Back in My Day
(Focused on life, culture, and history from 1950s–1980s)
(Focused on life, culture, and history from 1950s–1980s)
Current Trends
Bridging the Generations
Slang Word Match
School Days
100
In the 1950s, this was the most common way to listen to music at home.
What is a record player?
100
This social media platform is known for its short, viral video clips, and is especially popular for dance challenges.
What is TikTok?
100
In the 1950s, this was the primary method for families to watch television. Today, we stream content through apps like Netflix.
What is a television set with antennas?
100
In the 1960s, this term meant “cool” or “great,” while today, the same meaning is conveyed by this word used by teens.
What is far out (1960s) and lit (today)?
100
This was the primary way students learned to do math in the 1960s, while today, we use calculators and apps.
What is a slide rule?
200
This popular dance craze from the 1960s involved twisting your hips.
Bonus: 100 points if you can show us your moves!
What is The Twist?
200
This streaming service has hit shows like Stranger Things.
What is Netflix?
200
In the 1980s, this was the most popular way to listen to music, while today, streaming platforms like Spotify dominate.
What is a cassette tape or Walkman?
200
In the 1980s, this word meant to leave or go away, but today, it refers to something that’s really uncool or boring.
What is bounce (1980s) and lame (today)?
200
In the 1980s, this was a popular classroom item used for writing, while today, most students use these to take notes.
What is a pencil (1980s) and a laptop/tablet (today)?
300
In the 1970s, this iconic video game featuring a yellow circle eating dots became a hit.
What is Pac-Man?
300
This video game, where players build and survive in a pixelated world, has a huge following of both kids and adults.
What is Minecraft?
300
This type of communication device was common in the 1960s, but today, we use smartphones for calls, texts, and social media.
What is a rotary phone?
300
This phrase from the 1970s meant very fashionable or trendy, and today it’s used to describe someone who is successful or admirable.
What is groovy (1970s) and slay (today)?
300
In the 1960s, if a student needed to look something up for a report, they couldn’t Google it—they had to flip through one of these big books found in school libraries.
What is an encyclopedia?
400
Before cell phones and texting, this two-way communication device was clipped onto belts and would beep when someone sent a numeric message.
What is a pager (or beeper)?
400
This singer, who rose to fame with hits like Bad Guy, is known for her bold fashion choices and Grammy wins.
Who is Billie Eilish?
400
In the 1990s, people used this to search the web, while now most people use Google as their search engine.
What is Yahoo!?
400
Back in the 1950s, this word meant to talk or chat, while today, it refers to texting or messaging online.
What is shoot the breeze (1950s) and DM (today)?
400
Back in the day, this was the way students traded music, but now, we use streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify to listen.
What is a CD?
500
This fashion item, often worn by teens in the 70s and 80s, flared out at the bottom.
What are bell-bottom jeans?
500
This tech company released the first iPhone in 2007, and its most recent model includes features like dynamic island and satellite connectivity.
What is Apple?
500
These used to be the primary way to send letters or packages, but today, people use email and instant messaging apps.
What is the postal mail or USPS?
500
In the 1990s, this word was used to refer to someone being deceptive or phony, while today it means someone who’s overly vain or self-absorbed.
What is poser (1990s) and basic (today)?
500
In the 1990s, students used this type of storage media to save their school projects, but today, kids use this to save and share work.
What is a floppy disk and Google Drive (today)?
600
In the 1960s and '70s, if you wanted to skip commercials while watching a TV show, you couldn’t—unless you recorded it on one of these bulky early home video systems.
What is a Betamax (or VHS)? 
600
This word, popularized on TikTok and in group chats, is used to describe a short obsession or hobby someone gets really into for a short time—like candle-making, croqueting, or roller skating.
What is a “phase” or “era”?
600
This classic 1985 song by a group of global artists to raise money for Africa was echoed in 2020 by celebrities singing “Imagine”—but the latter received mixed reviews.
What is “We Are the World”?
600
Back in the day, people said “cool” or “rad.” Now, if something is really awesome or stylish, it might be called this word.
What is “fire”?
600
In 1969, kids all over America watched history being made when these two astronauts became the first humans to walk on the moon.
Who are Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin?