1. Make a Family Tree

2. Fun & Easy Family Projects

3. Family History in the Classroom

4. A Family Mobile

5. Veritas Prep (Suggested by the Genealogy Club of the Library at Charlotte, Tennessee)

6. Links to Other Kid Sites

Family Tree Crafts

Family Tree Make a child's family tree from a small tree branch and construction paper. You can acquaint your child with their ancestry by making this simple and pretty family tree.

Supplies needed:

Sky blue and green construction paper Crayons or markers Scissors Some yarn A hole punch Styrofoam or paper cup A lump of play dough or other clay Glue stick

Find a twig with many branches. Put a lump of clay in the bottom of a paper or styrofoam cup. Insert the twig securely so that it remains upright.

Cut out big leaves from the green construction paper. Each leaf will represent a person in the child's family and should be big enough to write that person's name on the leaf. Cut enough leaves for each of the child's siblings, parents, and grandparents (or more!). Write the name of each person on their leaf. You might want to include the relative's relationship to the child, like "Grandma Joan Smith." Punch a hole on the end of each leaf.

Tie the leaves to the tree. The child's generation goes at the top of the tree, the parents at the second level, and the grandparents at the bottom. For an alternative project, use photos, and paste them on the leaves. Or use cut-outs of leaves, fruit (like apples), and/or flowers to represent the people.

Fun & Easy Family Projects

Often it's the little things that we remember most...

• Start a New Family Tradition: You might think about Holiday traditions at first. I love mom's traditional holiday dishes or our family outings to get the Christmas tree and look at the lights on the way home. I remember my father throwing gravel on the roof while ringing sleigh bells. He would race into the house to be sitting casually in the chair as if nothing had happened when I ran down the hall yelling "I heard Santa on the roof!" He would have to fight to keep a straight face.

  After I grew older I would play along with him for my younger brother and sister. Yes, it was silly. But it sure was fun. I'll do the same thing to my children the first chance that I get. These are some of the "traditions" in my family. They are simple but truly treasured memories for me.

  But, it doesn't have to be a holiday to make a family tradition. What are your habits, hobbies and interests? Maybe you like to grow tomatos in your garden. You might make the traditional "Family Salsa" with your children or spouse. Be sure to tell them that it's an "official" tradition.

  Think of any activity, any season, or anything that is special to you and yours that you really enjoy. Make it a tradition. Do it each year and enjoy the time spent with your family.

  What you do may be passed down for many generations to come!

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• Brighten Someone's Day Day: In today's busy world it's hard to keep in touch with loved ones. Maybe you live near aunts, uncles, cousins or friends that you don't see very much. Get your family together and make or buy a thoughtful inexpensive gift. Bake cookies, pick something from the garden or make a home-made card. It doesn't matter what the gift is. Just make sure that the whole family has a part in helping to make or think about who to see and what to give.

  If your family wants to send small gifts and tokens of love to distant relatives you can make this a home project and it will be great! But, it is really touching to visit with your loved ones when you "brighten" their day. Especially for younger children.

  Pick a day and time when you know that most of your loved ones will be home. You might want to call first and explain that you will be stopping by for a very quick visit. Just give it to them on the doorstep if you want. The key is to visit as many as possible. If you have someone to visit for longer than a few minutes, you put them on the end of the list.

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• Help Your Children Develop an Interest in Genealogy:

  Ideas that are fun and Family History oriented:

  Celebrate an ancestor's birthday: Learn all that you can about your ancestor and what life was like during the period of their life and share it with your children while you celebrate.

  Find a map of the world: Mark each place that you know that your ancestors once lived. This would work well on a map of the United States as well.

  Go to the local library: Ask the children's librarian to help you find information on toys and games that children played in America, or in a country from which your ancestor's immigrated from, 100 years ago.

  Teach your children how to cook a dish that you may have learned from your parents or grand parents. Let the little ones help too. Tell them what things were like around the time that you learned how to make it.

  

  Family History in the Classroom

  by Maureen Taylor

  Mention "genealogy" and "schools" in the same sentence and you will hear a wide range of opinions on the topic from parents, teachers and students. The basic worksheets and trees used in genealogical research are difficult to use in most assignments since families are no longer strictly defined as a two-parent household and a school's population can include single parents, adoptive families and same-sex households. Children with families that defy the traditional design of a family tree and even newer immigrants can have difficulty completing a narrowly-defined assignment. This presents a challenge to educators trying to incorporate genealogy into the curriculum. However, since schoolwork is intended to teach students skills, not become professional genealogists, teachers need to be aware of that there are still a lot of ways to expose students to genealogy, no matter what their family backgrounds. For the best success with classroom genealogy projects, teachers should offer assignments with the qualities listed below. Flexible Not all students may be able to complete the assignment as originally presented. The student and the parents will remember your sensitivity in allowing potentially upsetting homework to be modified for the comfort level of the child. For instance, adoptees and children from one parent households may not be comfortable working on a family pedigree chart. Try to use alternative ways to record family information such as an oral history project. Age Appropriate This is usually built into all classroom assignments, but it can be difficult for younger students to understand why they need to obtain family history information. The National Endowment for the Humanities Web site, My History is America's History, includes a set of sample lesson plans for teachers. Why Use Genealogy in the Classroom? Why should the classroom include genealogy at all? Because it is a great and engaging learning tool. Here are a few of the things that genealogy teaches in a classroom setting. Similarities and Differences Children in lower elementary grades and even preschool learn about the world around them through exploration and comparison. One teacher has children create a chart showing what family members each child's family contains — mother, father, stepsister, right down to the family pet. The point of the assignment is to appreciate the similarities and differences that exist between all families. Another educator uses a map of the world with colored pins to show the points of origins of the children's grandparents and parents. These classroom projects originated with a simple fill-in-the-blank form for children to complete with parental assistance. Cultural Diversity An assignment for older children that allows them to investigate their own ethnic and cultural heritage and share it with others in the classroom introduces the concept of immigration and assimilation. Let students express their heritage by creating a banquet of foods from recipes traditionally served at home or reflective of their cultural identity. Yes, there will be brownies and cookies, but also other interesting dishes. It can make for an educational event because many children are unaware of how mealtimes at their friends' houses differ. If food is impractical and the student population speaks a variety of languages, an alternative is to create a chart of common words or names in different languages. The examples can include different alphabets, spellings and styles of handwriting. Reference Skills While students are learning about themselves, their families and their communities, they may need to verify some of the facts in their projects. Unbeknownst to them, they are learning how to develop reference skills by using libraries, reference books and people as resources. They are learning how to find the information they need to finish their assignment. Computer Skills Students with Internet access can use the vast genealogical resources available online as reference tools. These Web-based databases and research guides can help them locate material on individuals or guides to where that data can be found. Schools wired for the Internet can use family history and local history as a way to teach students to use search engines, judge the quality of content, and create a web page. Assignments can include a component in which students are required to compare what they find online with what is available in traditional print resources. Organization A key skill learned by working on a family history project is organization. Developing a research plan to find information is an important component of any project. Students learn to progress through a set of steps to locate and analyze data. Defining the scope of the project, creating a outline of resources, establishing a realistic timetable for completion and then assembling the final product requires a student to develop organizational skills they will use throughout their lifetimes. In addition, students that have a genealogical software package can use it to organize their work. How to Integrate Genealogy into the Classroom So what can a teacher do to integrate genealogy into the classroom? There are many different opportunities. Take a look at some of the techniques and tools genealogists use to research families and see how they can be used for teaching. Oral History Every family has an oral tradition that includes adventures, stories about places lived and interesting family members. Children, as natural storytellers, listen carefully to these tales passed on from generation to generation. By interviewing family members about their lives they learn a set of skills, including creating a list of questions, planning a project and transcribing what has been said. This can be done with members of their own families or residents of an elderly apartment house through an intergenerational program. Younger students will be incredulous to learn that the modern conveniences they take for granted didn't exist during the childhoods of the people they are interviewing. Home Sources Photographs, documents and artifacts often provide clues to family history. Ask students to research the history of one or two significant items in their homes or owned by relatives that have a prominent place in a their genealogy. It could be their grandfather's passport, a wedding photograph or even a piece of furniture. The oral traditions surrounding artifacts can add data to a family history. Let the students research how and when particular articles were used to give them a sense of their family's place in social history. Calendars and Timelines Have students create an individual timeline adding historical context to their lives by finding national and local events that occurred at key points in their lives. They can document the points on the timeline by using materials created in their lifetimes. Timelines can lead to a discussion of calendar changes (Gregorian to Julian) and the different types of devices used to keep track of time around the world. They can use the timelines to write a personal memoir recounting the important points in their lives or focus on a family member and write a biographical account of their life. If a personal timeline is uncomfortable, timelines for relatives, famous persons or buildings or places are alternative projects. Names An exploration of the origin of student's first and last names can be fascinating homework. Ask students to find out the story behind their name including who named them and whether it has significance within the family. Students may find that they are named for a relative, or that their first or last name was created especially for them. Local History Social historians, public historians and genealogists understand that the lives of individuals become part of local history. Family history introduces students to a larger historical context. An alternative to researching their own families is to encourage students to research a local historical figure or a name they find in a city directory. Students can work as a team to research their school or even a house in the neighborhood. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City researched the families that lived there at various points in history. It is an example of the changing history of a neighborhood. Immigration and Assimilation For older students, genealogy and family history offers a personal way to view the processes of immigration and assimilation. Again, students can use their own families, or using passenger lists, census documents, city directories and other resources to trace the way individuals found their place in America. The Chicago Historical Society added information to their Web site on the diverse populations that settled the city. Students can formulate similar material for their locale. This is only an introduction to the many ways that genealogy can be incorporated into a classroom setting. Family history is not restricted to subjects that depend on written forms of expression. Students with artistic inclinations can use photographs, needlework, paint and dioramas to help others understand their family history. Musically talented individuals can play pieces from their ancestor's eras while other students can prepare time capsules and even create tours of landmarks important to their genealogy. Teachers who creatively approach the topic encourage their students to expand their base of knowledge about themselves and the world around them.

  About the Author Maureen A. Taylor, Owner and Principal of Ancestral Connections, combines her background in history, genealogy, photography and library science to assist individuals and institutions with research and project management. She is the author of several genealogical books and articles including the recent Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs (Betterway, 2000) and a guide to family history for kids, Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors (Houghton Mifflin, 1999). Her columns on genealogy appear in The Computer Genealogist and in New England Ancestors. She is the project manager for www.BostonFamilyHistory.com, a site that lets visitors plan a genealogical research trip to the Boston area.

LINKS FOR KID SITES

World GenWeb For Kids
This site is for kids (18 and under) or classes to do genealogy/history
GeneKids.com
This page offers the basics to getting started.
Genealogy Instruction Beginners, Teenagers, and Kids
For the new beginning genealogists, adults, teens, and youngsters, who need a little help getting started.
US Genweb For Kids
Offers a message board for kids to post queires or questions, how to do genealogy, helpful sites.
A Genealogy Quest
This WebQuest is an introduction into using the Internet to help find information that may be great distances away, and as a tool to help save time and energy looking for links to the past.
Genealogy.org
Great resources site with lots of links
Geneology for kids
Another kids site

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Last modified: October 08, 2013