"Hang" a Time

Students will create their own timelines in a simple "clothesline" format using newspapers as a resource for dates, times and words for related events. Criteria will be simple at first to assure understanding but can be made more complex with subsequent activities.

A lesson plan for grade 3 Mathematics

By Cora Mae Pipkin

Learn more

Related pages

• In math, "elegant" means "cool"!: An elegant solution to a math problem is one that requires less time and work. Encouraging students to find such solutions will help them build number sense or numeracy.
• Math Fun: We have compiled some of our favorite mathematics instructional resources to help students develop a sense of numbers and how they are used by us everyday. Students will have fun practicing their skills and trying new problem-solving ideas.
• Beginning lesson on Coordinate Grids-First Quadrant: Students will investigate the first quadrant of the Cartesian coordinate system. They will use online activities developed by Shodor.org to identify the coordinates of points, or plot specific points. Then students will progress to an activity where they direct a robot through a mine field laid out on the coordinate plane. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop - "Interactivate Your Bored Math Students" by Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.

Related topics

• Learn more about mathematics.

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

Learning outcomes

Students will:

• read in a newspaper to identify and relate to dates and times.
• learn to organize dates/times sequentially.
• match dates and events in real life.
• understand the value and purpose of a timeline.
• create their own timelines in relation to important events in their lives.
• share and interpret their timelines to others.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1 hour

Materials/resources

newspapers
paper
scissors/glue stick/pencil
piece of yarn
list of required items to be included on their time line

Technology resources

None

Pre-activities

• Teacher displays timeline samples in the classroom and points out timelines in texts, magazines, etc.
• Class will share ideas on the uses and value of timelines.
• The class will make a timeline in the classroom of school-related events as a model.
• Students will have used newspapers for various activities and be familiar with sections of the newspapers which will be good sources for dates, times, etc.

Activities

1. Students will brainstorm different themes for timelines they could make. (ex: what they did today, important events in their own lives, etc.)
2. Teacher will describe and post list of items to be required on timelines for this activity.
3. On a piece of notebook paper, students will make a list of approximate times and events they do each day (ex: 6:00 a.m - wake up, etc.)
4. Materials will be given to each student (the number of newspaper sections may be limited depending on the students’ organizational skills). Review how to glue the yarn across the paper as the “line.”
5. Teacher will show model of a timeline that was completed during pre-activity and review criteria expected (ex; title, dates, events, etc).
6. Students will look through and verbally discuss which sections of the newspaper would be best to find the type of information they will need to complete a timeline. (ex: TV guide for times, sports page for dates, etc.)
7. Students will look for times and events for their personal timeline in print in the newspaper and cut out for placement on their own timeline.
8. Students will “hang” their items on the yarn timeline in a sequential and organized manner.
9. Students will check posted list to assure all required items are included and turn list in.

Assessment

• Using a checklist of items to be included on the time line, the following categories will be reviewed:
  1. title of time line
  2. minimum number of dates/times are “hung” on the line
  3. events are present that coincide with the dates/times
  4. dates/times are in sequential order
  5. overall appearance is neat and legible.
• Students will verbally share their timelines with the class to communicate understanding of activity and take pride in their completed activity.
• (optional) Give a homework assignment of creating a timeline of important events in their lives. Have a list of specific events to be included (ex: Date born, first steps, first day at school, birthdays of siblings, etc.)

Supplemental information

Point out samples of time lines in social studies and math texts, Weekly Reader/Scholastic Magazines, etc. (Note web sites below for samples on various formats of timelines.)

Make pre-activity sample timeline for display.

This may be done as a small group activity instead of an individual activity.

Related websites

Samples of timelines that may be of interest to students can be found at:
http://www.lewisclark.net/timeline/index.html
re: Lewis and Clark expedition
http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/
re: Salem Witch Trials http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/5176/printro.html re: Power Rangers

Comments

Expansion ideas:

• Timelines of the school calendar can be kept in the room throughout the year using a clothesline and clothespins to “hang” indicators of the events.
• Make a timeline of events from social studies text (ex: Discovery of America, Pilgrims’ trip to Plymouth, etc.)
• Make a timeline of a Science activity such as growing a plant from a seed.
• Have the students write out an interpretation of a timeline which you have posted in the room or on the overhead as a Language Arts activity.