Top 10 History Printables (and where to find them)!

If you’re already thinking History Printables?!?   BORING!!
Don’t run!!  Keep reading!
Some of you love printables and some of you hate printables, but just humor me and check out the list!
I think there is something good here for every kind of homeschooler!

AND… if you’ve been following along… this is #10!!
Somehow we’ve made it all the way to post #10 in the Top 10 History Helps series!

Over the course of this series, we’ve looked at my favorite suggestions for family friendly history movies, podcasts, games, audiobooks, and lots of other simple ways to make history more interesting and enjoyable. This time, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite types of history printables—and maybe the most useful part where to find them.  These are REAL resources too, not just a list of places you already know to look like TpT, etc…

And, as usual, don’t let the number 10 fool you. 😉
These are really 10 categories, and under each one I’ve rounded up plenty of resources to explore. Some are things I’ve used in my own homeschooling, things I’ve included in the History Curriculum I share here, and others are favorites I’ve discovered along the way.

The best part? As usual, most of these are free or inexpensive!
So, grab a stack of paper, prepare your printer, and let’s take a look at some of my favorite history printables!

If you just found this series, and this is the first post you’ve come across,  you  can read more about WHY I’m writing these lists, and HOW they can be really helpful to your homeschooling or classroom in the first post in the series, Top 10 History Podcasts For Kids.

Each of the Top 10 series will pair perfectly with, and make great extra FUN add ins for the FREE Ancient History Curriculum series, the FREE American History Curriculum series, and also the FREE American History (American Girl) Unit Studies series I’ve written.

**TOP 10 Teaching History Helps Series**

+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS    (Seriously the ULTIMATE history book list!!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS

And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
+Top 10 AMAZING Homeschooling Resources At The Library

*You may find an occasional link to a book or other resource on Amazon.   I am an Amazon affiliate and make a small commission from any sales via clicks on these links  ➡ at NO extra cost to you of course!

 

What you will find in this post:

This post will follow the general format of how I like to learn (and teach)!
If you’ve used any of Fields of Daisies’ History Curriculum, you may have noticed the way I divide up the goals in the Daily Lesson Plans and Timelines.
We study The People –> The Places –> The Events
Next, we add layers to that by EXPLORING those more, and finally, SHOWING what we know about the topic as a whole.
This post is arranged in a similar way.

Each of the 10 History Printable Resources below will fall into the above categories and should EASILY be able to be integrated into whatever History curriculum you’re already using.

+The PLACES
-Maps
-Timelines
-Historical charts  (how things overlap)

+The PEOPLE
-Biography pages
-How people in history fit
-History cards

+The EVENTS
-Primary sources
-Document and photo analysis
-Graphic organizers  (Cause/Effect, and Compare/Contrast)

+EXPLORE it more!
-Coloring pages
-Games, Puzzles, Escape Rooms, History Mysteries
-Movies, Podcasts, Audiobooks
-Historical Fiction & Fact Finding
-Library
-Field Trips

+SHOW what you know!
-Notebooking pages
-Vocabulary
-Project planners  (Like History Museum!)

Here’s a quick outline of the types of Printable History Resources below-

#1- Maps
#2- Coloring Pages
#3- Timelines
#4- Notebooking Pages
#5- Graphic Organizers
#6- History Cards
#7- Primary Source Pages
#8- History Projects Printables   (Show what you know!)
#9- Learning Maps   (Movie, Podcast, Audiobook pages)
#10- Printable Fun and Games!

 

 

 

Maps are such a simple and important part of learning history!
Every time your kids pull out a map and find the places they’re studying, they’re doing more than just figuring out where something is. They’re starting to notice connections between people, places, and events that happened throughout history.

The more often they look at maps, the more those connections begin to stick. Eventually, they start to have a mental picture of where things happened and how different pieces of history fit together. And that gives them a really solid foundation for understanding history as a whole.

+The Homeschool Daily
Really nice and clear, simple world maps, AND some really fun Geography activities to really stretch the learning!  I think these would be especially good for younger students.
All free at the time of this post!

+D-Maps
This site has great maps, but it made my favorites because of their ANCIENT Historical Maps !!
Not just one, but TONS of them!  So, if you’re studying Ancient History this year, you’ll LOVE this resource.
Free.

+Printable Maps   (you can’t get any clearer than that title!)
There are lots of plain outline maps on this site.   North and South America, regions, capital cities, etc.  Great for labeling activities.
Free.

+Enchanted Learning
This is an oldie but a keeper for sure!  SO many excellent resources on this site!
Some free, some require membership.

+Mr. Nussbaum Maps
This site is so much FUN!  I especially like the INTERACTIVE World Maps of cities.  Click on the cities and students can read a short paragraph and see photos.  So technically, these aren’t ALL printable, but many of them are!
Free.

–US Landmarks Interactive Map
–13 Colonies Interactive Map
–Central America Interactive Map
–National Parks Interactive Map
–World Landmarks Interactive Map
–More Interactive World Maps
–Lewis & Clark Interactive Map
–Civil War Battles Interactive Map
–Westward Expansion Interactive Map
–Oregon Trail Interactive Map
–Santa Fe Trail Interactive Map

 

 

 

Timelines are another one of those simple history tools that can make a BIG difference.
They give kids a chance to actually see when things happened and how different people and events fit together.

And timelines don’t have to be boring lists of dates!
They can be colorful, creative, hands-on, and easily added to whatever period of history you’re studying. Whether you’re adding a few important chronological events on a piece of paper, creating a timeline notebook, or making something completely your own, timelines help kids start putting the pieces of history together.  The more they use them, the easier it becomes to see the whole of history events and people and places coming together like one big, connected story.

I wrote a whole Top 10 post about all the different types of Timelines you can get creative with.
REALLY!  I promise there’s a version of Timeline that is perfect for your family!

–> Top 10 History Timelines 

+123 Homeschool 4 Me Printable Timeline 
Printable Book Of The Centuries!  This is a really great resource!  Scroll all the way to the bottom of the post to find the download.
Free.

+Free Bible Timeline Cards
These are beautiful, colored cards to make your own visual Bible timeline! Scroll about halfway down the page to find 25 different sets!
Free.

+Simple Timeline Template
This PDF is from Superstars Worksheets, you’ll find lots more of their resources in the Graphic Organizers section (#5) below!
Free.

+Creately
Create a timeline online, then print it for a history notebook or 3-ring binder, or even turn it into a fun end-of-year presentation.
*Note: You will need to enter an email address to use the program, but the timeline creator is free.

+Ticket To Learning
Really nice History Timeline Printables
Free.

+Donna Young Timeline Templates   (a homeschooling classic!)
Simple printable templates for timelines.
Free

+Half A Hundred Acre Wood Timeline Templates
The pictures of the timelines are very helpful!  Most of the templates are free, but some are paid.

+Mr. Nussbaum  (again)
For interactive resources, this site is a one stop win!
–Interactive World History  OR  US History Timeline Game
–Interactive Revolutionary War Timeline Game

 

 

 

Don’t underestimate the humble coloring page!
I love adding printable History coloring pages to timeline notebooks, history binders, or pretty much any place you’re keeping your history work. They’re an easy way to add a little creativity while giving kids something tangible to connect with what they’re learning.

They’re especially handy with younger students. Keep a few history coloring pages nearby when you’re reading aloud from a history book or getting lost in a great historical fiction story. Little hands can stay busy coloring while they’re still listening and soaking it all in. It’s a simple way to make read aloud time work for everyone!

+USA Printables History Coloring Pages
This is my definite favorite place to find free printable History coloring pages.  Organized so you can find what you’re looking for quickly.
Free.

+Dover History Coloring Books For Kids
These coloring books read like a history story book, while allowing your creative kiddos to color away!
I used tons of these for our homeschooling, sometimes while traveling, and sometimes just because my children really enjoyed coloring on topic while I read aloud (we did lots of that).  You can also make copies to add to your history binders.
NOT free.

+Calvary Chapel Kids – Through The Bible
There are so many wonderful resources here, including coloring pages for pretty much the whole Bible which is of course, HISTORY!
Free.

+Crayola Coloring Pages
Crayola has a good selection of People of History coloring pages!
Free.

+Super Coloring – History Printable Coloring Pages
This site takes a little picking through, but they do have a search bar that works pretty well for finding exactly what you’re looking for!  This is also a great place to find images of historical figures to shrink and use for your timelines!
Free.

+Bible Printable Coloring Pages
I mentioned this site in the Timeline section as well.  Really well done printables for Timelines, Notebooking, and of course Coloring Pages!  Great to print out and use for those projects, during Bible reading time, or just for fun!
Free.

 

 

 

 

Notebooking pages are one of my favorite ways to add a little more depth to your history studies without adding a lot of extra work.
They’re easy to print, easy to use, and give kids a place to record what they’re learning in a way that’s completely their own.

They’re also a great option for both kinds of homeschoolers…the ones who love crafty projects and the ones who would rather skip the scissors and glue altogether! Kids can write, draw, add pictures, make lists, or simply jot down a few interesting things they learned. Add the pages to a notebook (or binder) as you go, and before long you’ve got a history notebook full of your child’s own work and memories from the year.

If you’ve never heard of notebooking, you can find some examples in the link below.
–What Is Notebooking?

 

+The Crafty Classroom Notebooking Resources
This wonderful website has TONS of Notebooking pages you can just print and go!
Free.

+Mom Delights Notebooking Pages
These are simple, but really a perfect foundation for adding whatever topic, creative flair, etc you want!
I love that you can basically print this set and use it all year (and the next too!).  Good for your older students too!
Free.

+Notebooking Nook History Printable Pages
This site has a huge list of really nice notebooking pages for Ancient World History!  Scroll down and just print what you need!
Free.
+Homeschool Helper Online-  Notebooking Pages
This is the one stop shop.  LOTS of notebooking pages.
–>Blank Notebooking Page Templates
Free.

+Free Bible Notebooking Pages
Again, this site has some wonderful printable Bible history notebooking pages!  Scroll halfway down and print!
Free.

+Design Your Homeschool- History Notebooking Pages
Again, nice artwork and I especially appreciate the clear organization of History Notebooking Pages.
Free.

 

 

 

Graphic organizers are a great way to help kids take all those history facts floating around in their heads and actually put them in order!
Instead of just reading about an event, person, or civilization and moving on, students can use a graphic organizer to sort the information, look for patterns, and make connections.

There are lots of different ways to use graphic organizers in history.
A Venn Diagram can help students compare Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
A Cause and Effect chart can be used to explore what led to the American Revolution and what happened afterward.
A Then and Now organizer can help kids compare everyday life in the past with their own lives today.
You can even use an Opinion Organizer template to have older students consider different perspectives of a historical event and explain their thinking.

Graphic organizers are also an easy addition to just about any history curriculum. Use one after a read aloud, as a review at the end of a lesson, alongside a history movie, or as a simple writing activity when you want your student to dig a little deeper into what they’ve learned. They’re easy to print and use, and they give kids a simple way to turn a whole bunch of history information into something they can actually see and understand.

+Cause & Effect Graphic Organizers
This page has LOTS of Cause/Effect organizers which are especially good for discussing EVENTS in history.  What were the causes and effects that ultimately led to the event.
These are free, but do require you to create an account.

+Super Star Worksheets (Graphic Organizer Templets)
This site has lots of Graphic Organizers that are perfect for organizing information, thoughts, and seeing the connections.
Since there are so many to scroll through, I’ve linked directly to some of the PDF’s that are especially good for studying history!  But please click on the initial link above and see the full list!
Free.
–Sequence Chart
–Timeline Graphic Organizer
–Biography Summary Graphic Organizer
–Bubble Map Graphic Organizer
–Organize The Facts Template
–Traditional Venn Diagram
–Compare and Contrast Organizer
–Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer
–Opinion Template    (This is a great activity for your older students!  Build those critical thinking and logic skills!)
–Simple Central Idea Template

+FREE Graphic Organizer Templates
Lots and lots!  Pretty much any type you’re looking for.  These are simple and not very creative, but that might be less distracting for some kiddos, or give your creatives space to create!
Free.

+Storyboard That!  
There are some Graphic Organizers here, but I’m linking specifically for the build your own graphic organizer generator that is free to use!  Great when you know what you want, but can’t find one!
Free.

+Event Map Graphic Organizer
Free.

+Daily News Template
Use this Graphic Organizer to create your own newspaper headlines from whatever era you are studying in history.  Scroll down and click on the template on the right hand side of the page.
Free.

 

 

 

History cards are another simple printable resource that you may not have ever tried!
After making a History Binder Timeline, these cards are seriously one of my absolute FAVORITE materials to use in teaching history!
They give kids a visual way to see the people, places, and events they’re learning about and, most importantly, begin to see where everything fits in the bigger timeline of history.

One of my favorite things about history cards is how versatile they are. You can use them to put events in chronological order, build a timeline, play review games, sort people and events by time period, or create a quick history review activity at the breakfast table or in the car!  They’re also easy to tuck into a history notebook or binder so students can refer back to them throughout the year.

Another perk is that you don’t have to have a complicated plan for them! Print, cut, and start using them.
Let your kids arrange the cards on the table, challenge each other to put them in the right order, or use them to review what you’ve learned before moving on to the next time period, adding the new sets as you go. Sometimes the simplest resources end up getting used over and over again!

+Fields of Daisies Printable History Cards 
So this is of course is unashamed self promotion, but if you are using any of my FREE history curriculum, these printable history cards are the perfect companion!   These were a favorite in our family.  We had a Friday review tradition of History Cards Candy Quiz Day.  I included this and lots of other ideas in the packs as well.
These sets come with both a black and white set to color, and a full color set.

–Ancient Civilizations & The Old Testament Printable History Cards       (FREE!)
–Ancient Egypt Printable History Cards
–Ancient Greece Printable History Cards
–Ancient Rome Printable History Cards
–The Middle Ages Printable History Cards
–Early American History Printable History Cards
–Modern American History Printable History Cards

+Compass Classroom Printable History Cards
There are 6 different sets!  The cards are free, but you do have to enter your email address to download them.

+Research Parent Printable History Cards
This is a wonderful site with LOTS of great resources.
Free.
–Ancient Mesopotamia History Cards
–Ancient Egypt History Cards
–Ancient Greece Historical Figures Cards
–Ancient Roman Historical Cards

+Patriotic History Trading Cards
Fun cards to make and play with too!
Free.

+Make Your Own History Cards!
Super fun activity!
Free.

 

 

 

 

 

Primary sources can bring history to life in a completely different way.
Instead of simply reading about an event or person, students get to look at something that actually came from the time period;  a letter, photograph, newspaper article, speech, map, advertisement, journal entry, or other historical document.

Printable primary source analysis pages are a great way to slow things down and help kids really look at what’s in front of them. Rather than taking a quick glance and moving on, they’re encouraged to notice the little details, ask questions, make observations, and think about what the source can tell them about the people and time period.

You can use these pages with almost any history study. Find a primary source resource online for a particular era, print it out if you can, and challenge your children to be a real history detective!They could examine an old advertisement when learning about everyday life, or use a letter or diary entry to get a glimpse into what someone was actually experiencing during any given historical event. The printables simply give students a place to record their observations, and encourages them to take a closer look at how REAL history is for themselves.

+Elementary Primary Source Sets
Good information on where to find Primary Resources, but scroll down to “Primary Source Analysis Worksheets”.  These are especially good for using with your younger students!
Free.

+The National Archives Primary Source Analysis Sheets
You can view these online or download a PDF version.
Free.

–Photographs
–Written Documents
–Artifacts or Objects
–Posters
–Maps
–Cartoons
–Videos
–Sound Recordings
–Artwork

+The National Park Service
Believe it or not, there are lots of great Primary Source photos and documents to be found on different pages of the NPS website.  These simple acronyms are helpful for analyzing those resources!
Free.

 

 

 

Sometimes the best way to see what kids have learned is to let them show you!
“Show What You Know” type printable project pages are a fun way to take everything your family has been learning about a time period and turn it into something your kids can create, explain, and share!

USE these printables to help students brainstorm and plan a simple history project, whether they want to make a model, create artwork, cook a historical recipe, put together a display, or build something that represents the time period. And if your kids really get into it, you can take it a step further and turn your homeschool into a DIY History Museum!

Invite family and friends to come see all of the projects your kids have created, with displays, activities, demonstrations, and maybe even a few historical foods to sample (because history is definitely more fun when you can eat it!
It’s a great way for kids to share what they’ve learned and wrap up a history unit with something they’ll actually remember.

+123Homeschool4Me Printable Decades Posters
These would be great to use if you are studying American History especially.  Download and print and then have your children fill in what parts of that decade stuck out most to them.  Next, brainstorm some projects that would best represent that era!
Free, but you do have to enter your email address in.

+Simple Project Planner For Kids Template 
Free.

+Mini Museums
This site explains how to make one style of mini history museum and includes free downloadable templates to use!
Free.

+History Exhibition Planners For Kids
These organizers are free from Twinkl, but you do have to enter your email.

+History Museum Exhibits Printables
There are lots of choices to use here.
Free.

 

 

 

Watching a great historical movie or getting completely caught up in a historical fiction book is a fun way to learn history, but what happens after you turn off the movie or close the book?
That’s where movie and story maps can be really helpful. They give kids a simple way to stop and think about what they’ve just watched or read, and then communicate back what they learned.

Retelling, organizing, and explaining information in their own words helps kids process it and makes those details more likely to stick. A story map can help them remember characters, setting, important events, and the big picture, while a movie map can give them a place to record what they noticed and learned from a documentary or historical film, including the inaccuracies!
It’s an easy little step that turns “We watched a movie about it” into “Here’s what I learned from that movie!”

This was really surprisingly difficult to find nice printables for!  Might have to be making some of these soon!

–>Here’s a list of my favorite History Movies For Kids and History Books in case you missed those!

+Movie Analysis Printable
Free.

+Historical Movie Review Template
Free.

+Historical Movie Review Page
Free. TpT.

+Historical Fiction Research Organizer Printable
Free, but you have to create an account (also free).

+Story Maps
There’s a good mix of Story Maps on this site!  These are great for both non-fiction, and historical fiction!
Free.

+Historical Fiction Organizer
Free, TpT.

+Historical Fiction Book Analysis
Free, TpT.

+Historical Fiction Venn Diagram
Free, TpT.

 

 

Who says learning history has to feel like school?
Games are a natural way for people of all ages to learn, practice new information, solve problems, and remember what they’ve learned… and history is perfect for turning into a game!

There are plenty of history themed board games you can buy, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring some fun into your history lessons. There are tons of printable history games available online, from matching games and trivia, to bingo, puzzles, card games, and more. They’re an easy way to add a little fun to your history day, give kids a chance to review what they’ve learned, or simply make an afternoon of history feel a whole lot less like a lesson. We had a tradition of this on Fridays that my kids STILL remember!

Sometimes the best learning happens when nobody realizes they’re learning!

–>Top 10 History Games For Kids
(This really is the ultimate list, but all the games you’ll find below are specifically PRINTABLE!)

+History Mad Libs
–Mad Libs-  History    (free)
–US History Mad Libs  (free)
–History Themed Mad Libs
Some are free (the top 5 or 6), some require an account.

+Games From History To Print & Play
–Ancient Game of Ur     (Ancient Mesopotamia)
–Nine Men’s Morris     (Colonial America)
–Fox and Geese    (Revolutionary War)
–Join The Army    (Revolutionary War)
–Whist    (Revolutionary War)
–Viking Games     (Vikings)
(Good for older kiddos! There are lots of games and they’re really nice quality when you see the PDFs!)

+File Folder and Printable History Games
–Viking Voyages
–Civil War Board Game 
(This is super!  Here is the link directly to the Civil War Game PDF because it was really difficult to find!)
–The Presidents Game
–Ancient Egypt Printable Game
–Ancient Greece- “Digging Up Greece” Game
–Westward Expansion Game

+History BINGO!
-Fun take on History BINGO
–Modern American History Bingo  (not free :D)
–DIY Ancient Egypt Bingo Game

+Guess Who?
–Guess Who?  Presidents Edition
–Make Your Own Guess Who? Game

+33 More History Games
Ok… not all are printable, but still worth adding to this list!
Free.

 

And there you have it!  Thanks for reading all the way down!

10 of my favorite types of history printables… with a whole lot more than 10 as usual! 😉

One of the things I love about printables is how easy they are to add to whatever you’re already doing. You don’t need to completely change your history curriculum or add a bunch of extra work. A map here, a timeline there, a coloring page for your youngest, or a fun game for a Friday afternoon can make your history studies a little more hands-on and memorable.

Hopefully you found a few ideas here that will work for your family. Pick and choose what looks fun, print what you need, and leave the rest.

History doesn’t have to be complicated or boring!
And printables don’t have to be time fillers and boring either!

 

Be sure to check out the other posts in the series so far!

+Top 10 History PODCASTS
+Top 10 History SONGS
+Top 10 History TIMELINES
+Top 10 History AUDIOBOOKS
+Top 10 History MOVIES
+Top 10 History BOOKS  (This is the ULTIMATE History Book List!)
+Top 10 History GAMES
+Top 10 History HANDS-ON Activities
+Top 10 History PRINTABLES
+Top 10 History FIELD TRIPS

And a bonus…
+Top 10 History for the HOLIDAYS
+Top 10 AMAZING Homeschooling Resources At The Library

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Happy Living, Loving, and Learning Together!