Timeline and Sources of History
Class 6 · Social Science
3 ideas in Class 6 Social Science, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
BCE, CE and Historical Timelines
Part of: Measuring Historical Time
Historians use a common system to measure time. Years after the conventional birth-year of Jesus Christ are called CE (Common Era); years before are called BCE (Before Common Era). A timeline is a visual tool that places events in order from earliest to most recent. There is no year zero — year 1 BCE is immediately followed by year 1 CE.
Why it matters. Without a shared way to measure time, comparing events from different cultures would be impossible. CE and BCE give us a universal framework. Timelines make it easy to see the order of events at a glance.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask your child: India gained independence in 1947 — is that BCE or CE?
- Ask: the Buddha was born around 560 BCE — was that before or after Jesus?
- Try placing two events on a simple line and asking which came first.
Try at home. Draw a simple horizontal line, mark 0 in the middle, and place 500 BCE on the left and 500 CE on the right. Ask your child to place the birth of Jesus, independence of India and their own birth year on it.
Sources of History
Part of: Measuring Historical Time
Historians learn about the past from many types of sources. These include archaeological sources (objects, tools, monuments, coins unearthed by excavation), literary sources (texts, manuscripts, inscriptions), oral sources (folklore, legends, genealogies) and artistic sources (paintings, sculptures). Different sources can confirm or contradict each other, and historians must evaluate which to trust more.
Why it matters. Understanding how we know what we know about history builds critical thinking. It also helps children realise that history is not a fixed story but one that is constantly being revised as new sources emerge.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask your child: if you found an old coin, what could it tell you about the past?
- Ask: are all sources equally reliable? Can a photograph lie?
- Ask: what sources does your family use to remember its own history — photos, letters, stories?
Try at home. Look at an old photograph in your house. Discuss with your child what historical information it contains and what it cannot tell us.
Early Humans and the First Settlements
Part of: Early Human History
Early humans lived in groups, hunting animals and gathering edible plants. They used fire and made tools from stone. After the last Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago, the climate warmed, and humans in many parts of the world began farming and domesticating animals. Villages grew up, then towns, and eventually cities. New technologies like pottery and metal-working appeared.
Why it matters. Understanding how human societies evolved from small bands to complex civilisations gives children a sense of how long humanity's journey has been and how much our ancestors achieved with limited resources.
Try it in two minutes
- Ask your child: what would you eat if you had no shops or farms nearby?
- Ask: why would people start farming instead of just gathering food?
- Ask: what advantage does living in a group give over living alone?
Try at home. Ask your child to identify three things in your kitchen that exist because humans first learnt to grow crops (wheat, rice, lentils, etc.).
What your child will practise
- BCE, CE and Historical Timelines: Candy Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- BCE, CE and Historical Timelines: Explorer'S Map Quest (Match It Up)
- BCE, CE and Historical Timelines: Jungle Quest (Flip and Match)
- Early Humans and the First Settlements: Ocean Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Sources of History: Time Travel Sort (Sort It Out)
- Quiz: BCE, CE and Historical Timelines (8 questions)
- Quiz: Early Humans and the First Settlements (8 questions)
- Quiz: Sources of History (8 questions)