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Timeline of Historical Fiction

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

An historical fiction timeline offers insight into history while adding color and life to classroom walls.

Subjects: Language Arts, Educational Technology, Mathematics, Social Studies

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

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

Procedure
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.

Historical Fiction Resources

• The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
• Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
• Young Adult Historical Fiction Reading List
• Traveling Through American History: Juvenile Literature
• Booklist (United States Through Time)
• Kids' Books: Historical Fiction (The Old World)
• Kids' Books: Historical Fiction (America)
• Carol Hurst's Children's Literature and U.S. History

Extension Activities

• 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.

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