Activity Overview
Mystery surrounds one of the earliest English colonies. Colonists came to Roanoke Island in Chesapeake Bay in the late sixteenth century, but no evidence of the colony remained a mere three years after its founding.
In this activity, students will research the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” and create a timeline that depicts the events between its founding and eventual disappearance. From John White’s initial landing, to the English defeat of the Spanish Armada, students will have a variety of exciting events to represent this historical mystery. Students will not have a definitive answer as to “What happened to Roanoke?” for the final event of their timeline; students should create a historical hypothesis of what they think is the most likely result of the Roanoke colonists.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options!
Extended Activity: Roanoke Crime Scene Investigation
For this extended activity, students should present their timelines to the class and explain what they believe happened to the lost colonists of Roanoke. Following all the presentations, students should vote on what they believe is the most credible hypothesis. A student can be selected to be the judge or police chief to tally the votes and read the majority decision of the class.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline that illustrates the major events of the Roanoke colony.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Add additional cells as needed.
- In the title of each cell, note the major event in the settlement of the Roanoke colony.
- In each description box, describe the event.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events and Dates | The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct. | Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct. | Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect. |
| Explanations/Descriptions | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events. | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events. | There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing. |
| English Conventions | There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
Activity Overview
Mystery surrounds one of the earliest English colonies. Colonists came to Roanoke Island in Chesapeake Bay in the late sixteenth century, but no evidence of the colony remained a mere three years after its founding.
In this activity, students will research the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” and create a timeline that depicts the events between its founding and eventual disappearance. From John White’s initial landing, to the English defeat of the Spanish Armada, students will have a variety of exciting events to represent this historical mystery. Students will not have a definitive answer as to “What happened to Roanoke?” for the final event of their timeline; students should create a historical hypothesis of what they think is the most likely result of the Roanoke colonists.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options!
Extended Activity: Roanoke Crime Scene Investigation
For this extended activity, students should present their timelines to the class and explain what they believe happened to the lost colonists of Roanoke. Following all the presentations, students should vote on what they believe is the most credible hypothesis. A student can be selected to be the judge or police chief to tally the votes and read the majority decision of the class.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline that illustrates the major events of the Roanoke colony.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Add additional cells as needed.
- In the title of each cell, note the major event in the settlement of the Roanoke colony.
- In each description box, describe the event.
- Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 25 Points | Beginning 17 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Events and Dates | The events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. The dates provided are correct. | Most of the events chosen for the timeline are significant and important to the overall understanding of the time period. Most of the dates provided are correct. | Some of the events chosen for the timeline are significant. There may be missing events, or events that are irrelevant. Too many dates may be incorrect. |
| Explanations/Descriptions | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are accurate and provide insight into the significance of the events. | The explanations or descriptions provided for each event are mostly accurate and attempt to provide insight into the significance of the events. | There are several glaring inaccuracies in the explanations or descriptions of the events. There may be little or no insight int the significance of the events, or the information provided may be too limited or missing. |
| English Conventions | There are 0-2 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 3-4 mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. | There are 5 or more mistakes in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
How Tos about Timeline of the Lost Colony of Roanoke
Incorporate primary sources to deepen Roanoke timeline research
Enhance your students' understanding by introducing primary sources—such as maps, letters, or journal entries—from the Roanoke era. Providing authentic historical documents lets students explore real perspectives and details, making their timelines more accurate and engaging.
Guide students in analyzing and summarizing primary sources
Teach students to read, highlight, and paraphrase sections of primary sources relevant to key Roanoke events. Model how to extract important information and help students summarize it in their own words for their timeline descriptions.
Encourage critical thinking by comparing different historical accounts
Ask students to identify similarities and differences in how various primary sources describe a single event. Facilitate a brief discussion about why accounts may differ, reinforcing historical thinking skills.
Support students in citing their primary sources
Show students how to create simple citations for the primary sources they use. Explain the importance of crediting sources to develop research skills and historical integrity.
Invite students to present how primary sources shaped their hypotheses
Have students share which primary sources most influenced their final theory about the fate of Roanoke. Encourage brief, focused presentations to connect research to their historical hypothesis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Timeline of the Lost Colony of Roanoke
What is the Lost Colony of Roanoke and why is it important in American history?
The Lost Colony of Roanoke refers to an early English settlement established on Roanoke Island in the late 1500s. It is important because the entire colony mysteriously vanished within a few years, becoming one of America's greatest unsolved historical mysteries and sparking ongoing curiosity and research.
How can students create an effective timeline for the Roanoke Colony?
To create an effective timeline, students should identify key events from the founding of Roanoke to its disappearance, describe each event clearly, and use visuals or illustrations. Including a historical hypothesis at the end helps demonstrate critical thinking about what may have happened to the colonists.
What are some major events to include in a Roanoke Colony timeline?
Key events to feature include John White’s initial landing, the establishment of the colony, interactions with Native Americans, John White’s return to England, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the eventual discovery that the colony had disappeared.
What are some creative alternatives to a traditional timeline for teaching about Roanoke?
Teachers can have students create a timeline poster for presentations or gallery walks, or design a crime scene investigation activity where students present hypotheses and vote on the most credible explanation for the colony’s fate.
Why do historians still debate what happened to the Roanoke colonists?
Historians debate the fate of the Roanoke colonists because there is no definitive evidence explaining their disappearance. The lack of clear clues has led to multiple theories, making it a fascinating topic for research and discussion in classrooms.
More Storyboard That Activities
Age of Exploration in America
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
