From Past to Present: First Grade Explores Family & History at Greenfield Village

Over the past few weeks, first grade has been learning all about families and history. One of the big ideas we’ve been exploring is the difference between the past, present, and future. Students have been making connections through read-alouds, discussions, and by sharing and observing family pictures. These activities helped us see how families can look different, how they grow and change over time, and how our own stories fit into history.

To bring our learning to life, we went on a field study to Greenfield Village. There, students had the chance to learn about Henry Ford’s family and history, as well as explore how people lived, worked, and invented in the past. This experience helped students compare their own lives today with what life was like many years ago.

We are building an understanding that history isn’t just something we read about in books—it’s connected to our families, our communities, and the world around us. Next week, we will continue celebrating diversity with our family tree projects. This will give students the opportunity to explore family roots by developing a stronger sense of identity, as well as understand traditions and values, fostering pride and belonging. Families come in many forms, and each one has a unique story worth honoring.