Searching for your family tree          

Objectives

Student: 

  • Understands broad categories in time of years
  • Selects appropriate graphic organizer to present information.
  • Gives and listens to oral presentations for various purposes.
  • Creates works that are personally meaningful.

 

 

 

 

Procedure

Part I

1. Read the story The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

2. Discuss how many generations are mentioned in the story and how they kept their traditions.

3.  Discuss how life would be different if the author didn't care to know her family roots?

4. Make a web on FAMILY.  Students will mention all the different people who make up the family.

5.  Explain to students that they will be researching their family history.  Introduce the word Genealogy. 

6. Write vocabulary on board. Students will look up words at Genealogy Glossary .  Review terms with students.

7.  Tell students they will be creating a family tree but before, they must gather some information.  They can begin with what they know.  Their name, their parents name, their grandparents name.

8.  Give them the letter to go home to inform parents about the lesson and ask if they can help out with the genealogy and pictures.

Part II

1. Discuss with students the importance of knowing your family history. (such as historical findings that link to you, medical history and how it can affect you, family traits, talents, etc.)

2. After students have gathered their information they can begin their family tree.

3. The teacher will model on the board or overhead what a family tree looks like.  Show a variety of ways a student can do it.

3. Give out Family Tree Handout. Students will visit different websites and choose which family tree they would like to create.

4. The student will do an oral presentation of their family tree and share any interesting facts they learned about their family.

Materials

  • Book The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco  *
  • Handout
  • Bookmarked websites
  • Family photos
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Thick paper or poster board
  • Construction paper
  • Markers or colors to decorate collage.
  • Tape recorders
  • Tapes

*  These stories can be found in Houghton Mifflin Third Grade Reading Book, 2003

Remind students that all work will be displayed at the Family Heritage Day.

Vocabulary

Genealogy Glossary

  • ancestor
  • descendant
  • genealogy
  • heir
  • lineage
  • maternal
  • paternal
  • maiden name
  • deceased

 

 

 

Assessment

  • Family tree
  • Oral Presentation of tree
  • Family Collage
  • Written Family Story
 

 

 

 

Homework

  • Create a Family collage or a few  scrapbook pages

 

Extension

  • Explain to students that historians write down everything that happens in time.  This is how history is recorded.
  • Give the student instruction to interview a family member and tape record an event that they want to share.
  • The student will listen to the tape and write down the story.
  • Write a paragraph to explain why it is important to know your family history.

Fieldtrips and Activities

  • Visit a Local Museum of History.  Students will experience the  importance of keeping the family history for future generations.

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