Timelines

For some reason, most all of the Grade Levels at my School are talking about Timelines in Class - did I miss a memo?  Anyway, 1st & 2nd Graders are doing timelines about themself and 3rd through 5th are doing historical timelines and famous citizens.  Here's a look at two programs that are easy to use and have attractive results:

ReadWriteThink (http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/) - is one that I rate for the younger grades and up for it's ease to navigate throughout the program.  I also like how accessible it is both online and available for tablets.  Once launched, select a timeline by date, time or event, title it and away you go.  Click or tap on the timeline to add content and adding pictures is really quite easy.  I like how you can add the image from your device and then
crop it and reposition it, all to your liking. Moving events on the line is also easy, by dragging and dropping where they need to go. Saving, Printing, Re-Opening and even emailing are all easy to navigate steps for Students. The end result is buttoned up and looks nice.  One thing to note, however, is that if you add a 'Short Description', it will stay with the picture on the timeline; however, if you add a 'Full Description', that part will appear on a 2nd page away from the timeline entry.  Why not keep them together?  When printed, you'll get two pages regardless if you added a 'Full Description' or not. Before printing, change the Print Settings to print the 1st page only, to save paper and ink.

Hstry.com (https://www.hstry.co/timelines) - is another favorite of mine.  A registration is required to get started, so I rate this for the older Students.  A Class Code is created and given to Students, who will then signup with name, a username and password.  I like how interactive the timelines appear, the themes, fonts and more.  It looks very much like a social media page, where you add a banner, a photo and timeline materials like videos, surveys, a variety of texts and pictures and more.  Sharing with fellow classmates is also quite easy.  As much as this is a great timeline tool, I have also used it with Students as their Digital Portfolios.  Nice, overall product. 

Two nice timeline options, perfect for 1st Grade Friends and up!

HSTRY.CO - An Amazing Interactive Timeline!

Tinkering in a relatively new program that creates an amazing interactive timeline has me convinced that I will be using this with Students in the Fall!  History for Education (HSTRY.CO) is not just an interactive timeline...it is that and so much more!  Consider adding pictures, videos, embedding YouTube links, text and audio.  I'm impressed at how easy it is to add all of these features and editing them was a snap!  Sharing with Students and the Community was also quite simple...only a few clicks and you're there.  As well, getting a glimpse at other user's timelines is quite interesting, creating more teachable moments.

Building an account was simple and (my favorite part) Free.  There is a premium account, which has some additional nifty features.  And get this....it Clouds to iPhone & iPad...sweet!! Once in, adding Classes and Student accounts...again, is not a problem, as you're walked through step-by-step. That's the one thing about this program, you're walked through each step....it is just that simple! I also would like to give a loud shout-out to the folks at hstry.co - there are no questionable pop-up advertising....we can all breathe!  Thank You very much!

Brainstorming ideas, I came up with this list:
- This is obviously a perfect program for historical timelines of famous people and places.
- 5th Grade's study of North America - timeline of specific States, Countries, etc. and adding in fun facts.
- 4th Grade's study of their home State - again, timeline could include links to flag, flower, animals and landforms.
- An interactive timeline of a Student's Techy Year - images of their projects and descriptions of their processes and end results.
- For that matter...an interactive timeline of a Student's Musical, Artsy, or Athletic year, including pictures, audio clippings, pictures and more to display what they enjoyed in these Encore classes.

History for Education has done an outstanding job capturing exactly what is needed for that perfect timeline!  Job well done!  I would consider using this with older Students in Grades 4th and up, possibly 3rd later on in the year.  This would also be an excellent resource for AIG Students (again, in older grades).

And now, back to my timeline....

Elana Moore

A Day In the Life of a...Timeline!

Read Write Think (http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/) has a very cool interactive Timeline program.  You can create a Day, Time or Event Timeline and add pictures and more information.  Essentially, add your name and the name of  your timeline, then click to add your details, upload a picture, drag and drop and size your entry and away you go! You can save and print with no issues.  It is so easy and Students pick up on it very quickly.  The final product is 'buttoned-up' and a nice addition to any project.  Click on the picture to get started!

On this date in 1961, a star was born.....

Elana Moore