History of New York State

Every state has a rich history that defines how it is known today. In this activity, students will research the history of New York and create a timeline of 4-6 events. Students must think about what makes an event truly worthy of being included in the timeline and be able to include detail in their timeline.

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 adjust the instructions accordingly.

Example Events in New York's History

• 1609: Henry Hudson, an English explorer for the Dutch, finds the Hudson River and New York Bay
• 1614: First Dutch settlement in Fort Nassau
• 1624: Fort Orange settlement
• 1625: Fort Amsterdam settlement
• 1664: The English arrive and take control of New Amsterdam, renaming the colony and the city New York
• 1754: The French and Indian War begins
• 1776: Revolutionary War battles like the Battle of Long Island in 1776 and the Battle of Saratoga in 1777
• 1788: On July 26, 1788, New York becomes the 11th state to join the Union
• 1797: Albany becomes New York’s capital city
• 1825: The Erie Canal opens
• 1892: Ellis Island opens and immigrants from all over the world begin coming to America
• 1929: The New York Stock Exchange crashes, beginning the Great Depression
• 2001: On September 11, 2001, the famous Twin Towers were destroyed by terrorists

Due Date:

Objective: Create a 4-6 cell timeline of important events in New York State’s history.

Student Instructions

1. Click “Start Assignment”.
2. Use the provided blank template or add cells to your own template as needed.
3. Write the state’s name in the top heading.
4. In the title box, list out each of the events in sequential order and add correct dates.
5. Describe the events in the description boxes.
6. Create an image in each cell that depicts the events, using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.