School Long Ago and Today


Long ago, school was very different. Children did not have computers.
They did not have paper notebooks. They used small stone slates to write.
A slate is a flat, dark stone. It looks like a tiny chalkboard.
Kids used a chalk pencil to write on it. They wiped it clean with a cloth.
Once it was clean, they could write again. They could not save their work.
Today, school is different. Many kids use digital tablets.
Tablets are bright and colorful. You can tap the screen with your finger.
You can write, draw, and play games. The tablet saves your work.
Both tools help kids learn to write. Which tool would you like to use?
- slate:
- A flat, dark piece of stone that was used long ago for writing on, similar to a small chalkboard.
- tablet:
- A small computer with a flat screen that is bright, colorful, and used by touching the screen with your finger.
- cloth:
- A soft piece of material used to clean chalk off a slate.
- chalkboard:
- A dark board that you write on using chalk.
- screen:
- The flat part of a computer or tablet that shows pictures and words.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What did children long ago use to write on instead of paper notebooks?
- 2What does a stone slate look like?
Where this passage belongs
About this explanatory article passage for 1st Grade
“School Long Ago and Today” is a explanatory article reading passage about Comparing Past and Present Schools, written for 1st Grade. It takes about 1 minute to read (115 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.