How To Make

A Timeline

A timeline is an essential and interesting tool for history--and really many other subjects. For although the child may make it in any grade, it will never be complete. Regardless of the topic, a student will always discover fascinating facts to post on the timeline. 1271--Marco Polo to China, 221 B.C.--the Great Wall of China, 140 Ptolemy--astronomy, 800--the Book of Kells and on and on!

Now, let's get started! The instructions may be used individually or in a group.

If one is finding it difficult to actually get down to making a timeline, do it with the co-op. Read these directions, then offer to be the moderator (sometimes one just has to "take the bull by the horns"). That way, your child will benefit as well as others.

Each person should bring his own materials. Additionally, though not hard, some of the instructions are a little complex, so a younger child will need an adult's help throughout. Also, the second step is challenging, so all the Moms could help with this.

We have three timelines. We divided them because if they are too long, they become unwieldy and are useless. So we have one just for American history and another "The Master" which is actually two separate ones. Both follow the same construction, so we'll work with the bigger one. When that is finished, the shorter one can easily be done.

The following are the materials needed:

• lots of white paper The ideal is that old printer paper that has pages already attached to each other. If you can't find that, use regular copy/typing sheets, then tape them together.
• ruler
• pencil with eraser
• transparent tape
• medium tip black marker
• scissors
• clear plastic shelf cover
• colored pencils
• lots of room to work

*Lay out 13 sheets lengthwise. If they are separate, tape them together. It doesn't have to be a really secure job, just enough so that they don't slip. Three pieces of tape each should do it.

*Now this is the most difficult. But it can't be skipped. The plastic makes it very sturdy and useable. Honestly, I've tried it the without and just ended up pitching it in the trash...lots of time and effort wasted.

Back one side (if you taped the 13 sheets together back that side) of the long sheet with the Contact clear plastic. (Moms may want to practice this a little at home. There's kind of a trick to it.) Have children watch you closely, then they-or the Moms- can assist each other. It can be done. It can go lopsided. Just cut and pick up where you left off.

Do only one side.

*Stretch the non-backed side up and, from now on, this is the side on which to work.

*On the first sheet, measure--from the top to the bottom--to find the middle . Depending on how wide your paper is, it will be somewhere around 4.5 inches. Mark this spot. Continue a straight line all the way through the 13 sheets. Of course, to be sure it is straight, the students will have to mark the 4.5 inches at intervals, then connect them.

*Now working the opposite way, at the seams, (11 inches from each other) draw a line from top to bottom with a pencil and ruler.

*Then in the middle of each of the lines, draw another set of lines from top to bottom. For an easy way to measure, the new set is 5.5 inches from each of the original lines. There should be 24 total.

*Now, label these in pencil. At the beginning, on the left edge of the sheet, write 300 (this is B.C.), next line-200, then 100, 0, 100, and so on....2000 is at the beginning of the final sheet.

*Check. Recheck. Have the youngsters look over each others'. If there's a mistake, assure the children that it's much better now than after tracing it with a marker! Then you have to use white-out! (Notice, I speak from experience!)

*Trace the numbers with the black marker.

*Divide each of the 100 year segments in half. Draw a large dot.

*Divide each of these, marking the line into 25 year sections. These are designated by big dots, too.

We don't label 25, 50 or 75 years; it becomes too congested.

Ta-dah! The timeline is ready for all the attention it deserves!

A couple of suggestions: First, write in the birth of Jesus at 0 A.D.

Plan how and where to label different category dates. Then make a chart to remind everyone what to do. Laminate it and put in a prominent spot. For example, above the line, place the events of religion, American history, and world history. Below the middle, put arts (music, art, literature) and science.

To enter a date--draw lines (in chosen color) up or down and in various lengths from the actual timeline. At the endpoint, write the date and event. This minimizes a jumble in the center and puts all the white space to good use.

None of our walls is long enough to accommodate the timelines, so we roll them like scrolls.

Our ancient history timeline starts with creation, the fall, the flood. The first actual date is 5,000 B.C. Then I skipped to 3,000 B.C. to begin regular dating. It ends with 300 B.C., just the spot the first one begins!

Follow the same instructions as above. Draw the middle line that runs all through the papers. Then at every seam draw a line, then halve that, and mark with each 100 years. Divide again with the dots at every 25 years. I used 17 sheets for the ancient history timeline, but that can vary a little depending on what you allot for the beginning.

Although it may seem like a huge undertaking, once your timeline is assembled, everyone will be thrilled...and it will serve your family for years.

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