiar job was done long ago gives them a clear picture of change.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Understanding the World includes talking about how things were in the past and how they are now. The aim is not dates or facts to learn. It is noticing, comparing and using simple words such as long ago, now, same and different. This sheet gives children a reason to practise all of that.
Farm facts for curious children
- Farmers grow food and look after animals.
- Milk from cows can be made into butter, cheese and yoghurt.
- Farm work changes with the seasons.
- Farms in England have changed a lot over many years.
- Old photos, books and stories can show us how life was different long ago.
Skills and curriculum link
- Comparing then and now
- Joining pairs
- Talking about same and different
- Listening and following instructions
- Pencil control
Ideas to help with then and now
- Use the wordsSay long ago and now often. Children pick up time words by hearing them used in everyday talk.
- Look at picturesPicture books about farms, or old family photos, show how things look different over time.
- Act it outMoving like a worker or a machine helps children remember what a job involves.
- Ask open questionsTry, "What do you notice?" or "What is the same?" These give children room to think, not just answer yes or no.
Key words
- Long agoA time in the past, before you were born.
- NowThis moment, or the time we live in today.
- SameAlike in some way.
- DifferentNot alike. Something has changed.
- PloughTo turn over the soil in a field so seeds can be planted.
- HarvestTo gather crops from the field when they are ready.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read each job aloud. Point to the words or pictures as you go.
- Let your child draw the lines to join each old farm job to the job now. Then they colour a star box for each pair.
- Ask what is different about each pair. Talk about each choice, then check against page 2.
- Come back to the sheet another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do one pair together. Point to the picture word, or act out the job, such as pulling a plough. Use a finger to trace the line slowly, and say the job as you go. Then let your child try the next pair alone.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to say one thing that is different and one thing that is the same for each pair. Then ask them to think of another job on a farm and describe how it might have been done long ago.
Make it a game
Act out the old job and the new job. Be a strong horse, then a noisy tractor, and let others guess. Take turns to choose a farm job and show it with your body, without using words.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child joins a job to a similar looking sentence, not to its partner.
Try thisRead both jobs aloud slowly. Ask, "What is happening here?" and "What is happening there?" before drawing the line.
Watch forA child says nothing is different about a pair.
Try thisLook at the pictures together. Ask about size, speed, noise and who or what does the work.
Watch forLines get tangled and the pairs are hard to follow.
Try thisUse a different coloured pencil for each pair, or move a finger along the route first before drawing.
Talk about it
- What jobs do you think a farmer does each day?
- What does long ago mean? Can you think of something from long ago?
- Which job on the sheet would you most like to do? Why?
- What is the same about the old job and the job now?
- What is different? Is it noisy, quick, slow or big?
- How do you think food gets from a farm to our table?
Take it off the page
Farm play
Use toy animals and vehicles to act out a day on a farm. Tell a story about how the work was done long ago, then how it is done now.
Sand tray ploughing
Use a spoon or a toy to make furrows in a tray of sand, soil or flour. Talk about why farmers turn over the soil.
Then and now pictures
Look through farm books or family photos together. Sort the pictures into long ago and now, and say how you decided.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first pair, then let them lead. Read each job aloud and keep the talk relaxed. Praise their thinking and effort, not only whether the lines are right.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, supply resource or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with farm books, a trip to see a farm or outdoor play. The sheet is free to print again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children talk about their own day, family and the things around them. They start to use words such as yesterday, today and tomorrow, and notice that things change.
After it, children in Key Stage 1 learn more about the past in history, including changes within living memory. In geography and science they meet places, plants and animals in more detail. Comparing then and now is where that learning begins.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Kaleb's Farm Long Ago for?
It is written for Reception (ages 4 to 5), in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children do best when a grown-up reads each job aloud and talks about each pair with them.
- What will children practise?
Children practise spotting what is the same and what is different about farm jobs long ago and now. They also join pairs, listen carefully and talk about change, all within Understanding the World.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages. Read each job aloud and let the child draw the lines. Then they colour a star box for each pair. Ask what is different about each one, and check against page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do one pair together. Point to the picture word or act out the job, such as pulling a plough. Once your child is comfortable, let them try the next pair alone.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or to revisit the activity later.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.