Activity Overview
Timelines are a helpful way for students to organize facts, people and events and to visualize how certain events impacted those that followed. By using the Storyboard That Creator to construct a timeline, students go beyond simply memorizing dates and are able to think critically about how to illustrate and describe important events.
This example highlights a few of the important dates leading up to the The Vietnam War, however, any topic could be used! Teachers could have students create timelines of specific historical periods that they are studying. They could illustrate the progression of a topic through the ages such as the history of voting rights or the history of the printing press! Timelines could be used in ELA to show the progression of events throughout a story or a biography of a person's life. The possibilities are endless!
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster or a worksheet sized timeline 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: Create a timeline in chronological order with accurate dates, descriptions. and illustrations for 10 important events relating to your topic.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Choose 5-10 important events related to your topic.
- In the timeline template, click on “Timeline Dates”, and write the dates of each milestone in the date cells in chronological order. Then click “update timeline”.
- For each cell, write a title at the top and write a 3-5 sentence description at the bottom for each event.
- Create an illustration that represents each event using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Requirements: 10 events listed with correct dates, 3-5 sentence description and appropriate illustration.
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
Timelines are a helpful way for students to organize facts, people and events and to visualize how certain events impacted those that followed. By using the Storyboard That Creator to construct a timeline, students go beyond simply memorizing dates and are able to think critically about how to illustrate and describe important events.
This example highlights a few of the important dates leading up to the The Vietnam War, however, any topic could be used! Teachers could have students create timelines of specific historical periods that they are studying. They could illustrate the progression of a topic through the ages such as the history of voting rights or the history of the printing press! Timelines could be used in ELA to show the progression of events throughout a story or a biography of a person's life. The possibilities are endless!
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster or a worksheet sized timeline 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: Create a timeline in chronological order with accurate dates, descriptions. and illustrations for 10 important events relating to your topic.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Choose 5-10 important events related to your topic.
- In the timeline template, click on “Timeline Dates”, and write the dates of each milestone in the date cells in chronological order. Then click “update timeline”.
- For each cell, write a title at the top and write a 3-5 sentence description at the bottom for each event.
- Create an illustration that represents each event using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're finished.
Requirements: 10 events listed with correct dates, 3-5 sentence description and appropriate illustration.
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 History Timeline Project
How can I help younger students brainstorm timeline events effectively?
Guide students through a collaborative brainstorming session by starting with a class discussion about the topic and asking prompting questions to spark ideas. Use a large chart or digital board to collect ideas so everyone can see and contribute, making the process inclusive and engaging.
Model how to select the most important events for a timeline.
Demonstrate how to prioritize events by discussing which moments had the biggest impact on the topic. Explain your choices out loud so students learn to distinguish between major milestones and supporting details.
Show students how to research accurate dates and details.
Guide students to use trusted sources like textbooks and educational websites for their research. Model fact-checking and cross-referencing information to ensure accuracy for each timeline entry.
Encourage creativity in illustrating timeline events.
Suggest students use drawings, digital images, or magazine cutouts to represent each event. Highlight how visuals make information memorable and help tell the story of their chosen topic.
Provide feedback and celebrate student timelines.
Review each timeline for completeness and accuracy, offering specific praise and constructive suggestions. Organize a gallery walk or virtual showcase to celebrate students’ hard work and learning!
Frequently Asked Questions about History Timeline Project
What is a history timeline project for students?
A history timeline project is an educational activity where students organize and illustrate key events, people, or facts in chronological order. This helps them visualize the sequence of events and understand their historical impact.
How do I create a timeline using Storyboard That?
To create a timeline with Storyboard That, start the assignment, select 5-10 important events, enter each event's date and description, add a title, and create illustrations using the platform's scenes and characters. Save your work when finished.
What are some good topics for a high school timeline project?
Great topics for high school timeline projects include the Vietnam War, history of voting rights, the printing press, biographies, or key events from a novel or historical period being studied in class.
Why are timelines effective for teaching history?
Timelines help students go beyond memorizing dates by encouraging critical thinking about how events connect and influence each other. They also support visual learners and make complex information more accessible.
What are alternatives to traditional timeline layouts for classroom projects?
Alternatives include timeline posters, worksheet-sized timelines for presentations or gallery walks, or adding multiple templates to give students creative options in displaying chronological information.
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