How to make a reusable timeline

One of the big things to understand history is a timeline.

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It’s such a big deal that there’s a whole section about it in the introductory section of Mystery of History 1 {affiliate link}.  Heck, they even allot a whole day to it in the Illuminations {affiliate link} schedule.

Here’s my problem though.  You ready to hear it?

I always have big plans for our timelines.

The first time we went through MOH1 we made a book, like the Pirateology {affiliate link} or any of a dozen other books in that ilk.  I love those books, I think they’re so much fun to look through.

The problem is, my kids were 5…. and 3 turning 4.  They didn’t have an interest in constructing it.  So my big plans fell to the wayside.

I hate creating a timeline that won’t be reusable, so I came up with a big ol’ stinking huge reusable timeline plan.

Probably too ridiculously complicated.  Actually it started from a Sunday School lesson that we needed a timeline for.  Being me, I went WAY over the top with it.  You should have seen Jeff shaking his head at the timeline I created.

So, here ya go, how to make a reusable timeline:

Supplies for a reusable timeline

Striped fabric- I made my timeline about 18 inches wide (the size of one of my quilting rulers).  I like the stripes because it provides an easy way to measure some of the distances.  I think mine is about 4-5 yards long

Contrasting fabric- I started with a dark blue pattern that is almost black, ran out of that and switched to a dark green faux-velvet that I had some remnants of from another project.  Really anything works, but I think it’s a bit better if there’s a bit of weight to it.  Think bottom weight fabric or some home dec fabrics

Clover Quick Bias Fusible Bias Tape, 1/4-Inch Wide by 11-Yard, Black {affiliate link, only place I found it aside from local quilt store that closed} – you can use ribbon or something else 1/4” wide, but this makes your life SO much easier

loop velcro- I ordered mine from Feiner Supplies in huge amounts (minimum order is $50, so I placed an order for SEVERAL different projects: Memory Verse Puzzles, Peg Doll Nativity, for example).  I used loop because then it won’t catch on everything

Omnigrip 6-Inch-by-24-Inch Non-Slip Quilter’s Ruler {affilaite link}- I almost think it would be better if the lines were closer together but that’s what I had at the time.  If you don’t have a quilting ruler, then you could use a book or some other measure.

 

Steps for making a reusable timeline

1. Figure out the width you want, and the length.  I made mine about 18” wide by about 5 yard long.  It was not a precise measurement by a long shot.  Cut the striped fabric to those dimensions.  For the contrasting fabric cut about 1-2” larger on all sides (this helps you in case you’re off on your cutting somewhere to have some ease).

2.  Line up both fabric on top of each other, right sides out.

3.  Start marking your lines for the year divisions with the iron on bias tape.  As you measure and cute iron it on to secure.

4. Sew on the bias tape using a zig zag stitch as wide as your machine will go.  This will secure both the striped fabric and contrasting at the same time, kind of like you’re quilting it (I did briefly consider putting batting in).

5.  Once you’ve sewn on all of the bias tape, lay it out flat and pin the velcro down at the top of a stripe.  I only pinned one row of velcro at a time because I didn’t have enough pins to do several at once, AND it’s less chance of pricking myself with pins.

6.  Sew down the velcro, sewing all the way to the end on one side, then coming back up to the beginning and sewing the other side.  Sewing both sides starting from the same side ensures it doesn’t mess up how the velcro lays on the fabric.

7.  At the end I bound the sides with some faux leather I had in my stash.  I mainly did that because it has a nice feel to it and has the advantage of not fraying, so I didn’t have to fold it over twice or anything else like that.

8.  For my timeline figures I used Homeschool Through the Ages figures.  I printed off all of the Ancient history figures, and cut them out.  Periodically when I was feeling ambitious I would color some.  So there’s some randomly colored, and some are black and white.

 

So, what lessons do you learn from a timeline?

1. The passage of time.  It helps you see the connection between different events, and why they effected each other. (Should that be affected each other?)
2. Math skills, subtraction, addition, division
3. How time works, track with me here, but it is very confusing to go from BC to AD.  Very confusing, why does time countdown on one side, and count up from the other.  It takes a lot of time and watching for kids to track that.
4. Cooperation (or in my family at least), they have to work together to put that timeline together
5. How so much more is going on than we often think.  As we put together our timeline there’d be huge gaps where NOTHING happened, and then suddenly so many things changed, it was hard to process.

Updating this to add, I just found TWO sites doing giveaways of the timeline figures I used:

Raising Lifelong Learners: Incorporating Timelines

Harrington Harmonies: Homeschool in the Woods Timeline Review

If you’re still struggling with a timeline, I would highly suggest watching this Hangout on Air from Bright Ideas Press:

Check out more great history ideas over at the Massive Guide to Homeschooling History