Time Change

I've been teaching 8th grade social studies for the past 6 weeks and have realized more than ever before that 13 year-olds have absolutely ZERO sense of time. (Or consequence. But that's another story.) Common questions I've gotten while teaching about the American Revolution:

Me: So you see, these rules in the colony of Massachusetts are still laws in the state of Massachusetts.

Student: Wait! So you mean things that happened, like, a million years ago are still affect us now?!?!?!?!

Me: ::blank stare::... Well... yes, but... this was only, like, 250 years ago.

Student: Isn't that the same thing??

Me: George Washington was only about 30 years old when he took control of the Continental Army -

Student: 30? Isn't that, like, really really old??

Me: ::blank stare:: Nooo.....

Me: So the Americans and British couldn't have battles during the winter because their gunpowder would get wet and so the guns wouldn't fire.

Student: Couldn't they just use bombs?

Other Student: Or missiles?

Yet Another Student: Or tanks?

Me: They didn't have any of those things.

Student: Why? Were they poor?

Me: No, they hadn't been invented yet.

Student: Well, if I were there I would've invented bombs.

Me: ::blank stare::

WOW.