Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
--Literature
--Visual Arts
Educational Technology
Mathematics
--Measurement
Social Studies
--History
--U.S. History
--World History
--Regions/Cultures
Grade
3-5
6-8
9-12
Brief Description
An historical fiction timeline offers insight into history while adding color and life to classroom walls.
Objectives
Students will
select a piece of historical fiction to read (resources provided).
review the literature through the perspective of history (writing prompts provided).
scan the cover of the book or create a cover illustration to appear with the book review in the appropriate spot on the timeline.
Keywords
timeline, historical fiction, fiction, history, book report, review
Materials Needed
historical fiction selections
computer and scanner (optional)
art supplies
Lesson Plan
Historical fiction is an ideal tool for learning about life in different eras. Literature transports students back in history, provides insight into the lives of people and events in time, and motivates students to want to learn more.
For this activity, use a wall (or two) of your classroom to create a timeline of the era of history you are studying. Mark on the timeline the centuries and decades related to your study. Have students read books related to the designated periods. (See sources in the Historical Fiction Resources section below.) When they are finished reading, ask students to write a brief book review, in which they provide the title of the book, the author, the copyright date, the range of time (years) the story covers, and two or three of the following:
what they learned about the era/history that they did not know before reading the book
the most amazing or interesting thing learned from reading the book.
the climactic event in the book
the person, place, or thing they were inspired to learn more about by reading the book
why they would -- or would not -- recommend the book to a classmate.
Next, have students use a scanner to reproduce the cover of the book. (Alternative: If students do not have access to a scanner, they can create their own art to illustrate an important element of the book.) Tell students to put the scanned image/art on top of the written review and use tape to seal the two together along their top edges only.
Attach the completed reviews to the appropriate periods on the timeline. Visitors to the classroom timeline gallery can simply lift the cover image/illustration to read more about the book.
Students might use word processing to complete their book reviews, setting the margins on the word document to the exact measurements of the scanned image of the book.
The class might create an historical fiction timeline Web page similar to the one created by Ms. Woodring's students -- the Young Adult Historical Fiction Page.
Assessment
Students will properly place their book reviews on the timeline. Book reviews will meet expectations set in advance of the lesson.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts GRADES K - 4 NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines GRADES 5 - 8 NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.5-8.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas NA-VA.5-8.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines GRADES 9 - 12 NA-VA.9-12.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.9-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas NA-VA.9-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
MATHEMATICS: Measurement GRADES 3 - 5 NM-MEA.3-5.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement NM-MEA.3-5.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements GRADES 6 - 8 NM-MEA.6-8.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement NM-MEA.6-8.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements GRADES 9 - 12 NM-MEA.9-12.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement NM-MEA.9-12.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
SOCIAL SCIENCES: U.S. History GRADES K - 4 NSS-USH.K-4.1 Living and Working together in Families and Communities, Now and Long Ago NSS-USH.K-4.3 The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the People from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic, and Political Heritage GRADES 5 - 12 NSS-USH.5-12.1-10 All Eras
SOCIAL SCIENCES: World History GRADES 5 - 12 NSS-WH.5-12.1-8 All Eras
TECHNOLOGY GRADES K - 12 NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts NT.K-12.4 Technology Communications Tools
