Bc: Ad Timeline
A timeline running from prehistory to modern times across the BCE and CE divide, which is the one thing about dates that reliably confuses a child: numbers that count downwards, then a year with no zero, then numbers that count up. Seeing the whole span at once with the turn marked on it settles that in a way an explanation does not. Durable plastic. The subject timelines are separate items.
“Education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
The BC/AD Timeline addresses the child's growing awareness that events happened before their own existence, responding to their natural curiosity about 'long ago.' This accordion-style timeline provides a concrete, visual representation of abstract temporal concepts, allowing children to physically manipulate and explore the division between BC and AD periods. The clearly labeled time period divisions transform the invisible concept of historical time into something tangible that young learners can see, touch, and organize.
- Understanding the division between BC (Before Common Era) and AD (Anno Domini) time periods
- Developing chronological thinking and the ability to sequence historical events
- Building vocabulary related to time periods and historical terminology
- Strengthening visual-spatial skills through timeline manipulation
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By unfolding and examining the BC/AD Timeline, children develop their understanding of chronological sequence beyond personal experience. The material's linear design mirrors the child's developing mathematical mind, which seeks to order and classify information. Through working with the BC/AD Timeline, children begin to comprehend that history extends far beyond their immediate world, preparing them for later historical studies while satisfying their present need to understand where they fit within the grand scope of time.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Find a long, clear floor space or table where the accordion timeline can be fully extended. Ensure the area is free from distractions and has good lighting.
- 1
Invite the child to unfold the timeline slowly, observing each section as it opens
Let the child control the pace of unfolding to build anticipation and engagement - 2
Point to the center division between BC and AD, explaining these represent time before and after year zero
Use simple language: 'BC means before, AD means after' - 3
Walk along the timeline together, noting how BC numbers get smaller approaching zero
Use physical movement to reinforce the concept of time moving forward - 4
Select a few major events the child knows about and place them on the appropriate side
Start with events from stories they know, like 'when dinosaurs lived' for BC
Every Child Is a Little Creator
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Since 1929
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schools worldwide
European brands
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