Activity Overview
Creating a timeline of a historical event, even one that is still so recent, can be helpful for students as they learn how current events impact their day to day life. In this activity, students will create a timeline of at least 5 events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can use school resources to research the different events and select the ones they deem most important. For example, the first known cases, when their school first went into lockdown, the development of the vaccine, etc. This example begins on December 31, 2019 with the first known detected case worldwide, but then focuses on the outbreak in the United States up through February 9th, 2021. Depending on when students are beginning this project, there may be many more events that they can 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.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Demonstrate your knowledge of Covid 19 Pandemic in the United States by creating a timeline of major events.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Using the timeline layout, add dates for at least 5 events.
- Include a caption of 1-2 sentences that describes the event.
- Create an illustration that represents each event using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Choose 5 or more major events in the Covid-19 pandemic. Add a description of the event in the description box and add an illustration with appropriate scenes, characters, symbols, or 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
Creating a timeline of a historical event, even one that is still so recent, can be helpful for students as they learn how current events impact their day to day life. In this activity, students will create a timeline of at least 5 events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can use school resources to research the different events and select the ones they deem most important. For example, the first known cases, when their school first went into lockdown, the development of the vaccine, etc. This example begins on December 31, 2019 with the first known detected case worldwide, but then focuses on the outbreak in the United States up through February 9th, 2021. Depending on when students are beginning this project, there may be many more events that they can 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.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Demonstrate your knowledge of Covid 19 Pandemic in the United States by creating a timeline of major events.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Using the timeline layout, add dates for at least 5 events.
- Include a caption of 1-2 sentences that describes the event.
- Create an illustration that represents each event using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Requirements: Choose 5 or more major events in the Covid-19 pandemic. Add a description of the event in the description box and add an illustration with appropriate scenes, characters, symbols, or 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 Covid-19 Timeline
How to Facilitate Meaningful Classroom Discussions About Students’ Covid-19 Timelines
Foster deeper understanding by guiding students to share, compare, and reflect on their timelines. This boosts engagement and helps students connect personal experiences to the broader pandemic story.
Set clear discussion goals
Define what you want students to gain from the discussion—such as recognizing patterns, building empathy, or analyzing causes and effects of major Covid-19 events.
Organize small-group sharing
Divide the class into groups of 3–4 and have each student present their timeline. Encourage group members to ask questions and identify similarities or unique choices in events.
Guide whole-class reflection
Invite groups to share highlights with the class. Use prompts like “Which events appeared most often?” or “How did different families experience lockdown?” to spark discussion.
Connect timelines to students’ lives
Encourage students to relate timeline events to their personal experiences. Ask them to share how certain events affected them or their community to build empathy and understanding.
Wrap up with a reflection activity
Have students write or draw about one key insight they gained from the discussion. This helps solidify learning and gives you feedback on their understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions about Covid-19 Timeline
What is a Covid-19 timeline activity for middle school students?
A Covid-19 timeline activity for middle school students involves researching and sequencing major events from the pandemic, such as key outbreak dates, school closures, and vaccine development, to help students understand how the pandemic unfolded and impacted daily life.
How can students create an engaging Covid-19 timeline for a class project?
Students can create an engaging Covid-19 timeline by selecting at least five significant events, writing short captions for each, and illustrating them with scenes, symbols, or characters. Using templates or posters can make the timeline visually appealing for presentations or gallery walks.
What are some important events to include in a Covid-19 pandemic timeline?
Key events to include are the first reported cases, school lockdowns, introduction of remote learning, vaccine rollouts, and major policy changes. Students may also add local milestones or events that affected their community.
Why is it helpful for students to learn about current events through timelines?
Timelines help students visualize the sequence and impact of events, making it easier to understand cause and effect, recognize patterns, and connect historical events to their own experiences.
What are creative alternatives to a traditional Covid-19 timeline assignment?
Alternatives include creating timeline posters for gallery walks, building digital timelines using online tools, or combining multiple templates to let students personalize how they present information.
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