Past Simple
1) talk about something that happened in the past and is finished
1) We got up early yesterday.
2) He bought a guitar last week.
3) She died ten years ago.
Past Continuous
1) talk about things that took a long time in the past.
2) talk about things that were happening at the same time.
3) talk about something that was interrupted by something else.
1) I was doing my homework all day yesterday.
2) I was swimming in the pool while my sister was sunbathing.
3) I was having a shower when the water stopped.