Have you tried creating a timeline recently? I did, and what an enlightening experience it was! First, I had to find answers to questions I had about a topic. Then, I evaluated the information to check for accuracy. Finally, I constructed a cause and effect timeline.
Designing one timeline covers many competencies. Take a look at the tables below. You’ll notice how creating timelines connects the AASL Standards Framework for Learners with the Social Studies State Standards. Scroll down further to find lesson ideas that support the standards.
Ask Questions
Find Reliable Information
Construct Information
Lesson Ideas
- Show learners examples of illustrated timelines. Here are two of my favorites found in picture books:
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood
- Ask learners what they notice about the timelines. Discuss what is included in a timeline. Tell learners they will create a timeline by gathering information from a story you will read to them.
Younger Grades
- Introduce The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story by Darcy Pattison. Explain that the story is about an event that took place a while ago.
- Tell learners that they have a job to do while you read the story. They will raise their hand when they hear an event that should be included in a timeline. Write the events on chart paper.
- View the dates for the events at the end of the book. Add them to the chart paper.
- Invite learners to create a timeline with paper, pencils, markers, and rulers. They can also use the following timeline generators:
- Ask learners the following questions:
- What did you notice while designing your timelines?
- What caused the events to happen?
- How have things changed? How are they the same?
Older Grades
- Read All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff by Meghan McCarthy. Ask learners to make note of important events while you read.
- Watch Voyage of the Mobro 4000 by the New York Times. Ask learners to raise their hands when they hear an important date. Stop the video. Ask the following questions:
- What did you hear? Why is it important?
- Give learners time to write notes about the event.
- Invite learners to create a timeline with paper, pencils, markers, and rulers. They can also use one of the following AASL Best Websites for Teaching & Learning:
- Time.Graphics: Watch Time Graphics: Awesome Timelines by Heather Moorefield-Lang to learn about Time.Graphics.
- HSTRY: Read Ideas for Using AASL Best Websites by Heather Moorefield-Lang.
- Ask learners the following questions:
- What did you notice while designing your timelines?
- What caused the events to happen?
- How have things changed? How are they the same?
Do you have a lesson idea that meets many standards? Please share!
Author: Maureen Schlosser
Author: Lessons Inspired by Picture Books for Primary Grades and Social and Emotional Learning for Picture Book Readers published by ALA Editions
Blogger: https://LibraryLessonsWithBooks.com
Skillshare Teacher: https://skl.sh/3a852D5
Categories: Blog Topics, Student Engagement/ Teaching Models
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