Third Grade Michigan’s Digging Into the Past
Lesson 6
Title: Michigan’s Past Stays in Order
Unit of Study: Third Grade Digging Into the Past
GLCE:
H.3.0.10 Create a timeline to sequence early Michigan history.
Abstract:
Students will develop an understanding of how to read and utilize a timeline.
Key Concepts: time line, autobiography, biography, oral history, decade, century
Sequence of Activities: (approximately 30 minutes)
1. The class will review and discuss how each person has a timeline in their own life (this
should have been done in previous grades). The teacher will prompt students to
brainstorm events in their own lives and suggest the differences between important and
unimportant events.
2. The class will create a timeline of a famous person’s life. Included in the events will be
important and unimportant details. The class will discern the difference between the
important and unimportant events and create a timeline of this person’s life.
3. The teacher will lead the class in creating a timeline that will be a continuing event for
the entire school year. This is a timeline that can be set up on the wall in the classroom or
it can be in a binder or folder that each child adds to as the school year progresses. This
timeline should begin with the Paleo Indians (13,000-7000 B.C.) and progress through
the Archaic and Woodland Indians from there. A timeline of Michigan history can be
found at A chronological list of events that can be used as a part of the timeline of
Michigan History is http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/state-historytimeline/michigan.html
(For a sample of the completed timeline, go to Changing Inhabitants Unit Lesson 17 Michigan Today.)
Connections:
English Language ArtsMathematics- Students will use addition, subtraction, and sequencing skills previously learned in
math in order to number, read, create, and use the timelines.
Instructional Resources:
The Mitten (Out of print as of 2010 but some teachers have them.)
Equipment/ManipulativeStudent Resources –
Teacher Resources- Timeline sheet
Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project
Third Grade Michigan’s Digging Into the Past
Timeline Activity
Directions:
1. Choose six of the events below to construct a timeline of Early
Michigan History.
2. Neatly cut out your events.
3. Label the years on the timeline.
4. Attach your events correctly on the timeline and draw lines to the
appropriate space on the actual line.
Events:
1701- Detroit is
founded as Fort
Pontchartrain by
Antoine de la Mothe
Cadillac.
1796- The British
evacuate Detroit
and abandon their
posts on the Great
Lakes.
1622- The first ever
European, Etienne
Brulé of France
visits Michigan.
There were 15,000
Indians living in
Michigan at the
time
1783- The
Revolutionary War
ends. The United
States gains
independence, and
Michigan is part of
the new country.
1760- The French
surrender control of
Michigan to the
British.
1792- Under British
Parliament’s
Constitutional Act,
the first election is
held in Michigan.
Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project
1688- Father
Jacques Marquette,
a French
Missionary, founds
the first permanent
settlement at Sault
Ste. Marie (now
Michigan’s oldest
city).
1715- The French
establish Fort
Michilimackinac at
the Straits of
Mackinac.
1787- Northwest
Ordinance is passed
by Congress to
govern the area that
includes Michigan.
Third Grade Michigan’s Digging into the Past
Timeline of Michigan History
1620
1600
1700
1680
Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project
1740
1800
Third Grade Michigan’s Digging into the Past
Digging Into the Past – Timeline Activity Rubric
Labeling the
Timeline
0
Timeline not
labeled
Order of Events
Events not
placed on the
timeline in any
logical order.
Six events
placed on
Timeline
Events not
attached.
1
Timeline labeled
incorrectly.
Years not in
numerical order.
Numbers
incorrect.
3
Score
Timeline
correctly and
neatly labeled in
order. (1620,
1660, 1680,
1720, 1740, &
1780)
Events placed
Events attached Events are
haphazardly on to the timeline
placed in logical
the timeline.
with lines drawn places on the
Some lines
to most of the
timeline and in
drawn to correct correct locations order. Lines
location.
on the timeline. drawn to correct
location on the
timeline.
3-4 events
5 Events
Exactly six
attached to
attached to
events attached
timeline.
timeline, or all 9 to the timeline.
events attached
to timeline.
Total
Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project
2
Timeline labeled
partially correct.
Years in
numerical order,
but numbers
incorrect.