Create a timeline
Create a personal or historical timeline using paper, markers, photos, and a ruler, arranging events chronologically with dates, drawings, and short descriptions.
Step-by-step guide to create a personal or historical timeline
How to create a timeline in Word - Easy tutorial
Step 1
Gather all the Materials Needed and lay them out on a flat table.
Step 2
Use your ruler and pencil to draw a straight horizontal line near the middle of the paper for the timeline baseline.
Step 3
Decide if your timeline will be personal or historical.
Step 4
Choose the starting year and the ending year for your timeline.
Step 5
Use your ruler to mark evenly spaced tick marks along the baseline for each year or event.
Step 6
Write each date or year neatly next to its tick mark with your pencil.
Step 7
Sort your photos and items into the chronological order they belong.
Step 8
Trim any photos or paper items to size with scissors if they are too big.
Step 9
Glue or tape each photo onto the paper near its correct date on the timeline.
Step 10
Write a short one sentence description under each photo that explains the event.
Step 11
Draw a small picture or symbol next to each event to show what happened using coloring materials.
Step 12
Write a big title at the top of the paper that tells people what your timeline is about.
Step 13
Decorate the edges of your timeline with stickers drawings or colors to make it bright.
Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a ruler, printed photos, or fancy coloring markers if we don't have them?
Use a straight book edge or a piece of cardboard as a ruler, draw or cut pictures from magazines instead of printed photos, and substitute crayons or colored pencils for coloring materials when following the timeline steps.
My baseline or tick marks look uneven and some photos won't stick flat—how can I fix these problems?
Redraw the baseline using the ruler substitute and pencil, measure tick spacing with folded paper before marking, and use a glue stick or small pieces of double-sided tape and press photos from the center outward to keep them flat on the paper.
How can I adapt this timeline activity for different ages?
For younger kids, reduce the number of dates, pre-sort and pre-trim photos, and let them use stickers for symbols, while older kids can choose longer date ranges, measure a precise scale with the ruler, write full-sentence captions, and research historical details for each event.
What are simple ways to improve or personalize the finished timeline beyond the basic steps?
Add a legend or scale bar near the baseline, laminate the paper or mount it on cardboard, write a short backstory on the back of each glued photo, and decorate the edges with themed stickers or washi tape before sharing on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to create a personal or historical timeline
How To Make An Easy Timeline PowerPoint Slide
4 Videos
How To Make An Easy Timeline PowerPoint Slide
Timelines for kids - A comprehensive overview of timelines for k-6 students
How to make a TIMELINE in Word | MS WORD Tutorials
How to make a TIMELINE in Canva - (Easy Tutorial)
Facts about history projects for kids
🖼️ Adding photos or drawings to a timeline makes events easier to remember because our brains love visual clues.
👧 Personal timelines are like tiny autobiographies: birthdays, firsts, and moves tell the story of your life so far.
🕰️ The AD/BC dating system (Anno Domini) was introduced in the 6th century by Dionysius Exiguus to number years from a single point.
📅 Timelines have been used for thousands of years — ancient king lists and annals helped people track rulers and seasons.
📏 Using a ruler keeps your timeline neat and helps you space dates proportionally so time looks accurate on the page.
How do you create a personal or historical timeline with a child?
What materials do I need for a child timeline activity?
What ages is this timeline activity suitable for?
What are the benefits of making a personal or historical timeline with a child?
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