Timeline of the Industrial Revolution

In this activity, students will research the Reconstruction Era and create a detailed timeline that reflects the major events that occurred between 1863 and 1877. For each event, students should include the title of the event, a visual representation, and a written description that includes the overall significance of the event. In order for students to thrive in this assignment, they should be encouraged to research ten events, and select the five that they found to be the most interesting.

For the extension activity, students can create an entire class timeline. Students will be required to print out their events and cut and paste them to a larger timeline in the front of the class. Before each student adds an event they should share with the class the event that they are choosing and include at least one fact or description of significance of the event. Teachers can also challenge their class by choosing any five random events and see if their class can place them in the correct order.

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, and update the instructions accordingly.

Example Industrial Revolution Events

• Invention of Steam Engine
• Invention of the Spinning Jenny
• James Watt improved the steam engine
• The Luddite Rebellion
• George Stephenson patented a steam engine that ran on rails
• Alfred Nobel creates dynamite
• First powered airplane flight
• Samuel Crompton invents the spinning mule
• Alessandro Volta invents the battery
• Charles Goodyear invents rubber vulcanization
• Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone
• The First Factory Act in the UK
• Henry Ford creates the Model T
• Thomas Edison’s light bulb is used.
• Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin

Student Instructions

Create a timeline detailing at least 5 major events during the Industrial Revolution era. Try to pick at least two events that are unfamiliar to you!

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. Identify significant events and inventions and type them into the titles of each cell.
3. Describe each event in the description box.
4. Create an illustration using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
5. Save and exit when you're done.