This 3-page 2nd grade social studies sheet puts six events from George Washington's life on a timeline that runs from 1730 to 1800. Students match six numbered pointer lines to cards such as 1732 born in Virginia and 1789 becomes the first President. Then they use the timeline to answer three questions about his age and the order of events. It suits a unit on the first president or a first lesson on reading a timeline. The answer key is on page 3.
“Read a timeline and place events from a person's life in order.”
Page 1 asks students to match six dated cards to numbered points between 1730 and 1800.
“Subtract years to find an age or the time between two events.”
Questions 1 and 2 on page 2 use 1789 minus 1732 and 1789 minus 1775.
A timeline marked every 10 years has six numbered pointer lines. Students choose a card from the word bank, such as 1759 marries Martha and lives at Mount Vernon, and write the year and event on the matching numbered line.
Three questions. Students work out how old Washington was when he became president, how many years passed between leading the army and becoming president, and which came first, marrying Martha or becoming president.
The six year and event pairs, plus the working for both subtraction questions (1789 minus 1732 and 1789 minus 1775).
Before a biography
Do the timeline first, then read a short biography. Students already know the order of his life, so the reading fills in the story.
Matching the pointers
Tell students to place the cards in date order. Cards such as 1749 and 1759 sit just before a 10-year mark, and that trips up a few.
Math link
Use page 2 as short subtraction practice. Have students write the subtraction beside each answer, then check it against page 3.
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