Timeline of the Lost Colony of Roanoke

Mystery surrounds one of the earliest English colonies. Colonists came to Roanoke Island in Chesapeake Bay in the late sixteenth century, but no evidence of the colony remained a mere three years after its founding.

In this activity, students will research the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” and create a timeline that depicts the events between its founding and eventual disappearance. From John White’s initial landing, to the English defeat of the Spanish Armada, students will have a variety of exciting events to represent this historical mystery. Students will not have a definitive answer as to “What happened to Roanoke?” for the final event of their timeline; students should create a historical hypothesis of what they think is the most likely result of the Roanoke colonists.

For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options!

Extended Activity: Roanoke Crime Scene Investigation

For this extended activity, students should present their timelines to the class and explain what they believe happened to the lost colonists of Roanoke. Following all the presentations, students should vote on what they believe is the most credible hypothesis. A student can be selected to be the judge or police chief to tally the votes and read the majority decision of the class.

Student Instructions

Create a timeline that illustrates the major events of the Roanoke colony.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Add additional cells as needed.
3. In the title of each cell, note the major event in the settlement of the Roanoke colony.
4. In each description box, describe the event.
5. Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.