The highest member of the Executive Branch is the president of the United States. The U.S. has had forty-five presidents and each one of them has had a great impact on the country.
Students will research a president and create a timeline of the major events of their lives. The timeline of the president should span his life and include his path to the White House, along with any events that occurred after the presidency. The suggestions below provide a mix of events and other factual aspects of the presidents’ lives.
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.
Possible topics to research:
Extended Activity
For this extended activity, students will either continue with the president from the previous activity, or select a new president. Students will create a storyboard that visualizes specific quotes from their president. Students will select the quotes that they found to be the most profound and insert the quote in the text below the storyboard. Students will then visualize the meaning of the quote in the space above it.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline outlining the life of one of the Presidents of the United States.
Encourage student engagement by creating a shared space where everyone posts their timeline. Arrange timelines chronologically on a wall or bulletin board to visualize connections between presidential terms. This approach lets students compare, discuss, and reflect on different leaders' impacts.
Pair students or create small groups to research presidents together. Collaboration sparks discussion, allows division of tasks, and builds teamwork skills. Partners can focus on different aspects (education, laws, controversies) and combine findings for a richer timeline.
Demonstrate step-by-step timeline building using a well-known president. Show how to pick key events, add brief summaries, and choose visuals. This gives students a clear example and sets expectations for their own work.
Guide students to find quotes, speeches, or photos from their chosen president. Adding primary sources makes timelines more authentic and helps students connect with history firsthand.
Host a gallery walk where students view and discuss each other's timelines. Encourage feedback and questions to promote critical thinking and peer learning. This activity turns individual projects into a collaborative learning experience.
To create a biography timeline for a U.S. president, have students research key life events such as education, political milestones, significant laws passed, controversies, and post-presidency activities. Students can organize these events chronologically on a timeline or visually on a poster, summarizing each event and adding illustrations for clarity.
Include events like the president’s early life, education, military or congressional service, election campaign, major achievements in office, controversies, notable family details, hobbies, and significant actions after leaving office. These aspects help give a well-rounded view of the president’s life and impact.
A great extension is to have students create a storyboard that illustrates meaningful quotes from the president. Students select impactful quotes, visualize their meaning through drawings, and write the quote beneath the illustration, deepening their understanding of the president’s values and communication style.
Yes, students can complete the president timeline assignment either individually or in groups. Group work can encourage collaboration and a diversity of perspectives, while individual projects promote independent research and creativity.
You can use digital timeline templates, poster boards, or interactive software where students add events, descriptions, and illustrations. Offering multiple formats lets students choose the method that best fits their learning style and presentation preferences.