Classroom Activities:
Create an Illustrated Timeline

Looking at historical photographs is a great way to trace change over time. Use Connecticut History Online to explore changes in Connecticut and make you own illustrated timeline. The “Search” function will help you locate images by subject or date, which you can print or digitally import for use in your timeline. The “Full Record” option will give you more detailed information on the photographs that you plan to use.

Some Suggested Themes:

• History of your Town
• Changes in Transportation
• Fashion/ Clothing Styles
• Development of an Industry (For example: textile manufacturing, shipbuilding, etc.)
• Architectural Styles
• One Decade in History
• Recreation
• Lives of Famous Nutmeggers
• Come up with your own!

Timeline Reminders:

Don’t forget to plan out your timeline! Find the earliest and latest dates that will be included in your timeline and be sure to divide up the space between them evenly. For example, if your timeline ranges from 1850-1950, you might allow 1” for every 5 years (for a timeline 20” long), but if your timeline only covers the period 1920-1925, 1” might only equal 1 month (for a timeline 60” long.) Draw your line and mark the dates on it before you add images or other text. Be careful not to run out of space!

Extension Activities:

• Add to your timeline by doing one of the following:
• Research and write an essay to introduce the theme of your timeline.
• Do research in your public or school library or online and add different kinds of primary sources to your timeline, like maps, newspaper articles, original advertisements, etc.
• Create a second timeline, parallel to your first one, to show what was going on in the United States in general or in World History at the same time.
• Extend your timeline by using your own camera to photograph life in your community today.