One of our projects for this year is a timeline. Wall space is limited at our house, and honestly there isn't a wall that I'd want it on all the time. We don't have a school room-just shelves in our open kitchen/dining area. I've thought about notebooks, but don't really know a good way to implement that. Any creative ways to do a timeline?
Get one of those tri-fold boards that are used for science fairs. That way, you can fold it up and slide it in a closet or under a bed when you're not using it.
Could you make a large scroll that could be rolled up/put away when not in use (I'm picturing something with a long dowel rod across the top and bottom, with a hanger on the top)?
Hmmmm... wonder if I could attach it to the top of one of my bookcases (6ft)? I'm going to think on that one. I like the tri-fold idea too.
I'm kind of in the same boat. I plan on putting ours on the back (inside) of the front door (we never use the front door), but I'm more concerned with the toddler pulling stuff down. I mean, 10ish months is a long time for him to leave something alone. I don't think a tri-fold board will be big enough for us (Creation through Resurrection), but maybe if we use one per quarter....
Probably not for us either- Creation to Greeks. I do have this odd closet (one shelf that I have to use a ladder to reach-seriously) in the dining area that I store odds and ends school stuff in. I could put a timeline on the inside of the door and just open it during our school day.
What about a timeline book (not one that you'd make from scratch yourself)? I have "A Timeline for all Time" that we'll be starting this year. It's really nice. Here is the site: http://www.atimelineforalltime.com/
Homeschool in the Woods has a nice one : http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/RecordofTime.htm Or we use Sonlight's timeline book: http://www.sonlight.com/RR120.html
I like those books, but really am not looking to spend that kind of money. The figures came with the curriculum, so I can make my own book, if I go that route.
Take a look here: http://donnayoung.org/history/timeline-cw.htm This explains how to use a sketch book or even a notebook to make a timeline.
We're looking to do something this year too - my kids didn't like the one with our curricula last year - didn't give them enough room.... Check out www.donnayoung.org if you want to try and make your own "book of time' kind of thing. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do - we'll probably do more of the "book of time" idea. Did the set come with the Homeschooling in the Woods figures? You're doing MFW, right?
I bought a 11x17 binder at Office Max for about $13...then, I bought 11x17 card stock in their print area for $.18 each. (Three hole-punched it myself) Because the binder opens horizontally, it gives a nice, long timeline feel when opened up! I am loving it, and currently transferring last years timeline from our wall into it!
Yes, MFW. The figures are reproducibles in the back of the TM. We will likely only do one as a family rather than one each.
I've done timelines before when using the Mystery of History curriculum and they suggest using a sewing board. It folds up and tucks between the refrigerator and the wall nice and neat and it's quite large when unfolded. It's one of those boards that people use to lay fabric out on to cut. I have only ever used the boards for timelines as I'm not a sewer so that's my best description sadly.
Not sure how practical this is, but somewhere I read of a space-challenged family using the ceiling for important things!
As far as figures go, for me they were a waste of money. I found it easier to do a web search, copy the picture and paste it into a word document. That way, you can reduce it to the size you want. And, depending on your kid, you can have them so the search and find, which is also more educational than handing them a bought picture.
Here's another idea...if you have a large kitchen or dining room table (and if it doesn't have to be any kind of formal space) you can put a pretty table cloth on the table, build your timeline, and cover it with a clear plastic table cloth cover. We've done this in the past (not with a timeline) and it's always been really nice. I've never thought of doing it with a timeline...but I don't see why you couldn't.
We don't have wall space for a timeline either. We are doing a Book of Centuries. Simply Charlotte Mason has a free printable one. There are 2 pages for each century and we add the stuff we read about each day. For a more cohesive linear visual (since mine are so young they have a harder time grasping the BoC concept) we also have The Big Book of History that nicely folds up for easy storage and then we stretch it out on the floor about once a week and discuss what we learned about in history that week. It's under $15 and Christian based (From New Leaf Publishing).
I found a couple of free websites if you decide (like I did) to make a timeline book. clipart: http://www.thehomeschoolshop.com/sh-freebies.htm http://www.montessorimaterials.org/history.htm#his http://www.notebookingdiscovery.org/timeline/build/church/ timeline template: http://agards-bible-timeline.com/timeline_online.html http://christianbackgrounds.info/bible-timeline-backgrounds/
