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.
Social studies worksheet · Timelines and sequencing
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.
- Grade level
- Grades 4–5
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Timelines, Sequencing, Understanding time, Primary and secondary sources
What kids do
“A primary source was made by someone who was there. A secondary source was made later by someone who was not. Circle P or S.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Primary sources: diaries, letters, photos, interviews and objects from the time.
- Secondary sources: books, articles and videos made later that tell about the past.
- A diary written by a soldier in 1863
- A textbook chapter about the Civil War
- A photo taken at the Moon
- An encyclopedia article
- A letter written by George
- A movie about the Pilgrims made in 2020
Teacher tip
Show a real photo and a textbook page side by side.
How to use it
- Make a human timeline: kids hold event cards and line up in order.
- Start with a timeline of the school day or the child’s own life.
- Use finished sheets for a quick gallery walk or a partner share.
Watch for
Kids who think everything long ago happened at the same time. Use spacing to show the gaps.
Talk about it
- What happened first? What happened next?
- What did you learn that surprised you?
Take it further
Make a class timeline on the wall and add to it all year.
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
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.
Grades 3–5
American History Timeline
Place 6 big moments in American history, from the Pilgrims in 1620 to the Moon landing in 1969, on a timeline ruler.
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.