“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
The story of communism developing in China is complicated. It involved domestic struggle and international conflict. Creating a chronology of these events will help students understand why communism was initially so appealing to many Chinese citizens.
Students will create a storyboard timeline of the development of communism in China in the 20th century. The timeline should include 8-10 cells and must include:
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 and adjust the instructions accordingly.
(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 Chinese communism.
Grade Level 9-12
Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)
Type of Assignment Individual or Group
Type of Activity: Timelines
(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. |
The story of communism developing in China is complicated. It involved domestic struggle and international conflict. Creating a chronology of these events will help students understand why communism was initially so appealing to many Chinese citizens.
Students will create a storyboard timeline of the development of communism in China in the 20th century. The timeline should include 8-10 cells and must include:
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 and adjust the instructions accordingly.
(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 Chinese communism.
Grade Level 9-12
Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)
Type of Assignment Individual or Group
Type of Activity: Timelines
(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. |
Engage students by initiating a whole-class or small-group discussion after timeline creation. Encourage students to share insights, compare timelines, and ask questions about the events. This deepens understanding and helps students connect historical events to broader themes.
Ask students to identify how one event led to another on their timelines. Guide them to think critically about connections, such as how the Long March influenced later policies. This reinforces historical thinking skills and helps students grasp the complexity of history.
Share excerpts from speeches, posters, or photographs related to key events. Have students analyze these sources within their timelines, adding context and personal perspectives. This brings history to life and supports visual learning.
Organize a gallery walk or online showcase where students view each other's timelines. Prompt students to give constructive feedback about historical accuracy and creativity. This fosters collaboration and builds confidence in sharing ideas.
Key events in the rise of communism in China include the leadership of Sun Yixian, the conflict between Nationalists and Communists, the Long March, World War I and II's impact, Mao Zedong's rise, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution.
Students can create a storyboard timeline by dividing events into 8-10 cells, labeling each with a major event, writing brief descriptions, and adding illustrations that represent key figures and moments in the development of communism in China.
Communism appealed to many Chinese citizens due to promises of equality, land reform, and an end to corruption and foreign influence, especially during times of war, poverty, and unstable leadership.
A timeline is a sequence of events in order, often linear, while a timeline poster is a more visual, creative display that can be used for presentations or gallery walks, allowing for group collaboration and enhanced visuals.
Main figures include Sun Yixian (Sun Yat-sen), Mao Zedong, and Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek), each playing significant roles in shaping China's political path during the 20th century.
“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