Remembering the names, dates, and details of historical events can be a struggle for students. And figuring out how all of that isolated information connects? That is even more difficult. But understanding historical events and their relationships with each other is critical.
I want to help you facilitate deeper understanding and connection in your history lessons. And one of the best ways to achieve this is through timelines! To get you started, I have created this free U.S. Constitution timeline.
Why Use a U.S. Constitution Timeline?
A timeline is a powerful tool that provides a concrete way for students to connect historical concepts.
Timelines help students:
- view events as part of a larger movement
- sequence events in order
- activate prior knowledge
- identify cause and effect
- deepen their understanding of a historical period
My Best Tips for Teaching with Timelines
Why Many Students Don’t “Get” Timelines
As teachers, we commonly teach events one at a time, assuming that students are connecting the events in their minds. But when we teach events in “bits and pieces,” students learn most of their history out of context. As a result, they are unable to connect the individual details and grasp larger historical themes.
The solution?
Students need regular practice creating and interpreting timelines.
My Favorite Timeline Activities
Timelines don’t have to be boring! There are so many fun and engaging ways to incorporate timelines into your history instruction. Here are a few of my favorite timeline activities.
Illustrated Timeline
Students work together to construct an illustrated timeline of historical events. This can be done in many ways! For example:
- First, roll out a long strip of butcher paper for your students. You can do this horizontally or vertically.
- Next, use a bold marker to place dates on the paper.
- Then, have students cover the timeline in student drawings, index-cards, and/or primary sources which represent historical events.
Table Top Timeline
Students create a timeline across a table in the classroom. First, label sections of the table with dates using index cards. Next, students add objects, artifacts, and framed photographs to the table. They place these items next to the correct year on the timeline.
Digital Timeline
Have students create a timeline digitally. Don’t expect students to know how to use these digital resources on their own. Be sure to model several times – and even do a few altogether!
- ReadWriteThink Interactive Timeline – This program provides an easy-to-use digital timeline for students to fill in! In this timeline, students can enter a date, description, and image.
- Google Slides – Students can create a simple timeline using this editable timeline. Before sharing this with students, you can adjust it to fit your specific timeline needs!
- Sutori – Using Sutori, your students can create incredible timelines that include both text and images. You can even assign students to create a Sutori timeline through Google Classroom!
Human Timeline
One of my favorite timeline activities is the Human Timeline from Facing History. In this activity, students teach their peers about one event from the timeline. Then, they build a human timeline by lining up in the order of the events. I’ve used a variation of this activity in my Early Republic and Westward Expansion units. Learn more about this activity here!
Analyze Timelines
Go beyond creating timelines. Analyze them! Here are some ideas for helping students analyze timelines.
- Compare a timeline with another from history.
- Identify the time period covered by each timeline.
- Determine how each timeline has been divided.
- Study the timelines to see how events in one are related to events in the other.
- Identify a turning point in the timeline.
- Identify a problem and give advice to people from that time period.
- Create a new ending!
13 Key Events for Your U.S. Constitution Timeline
It’s difficult to narrow down events and know which to include and which to leave out. I’ve spent hours analyzing events, so you don’t have to! Here are 13 key events to use when teaching about the U.S. Constitution.
- March 1, 1781 – The Articles of Confederation are ratified.
- February 21, 1787 – A convention to discuss the Articles of Confederation revision is called.
- May 14, 1787 – The Constitutional Convention begins in Philadelphia, but only a few delegates arrive and the convention is postponed.
- May 25, 1787 – More delegates arrive and the Convention is called to order.
- May 29, 1787 – Edmund Randolph proposes the Virginia Plan.
- June 15, 1787 – The New Jersey plan is presented by William Patterson.
- July 12, 1787 – The Three-Fifths compromise is adopted, deciding how enslaved people would be counted.
- July 16, 1787 – The Connecticut Compromise is adopted, deciding representation in the House and Senate.
- September 17, 1787 – The delegates finish drafting the Constitution and the Convention adjourns.
- December 7, 1787 – Delaware is the first state to ratify the Constitution.
- June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. The Constitution is officially established.
- February 4, 1789 – George Washington is elected the first president of the United States.
- December 15, 1791 – The Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution in the form of ten amendments.
Get the Free U.S. Constitution Timeline
I hope these tips and resources help your students better understand and enjoy timelines in your classroom!
Download the free U.S. Constitution Timeline here.
Need more help teaching about the U.S. Constitution?
Are you looking for more resources to help you teach the U.S. Constitution?
- 3-Week U.S. Constitution Unit: This all-inclusive unit provides interactive lesson plans that will keep your students engaged and help them learn the information in a meaningful way.
- U.S. Constitution Primary Sources: An outline of 5 primary sources, complete with teaching suggestions. I have also created a compilation of primary sources for several other U.S. History topics as well!
- U.S. Constitution Videos: An overview of 5 videos teaching all about the U.S. Constitution.
US Constitution Lesson Plans for 5th Grade and Middle School
What an amazing blog! Thank you so much for everything! 🙂