American Revolutionary War Timeline Project

Why Use A Timeline?

A Revolutionary War timeline will help your students connect historical events. As teachers, we ofttimes teach events one at a time. We may assume that students are connecting the events together in their minds. However, they often aren't.

Timelines help students:

view events as part of a larger movement
sequence events in order
place crusade and issue
deepen their understanding of a historical period

Free Revolutionary War Timeline Action

This timeline sorting activity will teach students about some of the events of the Revolutionary War. I have created cards for 16 important events―from Lexington and Concord to the Treaty of Paris.

First, the students larn about the events from this 19-minute video from the American Battlefield Trust. Then, they put the events in the correct order on the timeline. You can too observe more Revolutionary War videos for kids here.

Disclaimer: Of course, there were more than 16 of import Revolutionary War events. Possible extension activity: Ask students to add more events to the timeline.

Lesson Plan

Objective: I can identify xvi of import Revolutionary State of war events in order on a timeline.

ane. Pass out timeline worksheets. Students place the 2 pages adjacent to each other on their desks to form the timeline.

2. And then inquire students to brand observations about the bare timeline. What time flow is covered? (1775-1783) What units of time are used? (years) What else do you notice?

3. Pass out the event cards. Next, students cut them out and read through the events. I recommend sorting events by type (see movie beneath). Some students may be able to use background knowledge to brainstorm placing some of the events.

iv. Showthis 19-minute video virtually the Revolutionary War and ask students to listen for the 16 events. I highly recommend turning on the subtitles while watching. If you have access to a course ready of student devices, that would exist fifty-fifty better! And then, students tin can suspension the video and rewind every bit needed.

Hint: Practice NOT have students go the glue sticks out yet! Trust me. If y'all practise, within 5 minutes someone will be raising their hand because they started gluing before they were washed and fabricated a mistake.

If you don't want to use the video, another pick is to take students practice their own research to complete their timeline. Here are some expert resources:

The British Library Timeline
National Park Service Timeline
American Battlefield Trust Timeline

5. When students end, they tin can cheque their work with a partner and/or the teacher. Finally, they glue the events down.

Extension Activities

There are also many ways to extend this activity and deepen pupil thinking. For example, hither are a few educatee prompts:

Identify the turning point in the war. What if that outcome had gone differently? Explain what you think would happen.
Compare the timeline to some other timeline (for instance the War of 1812 or the French Revolution).
Make judgments about the events. Which would you label as proficient, bad, or neutral? Why?

If you demand more than extension ideas for timelines, I love Matt Miller's ideas on his website Ditch That Textbook.

Download the timeline, upshot cards, and answer central beneath!

Want a FREE Revolutionary War Battles Lesson?

In this lesson, students learn near 8 of import Revolutionary State of war battles by analyzing clues around the room. The "clues" are primary and secondary sources similar a map of Bunker Loma, a letter from George Washington, and a graph of battle casualties.

Students learn about the following battles:

Battles of Lexington and Concord
Boxing of Bunker (Breed'due south Loma)
Battle of Long Isle (Brooklyn)
Battles of Trenton and Princeton
Battle of Saratoga (Freeman'southward Farm/Bemis Heights)
Siege of Charleston
Battle of Cowpens
Battle of Yorktown

Enter your email beneath to take hold of your free Revolutionary War Battles lesson!

More than Revolutionary War Teaching Materials

I hope you enjoy the free Revolutionary War timeline! You lot may likewise be interested in Revolutionary War videos for kids and Revolutionary War primary sources.

If yous need more than a lesson, cheque out my interactive 3-week Revolutionary War Unit. My favorite function is the week-long simulation where students act as spies, officers, and soldiers in the Continental Regular army. The kids love it!