Grades 4–5
Primary or Secondary Source?
Learn how historians use sources, then sort 12 examples (a soldier’s diary, a textbook, a photo, an encyclopedia) into primary and secondary sources.
Social studies worksheet · Timelines and sequencing
Our School Year Timeline
A year-long class timeline from September to June: one drawing box and caption for each month, then a look back at the whole year.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 30 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Timelines, Sequencing, Understanding time, Primary and secondary sources
What kids do
“Keep this page all year. Each month, draw and write one thing your class did.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Fall and winter
- Winter and spring
- The best month of the year was… because…
Words on this sheet
SepOctNovDecJanMarAprMayJunFeb
Teacher tip
Fill in one box at the end of each month.
How to use it
- Count by tens or hundreds on the timeline ruler first.
- Point out that dates get bigger as you move to the right.
- Keep a classroom globe, a world map and a U.S. map in reach while kids work.
Watch for
Kids who think everything long ago happened at the same time. Use spacing to show the gaps.
Talk about it
- What would your timeline look like?
- How does this connect to where we live?
Take it further
Ask a grandparent what life was like when they were young.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More timelines and sequencing worksheets
Grades 2–5
Story Timeline
A 5-box sequencing organizer for any book, story or history lesson: the title, the events in order with drawings, and how the story ended.
Grades 2–5
My Life Timeline
Kids make a 6-stop timeline of their own life, from the year they were born to today, with a drawing for each stop.
Grades 2–5
How We Got Around: Put It in Order
Put 6 transportation firsts in order, from the first steam locomotive in 1804 to the Moon landing in 1969.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.