Creating Family Timelines: Graphing Family Memories and Significant Events

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Chart or butcher paper and markers
  
  
• Post-it notes
  
  
• Paper and pencils for student group brainstorming
  
  
• Centimeter Grid Paper for students for written timelines
  
  
• Reading response journal
  
  
• Books About Family Memories, such as the following:
  
  
  • The Memory String by Eve Bunting
  
  
  • The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
  
  
  • Aunt Flossie's Hats by Elizabeth Howard
  
  
  • Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
  
  
  • Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   3 – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Graphic Map

The Graphic Map assists teachers and students in reading and writing activities by charting the high and low points related to a particular item or group of items, such as events during a day or chapters in a book.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Sample Interview Questions Worksheet
  
  
• Family Timeline Assessment Rubric
  
  
• How to Create a Graphic Map

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PREPARATION

• Gather read-aloud books about family memories to have available during the lessons.
  
  
• To show students how to rate events as positive or negative, create a short, personal timeline on large paper or a printed version of the Graphic Map to share with the class.
  
  
• Gather writing materials for students and teacher.
  
  
• Make appropriate number of copies of Sample Interview Questions Worksheet, Family Timeline Assessment Rubric, and How to Create a Graphic Map .
  
  
• Test the Graphic Map on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.
  
  
• To get a sense of what a finished product might look like, see Traci's Life Map (provided with student's permission) and Life Graph of "Student".

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