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Old People's Home For 4 Year Olds: Things our grandparents used when they were children

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Young girl looks at object held out by elderly hand
Old People's Home For 4 Year Olds: Things our grandparents used when they were children

SUBJECTS:  Health and Physical EducationHistory

YEARS:  F–2


This clip from Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds introduces us to items that were once commonplace for older Australians but are unknown to children today.

The items give our seniors a chance to reminisce about their younger days.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What's your favourite toy? Do you think your grandparents would have played with the same toy when they were young? What might they have played with instead? The things we use often change over time. Watch as preschool children try to identify some mystery objects. The older people know what the objects are because they used them when they were young.
  2. 2.What items do the children take out of the suitcase? Have you seen any of these things before? How did people get ice when the older people were children? What did Shirley do when she was given some ice?
  3. 3.Can you remember what's in a can of Spam? What's a compass used for? What about a street directory? Dr Stephanie Ward says, "Positive memories are important for all of us, at any age." Do you have favourite memories? Why are they important to you?
  4. 4.Ask an older person to show you something they used when they were young. Can you guess what it is? Do people still use it, or do they use something else instead? Make a collection of things that we don't use anymore, as well as the things we use instead.


Teachers

For tips on starting an intergenerational program in your school, check out our Teachers Guide.


Date of broadcast: 3 Sep 2019


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2020 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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