Overview: Students will create a timeline for an explorer using an Internet timeline generator. They will illustrate and share their timelines.

Instructional Objectives: Students will:

1. Understand the concept of a timeline
2. Create a timeline for the explorer researched in lesson one
3. Understand how text features(e.g., format, graphics, sequence, diagrams, illustrations, charts, maps) make information accessible and usable (California State Standard, Language Arts: 2.1 Structural features of informational materials)

Time Required: Two or three 45-60 minute class periods

Advance Preparation and prerequisite knowledge/skills:

1. The teacher should practice using the timeline generator at http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/timelines/
2. Find examples of timelines in the social studies text or encyclopedias
3. Students should be able to:
   • Use the Internet
   • Save and print documents from the Internet

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Materials: computers with Internet access that are connected to a printer

Vocabulary: Timeline

Procedures:

1. Explain and discuss timelines
2. Show examples of timelines
3. Emphasize that timelines are graphic organizers that summarize and briefly give and information about a subject
4. Have students view timelines on the Internet at the following sites:

   http://worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/timeline.html
   http://pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/timeline/f_timeline.html
   http://americanhistory.si.edu/timeline/index.htm
   http://infoplease.com/spot/timelinearchive.html

5. Discuss the characteristics of a good timeline (easily read, illustrations)
6. Have students select 6-9 major events in the explorer's life to put on the timeline
7. Have students write a short summary of each event with up to 50 characters (letters and spaces) only
   

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Activities:

1. View timelines on the Internet
2. Select 6-9 events in the explorer's life
3. Write a brief (50 character) summary of each event
4. Create a timeline of the explorer's life using the timeline generator at http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/timelines/ (Students can also make timelines using Microsoft Word or Excel. Visit http://forsyth.k12.ga.us/kadkins/timeline.htm for more information
5. Print the timeline
6. Optional: Draw illustrations for any of the events on the timeline

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Evaluation: Use the rubric to evaluate. Click here for the rubric.

Homework and Extensions:

1. Homework: Students finish drawing illustrations for at least four of the events on the timeline.
2. Extensions: Students make a timeline of their own lives so far and imagine four or five future events with projected dates to include, such as graduating from high school and college, first job, marriage, first child)

Student Samples: Click here for student sample

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