How to Make Timelines

A timeline is a linear graphic that shows events in chronological order. Both horizontal and vertical timelines exist. On horizontal timelines, the earliest date is on the left side. The dates proceed in chronological order to the right. On vertical timelines, the earliest date is often at the top. The dates proceed in chronological order to the bottom. Timelines usually span large chunks of time, such as decades or centuries. People often use them to see the cause and effect of events. The directions below are for a horizontal timeline.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Write a list of events in chronological order. Include the year, title, and a brief description for each event. Example: "1781, Battle of Yorktown, Americans defeat the British; end the Revolutionary War." Write the description in the present tense.

2. Use a ruler to draw a straight horizontal line that is 10 inches long. (Timeline lengths can vary.)

3. Add a ¼-inch vertical mark at each end of the horizontal line. Then insert ¼-inch vertical marks at equal intervals on the line. The number of intervals can vary. For this example, insert 4 marks, each two inches apart.

4. Choose a time span for your list of events. The time span should encompass all the dates in your list. If a list includes the dates 1728, 1743, 1776 and 1781, the time span could be 1700 to 1800.

5. Write the beginning date of the time span below the vertical mark at the far left of your timeline. Write the end date of the time span below the vertical mark at the far right.

6. Write dates below each mark in the timeline. The dates should all have the same number of years separating them. For example, a timeline with a beginning date of 1700 and an end date of 1800 could have interval dates separated by 20 years: 1720, 1740, 1760 and 1780.

7. Place a small dot on the timeline that shows when the first event on your list took place. For example, an event that took place in 1743 would have a dot slightly after 1740. Repeat for all the other events in your list.

8. Use a ruler to draw a vertical line upward from each dot. Write the year, title and description of each event at the top of the vertical line for that event.

Tips & Warnings

• Use century or decade dates for the beginning and end dates of the timeline. Doing this will make it easier to have interval dates that are spaced equally. Make the vertical lines for each event different lengths. This will allow more room to write the information. Use different color pencils for the timeline. Use one color for the various vertical and horizontal lines. Then use a different color for the year and title of each event. Use a third color for the descriptions. Insert or draw a picture of each event near its description. Illustrations make timelines more vivid.

References

• Social Studies for Kids: How to Make a Timeline
• DoHistory: How to Make a Timeline