A town's history is shown in five events on this 3-page 2nd grade social studies sheet: a family builds a farm in 1850, the railroad comes in 1880, the first school opens in 1920, a hospital is built in 1965 and a library opens in 2010. Students read five picture cards in mixed order and write each event in the right box on a timeline. Page 2 has three questions, including how many years passed between the school and the hospital. The key is on page 3.
D2.His.1.K-2
“Create a chronological sequence of multiple events.”
Page 1 asks students to place five events in year order.
D2.His.2.K-2
“Compare life in the past to life today.”
Question 3 asks for one thing that is different in the town now.
Five event cards with pictures and years, in the order 1920, 1850, 2010, 1880 and 1965. Students write each event in an empty box on a timeline marked 1850, 1880, 1920, 1965 and 2010.
Three questions on writing lines. Which came first, the school or the railroad, how many years after the school the hospital opened, and one thing that is different in the town now.
The timeline order, the railroad answer with its dates, 45 years for question 2 (1965 minus 1920), and a note that question 3 takes any reasonable answer.
Cut and paste
Let students cut the five cards apart and glue them under the timeline. Moving a card works better than copying for students who still mix up 1880 and 1920.
Size of the gaps
Before question 2, ask which gap between events is longest. The gap from 1920 to 1965 is 45 years, longer than the 30 years from 1850 to 1880.
Local link
Ask students to name one building near school that did not exist 50 years ago. Their answers give you material for question 3 and for a local history project.
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