You can create a similar Presidential PowerPoint Presentation using images from the Internet.  First show the slide.  Then ask questions to get the students to actually look at the picture.  I have some example questions below.  Then tell a few relevant interesting stories.  Most of my kids are not auditory learners, so I keep it short.  I do tell them each time what to write on their time lines, and I repeat exactly what to write a few times.  

 

The picture slides are as follows:

1) Washington's procession marching through Trenton, NJ on their way to his inauguration. (What's happening in this slide? Who's the man on the horse? etc.) 

2) GW reviewing his troops during the Whiskey Rebellion (Who is the man on horseback? What is he doing? etc.)

3) Portrait of John Adams (Who is this man? Does he look like he has many friends? etc.)

4) Portrait of John Marshall (What type of man is this? Why would a Chief Justice who served for 35 years be so important? etc.)

5) Portrait of Thomas Jefferson (Who is this man? How might he feel about "common"/regular/not rich people ruling? etc.)

6) Political Cartoon of Embargo Act (What's happening in this cartoon? What does the turtle represent? etc.)

7) Portrait of James Madison (Who is this man? What type of President do you think he'd make? etc.)

8) Scene from War of 1812 (What is happening in this slide? Where are the bombs coming from? etc.)

9) Portrait of James Monroe (Who is this man? What type of President do you think he'd make? etc.)

10) President Monroe with advisors (What are these men doing? What might they be talking about? etc.)

 

This is what the students write on their time lines:

1789- Washington takes oath of office in New York City

1789- Start of French Revolution

1794- Washington sends troops to suppress Whiskey Rebellion in Western PA

1796- Federalist John Adams became second President

1798- XYZ affair when France refused to cooperate with America

1798- John Adams stayed neutral in war between France and England

1798- Alien & Sedition Acts passed by Congress to stop assaults on Adams

1800- Republican Thomas Jefferson became 3^rd President

1800- John Marshall appointed Supreme Court Justice

1803- Marbury v. Madison established judicial review allowing courts to decide what is Constitutional

1803- Thomas Jefferson supported the purchase of Louisiana from France for $15 million

1807- Jefferson passed Embargo Act stopping all trades with other countries

1808- Republican James Madison became 4^th President

1809- Madison passed Non-Intercourse Act allowing trade with all countries except France and England

1811 – Harrison defeated Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe.  Americans realized Indians had been using British weapons.

1812 – Madison declared war on England .  Lasts 3 years & ends in 1815.

1814 – England bombed Fort McHenry and Francis Scott Key wrote “Star Spangled Banner”

1815 – War ended.  No one won.  England and US signed Treaty of Ghent.

1816 – Republican James Madison because 5^th president

1819 – America gained Florida from Spain because of Andrew Jackson

1823- Monroe delivered Monroe Doctrine warning other countries to stay out of America and America will stay out of Europe

1824 – John Quincy Adams became 6^th president

1828 – Democrat Andrew Jackson became 7^th President