Timelines

Timelines*

Timelines contain different types of information and span different lengths of time. The help students understand chronology, issues of continuity, change, and cause and effect. A timeline is a tool to assist with learning; they are a type of graphic organizer. They help students synthesize and evaluate learning and should not be the total of student learning about a topic.

Procedural Recommendations:

1. Select a unit for which chronology/sequencing is essential. Instruct students on the concept of  
sequencing.

2. Determine what increments will be marked on the timeline (1 year, 10 years, etc…).

3. Structure questions related to the lesson/unit objectives that encourage students to think critically 
in choosing items for the timeline or in evaluating items on an existing timeline.

4. Encourage the use of mixed media (words, pictures, photographs, etc…). Timelines can even be 
acted out.

Suggestions for Use:

Primary Grades: Chronicle the day or their life

Intermediate Grades: Historical Events

*Obenchain, K.M. & Morris, R.V. (2011). 50 social studies strategies for k-8 classrooms (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Here are some timelines created by my social studies methods students highlighting some of the major historical topics we covered while reading A Young People's History of the United States.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-1itcVTg1EuMVNnRUtNSWVEeUFHajNLVmNaa3IyQ1pUNkdv/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B29mdPfkfwGyTjdtbWE4OXVTRHc/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B29mdPfkfwGyUmhZUkNsMjVZU3M/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B29mdPfkfwGycnJsNXpnb19IUzQ/edit?usp=sharing

Unsung Heroes

The Zinn Education Project, in collaboration with Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change offer classroom resources to assist teachers in teaching outside of the social studies text book. One such activity can be found in A People's History for the Classroom. In "Teaching About Unsung Heroes" students become acquainted with individuals who worked tirelessly for racial and gender justice. In following the activity guidelines, my Elementary Curriculum students acquainted themselves with a hero of choice, took on that individuals persona, and "mixed and mingled" with other social justice heroes in the room. After our networking session, the students were placed in small groups where they created VoiceThreads* highlighting the lives of unsung heroes. Here are three examples of their creations.




http://voicethread.com/share/4997506/

https://voicethread.com/share/4997490/

http://voicethread.com/share/4997477/

*A VoiceThread account maybe needed to access some of the Threads.

How Children's Books Fuel Mascot Stereotypes

Check out this link from Colorlines for an interview with Debbie Reese.

http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/04/mascot_stereotype_start_in_childrens_books_an_interview_with_debbie_reese.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter