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 Declaration of Independence, 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 5-10 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 1-3 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: 5-10 events listed with correct dates, 1-3 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 Declaration of Independence, 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 5-10 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 1-3 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: 5-10 events listed with correct dates, 1-3 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 to scaffold timeline research for all learners
Provide graphic organizers to help students break down their research into manageable parts. Start with a simple table or template where students can jot down key dates, events, and short notes before building their timeline. This supports organization and ensures no important details are missed.
Model how to identify key events
Show examples of significant events and explain why they matter. Discuss with students how to spot turning points or moments of change in a topic. This builds critical thinking and helps students focus on relevant information.
Guide students in sourcing accurate information
Teach students how to find reliable sources, such as textbooks, library databases, and reputable websites. Encourage cross-checking facts from multiple sources to ensure accuracy in their timelines. This promotes information literacy and responsible research habits.
Offer sentence starters for event descriptions
Provide prompts like, “This event was important because…” or “As a result of this event…”. These starters help students clearly explain why each event matters and improve their writing confidence.
Check for understanding with peer reviews
Have students swap timelines and give feedback using a simple checklist. This encourages collaboration and helps students recognize strengths and areas for improvement in their own work.
Frequently Asked Questions about History Timeline Project
What is a history timeline project for middle school students?
A history timeline project is an educational activity where students organize key events, people, and dates from a historical period or topic in chronological order. This project helps students visualize cause and effect and understand the sequence of historical events.
How can I create a timeline using Storyboard That?
To create a timeline with Storyboard That, start by selecting the timeline template, add 5-10 important events with accurate dates, write a brief description for each, and illustrate each event using characters and scenes. Save your completed timeline for presentation or sharing.
What are some good topics for a student history timeline project?
Great topics include the Declaration of Independence, history of voting rights, invention of the printing press, biographies of famous people, or the events of a novel. Choose topics that align with current lessons or student interests.
What are the key requirements for a successful timeline assignment?
A strong timeline assignment should have 5-10 events in chronological order, each with a correct date, a short description (1-3 sentences), and an original illustration for every event.
How can timelines help students think critically about history?
Timelines encourage students to analyze relationships between events, recognize patterns, and consider how earlier events impact later ones. This deepens their understanding beyond memorizing dates and fosters critical thinking.
More Storyboard That Activities
Middle School Projects
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
