The Ultimate Guide to Timeline Figures for Homeschool History

Creating a History Timeline may seem unclear to both new and experienced homeschoolers, making it challenging for them to understand its functionality and the benefits it can bring to their learning environment. Here is an Ultimate Guide to Timeline Figures for Homeschool History.

After I began integrating a timeline and timeline figures into our routine, I quickly recognized their value for my kids. This inspired me to develop several techniques to make these figures an engaging component of our homeschool activities. To our delight, timeline figures have transformed into an enjoyable, quick, and straightforward way to enhance learning, and my children look forward to this part of our lessons.

What Are Timeline Figures?

Timeline Figures consist of black-and-white (or color, if you prefer) illustrations of notable individuals and events, printed on paper for easy placement in a Timeline Notebook, Timeline Wall, or Timeline Poster Board once they have been cut out. These figures can be colored to make them more vibrant and interesting. They are carefully chosen based on the lessons being taught and the literature we read throughout the year in our history curriculum.

I offer timeline figures for sale in my curriculum store.

Tiaras & Tantrums Timeline Figure Cards FOR PURCHASE IN MY CURRICULUM STORE

Omnibus History Volume I Timeline Figures

Omnibus History Volume II Timeline Figures

Omnibus History Volume III Timeline Figures

Modern Times History Volume IV Timeline Figures

These timeline figures pack contains figures selected to accompany The Mystery of History Volume I-IV, by Linda Lacour Hobar. But they can be used with History curriculum or The Big Book of History from Master Books and Answers in Genesis, and part of God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History.

SOTW Vol 1 Timeline Figure Cards - Ancient Times

SOTW Vol 2 Timeline Figure Cards - Middle Ages

SOTW Vol 3 Timeline Figure Cards - Early Modern Times

SOTW Vol 4 Timeline Figure Cards - Modern Ages

These timeline figures pack contains figures selected to accompany Story of the World, Volumes 1-4, by Susan Wise Bauer.

Our family prefers each child to have their own copy of a timeline, while others may choose to share one book among a group of children studying at the same level or within the family. When I first started using timelines, we created a poster board together as a family. In subsequent years, we switched to individual binders for each child.

Not all historical figures are included every year, ensuring fresh timeline figures each time you revisit the subject.

Why Use Timeline Figures?

Timeline Figures help my children grasp the concept of time more effectively. Younger kids often struggle to understand how distant the year 1612 really was. They may be surprised to learn that Catherine the Great and George Washington lived during the same era. Over time, as they add more figures, I’ve seen my children begin to connect different historical figures they’ve previously studied with those they are currently learning about.

Looking through their Timeline Binder to find where a new figure belongs helps them create visual memories of the people and events they’ve encountered, keeping those names and events alive in their minds rather than letting them fade away.

Additional Benefits of Homeschool Timelines

Timeline Figures not only serve as reminders of what is being learned but also incorporate various learning styles and methods, assisting the transition from short-term to long-term understanding.

- Visual: They can see illustrations from the books, track the lives of significant individuals, and visualize how various events and figures may have impacted one another.

- Auditory: Children listen to the stories you share, absorbing information about people, places, and events, and how they interconnect. They then associate the figures with the narratives.

- Interpersonal: You engage in discussions about the stories, allowing your child to collaborate with you on selecting and placing the timeline figures while also reviewing the world events and the context in which they occurred.

- Kinesthetic: Moving and placing timeline figures enhances learning through tactile interaction. Handling the figures and flipping through the Timeline Book to find their correct spots provides additional sensory stimulation.

- Reading and Spelling As children read the names and events associated with the timeline figures, they become more familiar with often challenging names and places, seeing how these words come together in phrases like King Henry VIII, Sir Galahad, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Strategies for Utilizing and Retaining Timeline Figures

When life gets hectic, it can be challenging to remember to incorporate Timeline Figures into your routine. Sometimes I plan to use them but forget or fall behind. Here are some helpful tips:

Daily Preparation: Be proactive and ready to incorporate Timeline Figures as needed. Keep a dedicated Timeline Binder and keep the Timeline Figures within easy reach alongside your other teaching materials. Consider using a pocketed page divider or hole-punching the figures so they can be stored conveniently, minimizing disruptions to your lesson flow.

Regular Review Schedule: At the start of each new year (or semester, week, or any time period), prepare the Timeline Figures you will need and determine their placement. Store them in a plastic baggie or clip them to the top of your lesson plan. If using a baggie, create a small hole to easily attach it to your binder’s loops, keeping it organized for when it will be needed.

Occasional Review: On the back of each figure, note which book and week they are referenced. Throughout the year, or during an end-of-year review, take them out and see how much your children remember. If you need reminders about where they were discussed, the notes on the back will help guide your preparation for the upcoming week or month.

Fun Activities and Games to Engage with Timeline Figures:

Map-Matching Game: Before arranging the Timeline Figures in your chosen timeline, place them on a map according to their country of origin, the country where they had the most impact, or adjust their positions as you discuss their journeys. Once you’re done, affix them into your Timeline Binder.

Timeline Challenge: Trim or fold under the dates on the Timeline Figures and challenge your child to arrange them in the correct order. Encourage them to improve their time with each attempt. They can also tape or glue them together into a long line to create a different style of timeline.

Make it Personal: Keep the activities engaging by including events and people that hold significance for your family. Add photos of relatives and ancestors to your Timeline Binder on their birthdays to highlight their role in history. Use lines to connect different time periods and include current events or lesser-known historical occurrences that you uncover.

Enhance Visibility: Display your Timeline Binder prominently to increase its visibility. Alternatively, you can hang a length of adding machine paper on the wall as a timeline. Keep in mind that wall timelines can be susceptible to smudges and are less portable, which is why I prefer using a binder.

Though Timeline Figures may seem like a minor aspect of your homeschooling history curriculum amidst all the other subjects your children are studying, they can effectively connect numerous key concepts and figures. They serve as valuable references for historical figures and dates without relying solely on memorization, making them an essential educational tool!

Tiaras & Tantrums Notebooking Pages FOR PURCHASE IN MY CURRICULUM STORE

SOTW Vol 1 Notebooking Pages - Ancient Times

SOTW Vol 2 Notebooking Pages - Middle Ages

SOTW Vol 3 Notebooking Pages - Early Modern Times (in process)

SOTW Vol 4 Notebooking Pages - Modern Times (in process)