Friday, June 22, 2007

Back-of-the-Door World Timeline

Due to a recent move, we had less wall space in the school room than before so we couldn't put up our world timeline on the wall as we did in previous years. We decided to attach the cards to poster board (with non-waterproof glue stick) and place the timeline behind the door. This picture shows three years of history study recorded horizontally and there is still room for the last year. It has worked out beautifully.

If you choose to use this format with very young children, I suggest beginning at the bottom of the door and working your way upwards. I think the string wall timeline is still the best way to go because it gives a simple visual chronological flow for the young child, but if wall space is limited, this could do in a pinch.


one step at a time...

10 comments:

  1. Wow. I just love the creativity and flexibility of a homeschooler...

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  2. Nice space-saving idea!

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  3. Lindafay-
    We do our timeline as index cards, too. Each child does their own set and keeps them in a file box. At exam time, they arrange them in order on a long butcher paper timeline (of course they have done this several times during the term).
    I like this idea for displaying them for a longer period of time.
    You're always so helpful!
    Thanks,
    Shannon

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  4. Shannon,
    We like to take them down, too and see if we can put them in order. That is why I used non permanent glue.

    I just like my kids to be able to see the big picture of history on the wall when they are little on a frequent basis. Do you feel that when the cards are in a box it prevents this from happening?

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  5. Lindafay--
    I do believe that my little people are not able to see the big picture when the cards are in the box. I was just contemplating (this past week) making a simple wall timeline with pictures for the younger children exactly because of this reason.
    I have two "classes" because of the spread of ages of my children. Do you think a simple timeline on the wall or a "family" century book would be a better choice? My 3 younger children are preschoolers. My older 3 are 11, 9 and 8.
    I value your opinion.
    Warm regards,
    Shannon

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  6. Shannon,
    I vote for a wall timeline for the young ones. If you plan to do history a second time around, I suggest having your older students begin personal timeline notebooks and let them tailor it to their personalities. Of course I know nothing about your homeschooling situation, so none of the above may apply : )

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  7. That's beautiful! I think timelines in almost any format that have been executed are wonderful. We've been taping our little flip cards (picture on front/narration on back) to a long horizontal laminated series of poster board but have recently started taking each notation and taping it into a 6-sheet, 12-sided laminated section of her notebook. Now it will likely be looked at even more often than on the wall! Yay!

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  8. This is a great idea---thanks for sharing.

    Many blessings to your family...

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  9. DO you mingle the egyptian pharaohs with the time of Jacob on thru Moses being in Egypt? and if so, what pharaohs have you found go where? Like during the Exodus is it Hatshepsut, Thutmose, Ramses II, or Ahmose? etc....

    One timeline I found shows Moses 4000 BC and another shows him 2000 BC ...

    thank you,
    Swylv

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  10. Swylv,
    We use David Rohl's new chronology. It lines up with Biblical history. I first heard about him from the Shearers of Greenleaf. He puts Moses at 1500. You can read more about him at Wikipedia.

    Warmly,

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