Personal Timelines
Learn
Have you ever thought about all the things that have happened in your life? A timeline is a great way to show events in the order they happened. Let's learn how to make a timeline about YOU!
What is a Timeline?
A timeline is a line that shows events in the order they happened. Events that happened first go on the left. Events that happened later go on the right. Timelines help us understand the order of things.
What is a Personal Timeline?
A personal timeline shows important events in YOUR life. It starts with when you were born and includes special moments like learning to walk, starting school, or getting a pet.
How to Make a Personal Timeline
- Draw a long line across your paper
- Put your birth year on the left side
- Put today's date on the right side
- Add important events in between, in the right order
- Draw pictures or write words to describe each event
Important Words to Know
- Past: Things that already happened (yesterday, last year, when you were a baby)
- Present: What is happening right now (today)
- Future: Things that have not happened yet (tomorrow, next year)
- Event: Something that happens (like a birthday or first day of school)
- Order: The sequence in which things happen (first, second, third...)
Ideas for Your Personal Timeline
- The day you were born
- When you learned to walk
- Your first words
- Starting preschool or kindergarten
- Learning to ride a bike
- Getting a pet
- Moving to a new home
- A new baby in the family
- Special trips or vacations
- Losing your first tooth
Examples
Let's look at some examples of personal timelines.
Example 1: Mia's Personal Timeline
Mia is 7 years old. Here is her timeline:
- 2017: Mia was born
- 2018: Mia took her first steps
- 2020: Mia started preschool
- 2022: Mia started kindergarten
- 2023: Mia learned to ride a bike
- 2024: Mia is in 2nd grade now
Example 2: Putting Events in Order
Question: Which happened first - learning to walk or starting school?
Think: Babies learn to walk when they are about 1 year old. Children start school when they are about 5 years old.
Answer: Learning to walk happened first.
Example 3: Using a Timeline
Question: Look at Mia's timeline. How old was Mia when she started kindergarten?
Think: Mia was born in 2017. She started kindergarten in 2022.
Math: 2022 - 2017 = 5
Answer: Mia was 5 years old when she started kindergarten.
Example 4: Past, Present, Future
Question: Mia is planning her 8th birthday party. Is this in the past, present, or future?
Think: Mia is 7 now. Her 8th birthday has not happened yet.
Answer: Her 8th birthday is in the future.
Example 5: Adding to a Timeline
Question: Mia got a dog in 2021. Where should this go on her timeline?
Think: 2021 is after 2020 (preschool) but before 2022 (kindergarten).
Answer: Getting a dog goes between preschool and kindergarten.
Practice
Answer these questions about timelines.
1. What is a timeline?
Show Answer
A timeline is a line that shows events in the order they happened.
2. On a timeline, do older events go on the left or the right?
Show Answer
Older events go on the left. Newer events go on the right.
3. What is the difference between "past" and "future"?
Show Answer
Past is things that already happened. Future is things that have not happened yet.
4. Put these events in order: Started 1st grade, Was born, Learned to talk
Show Answer
In order: Was born, Learned to talk, Started 1st grade.
5. Jake was born in 2016. He is now 8 years old. What year is it now?
Show Answer
2016 + 8 = 2024.
6. Is your birthday last year in the past, present, or future?
Show Answer
Your birthday last year is in the past (it already happened).
7. Name two events you could put on your personal timeline.
Show Answer
Possible answers: when I was born, when I started school, when I lost my first tooth, when I learned to ride a bike, a special trip, getting a pet.
8. What event would go at the very beginning of your personal timeline?
Show Answer
The day you were born goes at the beginning of your personal timeline.
9. Emma started kindergarten in 2020 and is now in 2nd grade in 2022. How many years passed?
Show Answer
2022 - 2020 = 2 years.
10. What do we call something that is happening right now?
Show Answer
Something happening right now is in the present.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: Why is a timeline useful?
Show Answer
A timeline is useful because it helps us see events in order. We can understand what happened first, next, and last. It helps us remember and organize important events.
Question 2: How do you decide where to put an event on a timeline?
Show Answer
You look at WHEN the event happened. Events that happened earlier go on the left. Events that happened later go on the right. The year or date helps you put it in the right place.
Question 3: What is the difference between a personal timeline and other timelines?
Show Answer
A personal timeline shows events from YOUR life. Other timelines might show events from history, a country, or a topic like inventions.
Question 4: Can you add future events to a timeline?
Show Answer
Yes! You can add future events that you are planning, like an upcoming birthday or starting a new grade. These go on the right side of the timeline after "today."
Next Steps
- Make your own timeline: Draw a timeline of your life with at least 5 important events. Ask a parent or guardian to help you remember dates.
- Interview someone: Ask a grandparent or older relative about events from their life. Make a timeline for them!
- Keep learning: In the next lesson, you will learn about Historical Timelines and important events in history.