Online Timeline Maker for Students {Best Tools to Use}
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Do you want to help your kids make interactive timelines for educational purposes? Read on to discover how to make a timeline online, and the best tools to use!
Creating a timeline is a common project for students, especially when it comes to history curriculum. Many popular homeschool methods and curricula encourage timeline creation, so most likely it is part of your home learning.
Many homeschoolers rely on notebooking for making their timelines. But, how cool would it be if your kids could create a timeline online using a timeline generator? Then show off their interactive, multimedia creation to the world?
I'm a history lover, organization freak, and visual learner, so I pretty much geek out over timelines. To add history to our unit studies, our family has used multiple methods over the years to create different types of timelines. We've done a drown-yourself-in-paper timeline notebook, the large hide-it-under-the-bed poster board, and the take-over-a-wall-in-your-home timeline methods.
How to Make a Timeline Online Using Easy Tools
When we started embracing the whole digital learning thing, I’ve realized that my kids could use online timeline makers. As 21st century learners, they need to apply what they learn and to create. It's a great way to put new-found knowledge into action (and create a professional-looking timeline!).
I found these great interactive timeline makers for students. And good news — I don’t need to “teach” my kids how to use these tools. They're so much more digitally literate than I am (I’m sure you can relate). They can use the tutorials on the timeline maker sites, or check out YouTube for tips and tricks, to figure out how to make the perfect timeline online.
Best Timeline Tools to Create Timelines Online
Canva
Canva is a favorite tool around here (so many homeschoolers have taken and loved my Graphic Design with Canva course!), and you can easily use their available templates to create beautiful timelines online.
All you need is a free account to get started, and you can then browse their many timeline templates to choose a timeline design that best fits your subject. You'll have a beautiful, visually engaging timeline in no time, even with no prior design experience!
Prezi
Prezi is a presentation tool that uses one large canvas, allowing you to pan and zoom to “travel” to various points of interest.
You can use their template library or create Prezis from scratch, and get as creative as you want by adding in text, images, and even videos.
It's sort of like Microsoft Powerpoint on steroids because you have more flexibility in mapping out your viewers' path. Professional timelines are just one type of project students can create with this fun tool.
Here' an example of one student's timeline about the American Revolution.
Emaze
Emaze is an engaging multi-media presentation creation tool. It enables you to move beyond simple slideshows to create your own unique presentations online by using pre-designed templates.
They have a great timeline template and so many more possibilities for other visual projects. Once your child figures out the simple steps of how to create a timeline, they'll be able to understand the basic concepts needed to create more projects with Emaze.
Tiki-Toki
Tiki-Toki is the only 3D interactive timeline maker on this list. Your kids are sure to impress when they present a timeline with visual designs that zoom in and out of different time periods and historical events.
Tiki-Toki has four different view types and extensive date formatting options. The search and filter features are particularly helpful when both creating and presenting a project.
Like with many of these other timeline makers for kids, you can include images, video and audio to bring the important events to life.
Navigate around Tiki-Toki timelines HERE.
Timetoast
Timetoast is the simplest online timeline creator on this list, meaning it's a good choice for younger students who might get frustrated with one of the more robust timeline creators. If you want a simple interface for organizing items in chronological order, this is a great tool.
You can still add images and descriptions of timeline events to create an interactive timeline and switch between a timeline and list views. It just doesn't look as snazzy as some of the alternatives.
Time Graphics
Another option for creating a timeline is Time Graphics. Students can embed other media, like text, videos, charts, and more. One nice feature is the ability to download the timeline or export it for offline viewing. Time Graphic provides a gallery of pre-made student timelines that will inspire your creators.
Google Slides
You can easily create custom timelines in Google Slides as well, if you're familiar with this tool.
Simply open a new document, then from the menu bar click on “Insert”, then “Diagram”, and then scroll until you find the timeline option in the sidebar. Choose the layout option you like best your project. You'll be able to select up to 6 dates for one slide.
Enjoy These Best Timeline Creators
There are so many creative ways to create timelines in your homeschool. I hope this post gives you a few ideas on how to make a timeline online, that will help your kids learn and that they will be proud of!
So, what is your experience with timelines? Do you know of another simple timeline maker tool? Think your kids would like to create timelines online? Leave me a comment below.
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Okay, we are going to have a lot of fun with this. I have signed up for Hstry and have gone through the tutorial. I get it – generally. We are starting a civil war unit, so I will let you know how it goes.
I am sharing this post, because these are very powerful tools.
I look forward to hearing how it goes.
I LOVE these ideas!!! P.S. Thanks for including a link to my post!
Hi Beth,
It’s Thomas here, one of the founders of HSTRY.
Delighted to write this comment to let you know that we’ve released real-time timeline collaboration to HSTRY. It was our most requested feature and we’re happy it is now up and running. With the school year just beginning, you can now seamlessly make students collaborate on group projects or create class-wide timelines that all can edit and contribute to in real-time!
If you have any feedback on the new feature, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Best,
Thomas
We are definitely going to try one of these now to decide which one ?. It was our plan to do a wall timeline; however, we are not able to… Thanks Beth you always come through with your tech smarts ?.
?God bless you?
Yes, digital timelines are the way to go. Enjoy!@