Image on left is an old way to wash clothes with a bucket and on right is a washing machine
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Infographic,

Chores: Then and Now

Hate doing chores? Be happy you didn’t live 150 years ago. Here’s how chores have changed.

From the May/June 2023 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    This infographic presents interesting facts about how household chores were accomplished 150 years ago and how they are done today.
  • Structure
    Information is presented with text and images in two side-by-side columns, one column showing details from the past and the other showing corresponding details from the present. A sidebar is included.
  • Language
    The language is familiar. The idiom "from scratch" is used.
  • Knowledge Demands
    No prior knowledge is required.
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: R.1, R.2, R.7, W.2 Grade 4: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.7, W.4.2 Grade 5: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.7, W.5.2 Grade 6: RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.7, W.6.2
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.9d, f; 4.12c Grade 5: 5.9d, f; 5.12c Grade 6: 6.8d, f; 6.11c

Presentation View
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SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU; USDA; WORLD BANK
Martin Lee/Alamy Stock Photo (Broom); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Laundry

Then: Wash, scrub, and rinse all clothes and sheets by hand. (It can take all day.)

Now: Load the washer and press a button! (Clothes are clean in about an hour.)

Cleaning

Then: Sweep the floor with a broom. Then scrub with a brush on your hands and knees.

Now: Vacuum any dirt off the floor. (Or let a robot vacuum cleaner do the job!)

Trash

Then: Throw broken objects, food scraps, and even human waste in the street. (Ew! Be careful where you step!)

Now: Place trash into bags and then into a bin—and flush any human waste down the toilet! 

Cooking

Then: First, gather wood for the stove. Then light a fire and prepare any food from scratch. 

Now: Pop a frozen pizza into a microwave oven. Wait five minutes . . . and DING! Dinner’s ready! 

150 Years Ago . . .

74% of Americans lived in the countryside.
NOW: 14%

5 people lived in each household on average.
NOW: about 2

0% of Americans had electricity at home.
NOW: about 100%

SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU; USDA; WORLD BANK

Write to Win

Write a letter to a kid living 150 years ago, explaining how chores have changed over time. Research to include at least one chore not mentioned above. Send your letter to “Chores Contest” by June 1, 2023. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information.

This infographic was originally published in the May/June 2023 issue.

Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (3) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Reading and Discussing 

2. Writing

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central image to identify the topic of the infographic.

Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to

  • explain something to you?
  • convince you of something?
  • tell you how to do something?

Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central image? (They provide details about the main idea.)

Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.

Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. Writing

Preview the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Digital.

Text-to-Speech