Guided Practice: Historical Timelines
Quick Review
- Timeline = Shows events in order from oldest to newest
- Cause = WHY something happened
- Effect = WHAT happened as a result
- Signal words = Words like "because," "so," "therefore"
- Reading a timeline = Start on the left (oldest) and move right (newest)
Practice Problems
1. On a timeline, where are the OLDEST events shown?
A) On the right
B) On the left
C) In the middle
D) At the top
Answer
B) On the left - Timelines show oldest events on the left and move toward newer events on the right.
2. Which event happened FIRST: 1776 or 1492?
A) 1776
B) 1492
C) They happened at the same time
D) Cannot tell
Answer
B) 1492 - The smaller number is the earlier date.
3. "The colonists protested BECAUSE of unfair taxes." What is the CAUSE?
A) The colonists protested
B) Unfair taxes
C) The word "because"
D) Neither
Answer
B) Unfair taxes - The cause is WHY something happened. Unfair taxes caused the protests.
4. What is a timeline used for?
A) To show where places are
B) To show events in order
C) To count money
D) To draw pictures
Answer
B) To show events in order - Timelines organize events chronologically.
5. "Lewis and Clark explored the West, SO they found new plants and animals." What is the EFFECT?
A) Lewis and Clark explored
B) They found new plants and animals
C) The word "so"
D) The West
Answer
B) They found new plants and animals - The effect is WHAT happened as a result.
6. Which word signals a cause and effect relationship?
A) And
B) The
C) Therefore
D) Happy
Answer
C) Therefore - "Therefore" shows that one thing caused another.
7. Put these in order from FIRST to LAST: 1607 Jamestown, 1776 Declaration, 1492 Columbus
A) Jamestown, Declaration, Columbus
B) Columbus, Jamestown, Declaration
C) Declaration, Columbus, Jamestown
D) Columbus, Declaration, Jamestown
Answer
B) Columbus, Jamestown, Declaration - 1492 comes before 1607, which comes before 1776.
8. How many years passed between 1620 and 1776?
A) 56 years
B) 156 years
C) 256 years
D) 1776 years
Answer
B) 156 years - 1776 - 1620 = 156 years.
9. "DUE TO the gold rush, thousands moved west." What signal words are used?
A) Gold rush
B) Thousands
C) Due to
D) Moved west
Answer
C) Due to - "Due to" signals a cause and effect relationship.
10. One effect can become the cause of another event. This is called:
A) A timeline
B) A chain of events
C) A map
D) A question
Answer
B) A chain of events - Events can connect in a series where one leads to another.
Next Steps
- Create a timeline of your life's events
- Find cause and effect in a book you're reading
- Continue to Primary Source Analysis