geneology

Who Are Your Ancestors?

A 5th Grade Family Tree Project

GENEALOGY

You are going to have the exciting experience of finding out about who you are by interviewing your relatives and investigating your family history. Your final product will be a binder filled with information about your ancestors which you will then be able to share with your children and grandchildren someday. Many families do not have their stories documented anywhere, so this project is a great opportunity for you to contribute to the ongoing legacy of your family.

What is genealogy? Why should I study it? Genealogy is the science of studying about our ancestors, also called "family history". There is an old Black cultural saying "You can not go forth until you know where you came from" Very true statement. Learning the basic terminology and skills to search your "roots" can be lots of fun. It's like a detective searching for information.

1. Origins
a. What countries did your ancestors come from?
b. How did they get here?
c. Why did they come to America?
d. Other information

2. Home in the United States
a. Where did they settle?
b. What jobs (skills) did they have?
c. What do you know about their families?
d. Special contribuitions they made to their families and comunities

3. Family Treasures
a. Stoires from the past (family stories)
b. Pictures from the past (you can scan them and print them in the computer room.)
c. "Treasures from the past" (herilooms, letters, diaries, albums, medals, etc.)

4. More Old Photographs
a. Who is in the picture?
b. What is the paicture about?
c. Your observations about the photographs

5. Favorite Family Foods
a. Include a description of the foods, recipes, and why they are family favorites

6. Personal Comments
a. What did you learn about your family?
b. What did you learn about yourself?
c. What are your thoughts about the project?

Students can start their detective work with the web links given. Students will also use these sites to help them construct their family tree for the beginning of their binder.

1. Start with a Journal.
2. Conduct oral history with the oldest member of your family.
3. Design a family tree.
4. Create a family timeliner using the computer program "Timeliner."
5. Using the internet resource MapQuest, trace the different places on a map where your family has lived, and then retrace those places on a map.
6. Create a family crest using "Print Shop"

This project has lead you on a journey of exploration of your family history. You have now discovered where your ancestors lived, and how they migrated to their current location. By developing a family legacy, you will perserve family cultural and ethnic traditions for future generations.