From a child’s perspective, growing up may be exciting. From an adult’s perspective, growing older is downright depressing. So how can a teacher inform students about the process of aging? Why, by using the Internet of course!
Young Me / Now Me
There is a fantastic new site that is called Young Me / Now Me that showcases side-by-side photos of people back when they were young… and then also them doing the same pose in present day. It makes for both an entertaining experience for Mr. Everyday Internet User but can also be applied to the classroom.
How To Use It
For example, you can have students bring in photos of themselves doing anything. They can show off the picture to the class. Then you can have them promise to recreate the photo in 10, 15, 20+ years. After they promise, ask them what they think will be different about them in the future. Do they think they’ll be physically different… will their hair be a different color? Will they be in a different location? Will recreating their chosen picture be easy or impossible? These critical thinking questions will really get the ball rolling on getting students to think about their future without delving into the more morbid topics of mortality.
Be sure to check out Young Me / Now Me as it has delightful side-by-side photos. Here’s a smattering of some of my favorites!
And my favorite one of them all, where the son becomes the father:
