How to Create a Homeschool History Timeline

Homeschool families teach their children history in many different ways. Some families learn history based off the usual public school method of jumping from period to period with little rhyme or reason. Others start at the very beginning and follow it chronologically through to present day. Whatever the method used, many homeschool families create history timelines to help them.

Materials Needed for the Homeschool History Timeline

1. Twenty four large white poster boards
2. Clear packing tape
3. Black permanent marker
4. Ruler or measuring tape
5. Other drawing tools
6. Information

Constructing the Homeschool History Timeline Template

The first step in constructing a homeschool history timeline is taping the poster board pieces together. Putting them short end to short end, you will use the clear packing tape to completely cover the front and back sides of where the two join. Make sure they do not overlap, as you will want this place to be able to fold.

After the poster board is connected, draw a line about three inches down from the top across all of the poster board pieces. This will be the actual time line and the dates will be written above this.

Recording Dates and Eras on the Homeschool History Timeline

The next step is to write in the dates across the top of the timeline. If you are making a whole history timeline, here is how you will do it. The first page is reserved for eras of the earth. This is where you include the Pre-Cambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras.

The pages after that are reserved for actual history. The homeschool history timeline can start in the year 5,000 BC. Each one hundred year interval will take up six inches on the timeline. This will continue until the year "0." From 1 AD until 1600, each one hundred years should take ten inches. From 1600 to 1800, each twenty-five years should be ten inches. From 1800 to present day, you should increase that to ten inches for every ten years.

Using the History Timeline in Homeschool Lessons

No matter what historical time period, famous person, or scientific discovery that you are studying in your homeschool lesson, you can record it on the timeline. It is easy to find the appropriate year for each event. Then, you should draw a straight line down the page from that place and write your information. You can really make your homeschool history timeline look great if you use graphics, historical clipart, or drawings to illustrate the events or people you include.

Creating a Homeschool History Timeline can be done in multiple ways. There are those that prefer to build a wall timeline where the dates and events that shaped them are affixed to a wall. Others prefer to use an easy to carry three ring binder to house their timeline. While this is easy to transport and store, it leaves something to be desired. It is more difficult to visualize the passage of time if everything is on separate sheets of paper.

The poster board homeschool history timeline described in this article satisfies the needs of most homeschool families. Not only do you get a large timeline that shows the passage of time through history, it is also relatively easy to store, study, and augment when necessary. This homeschool history timeline will serve your family throughout your entire homeschool career.