Family History Lesson Plans

Students work together to compare and contrast their family histories. They identify artifacts and place them in the correct time period. They write a paper about how the past strengthens the future.

Fourth graders open the lines of communication between family members and to gain a historical understanding about family history. They research and interview their grandparents and parents and create a research paper.

Students compare the differences between Chinese dragons to symbolize the differences the United States has amongst its people. In this differences lesson plan, students discuss how their own family history is different than their peers and create comparison charts.

Students research their family tree. In this family history lesson, students listen to the story "Me and My Family Tree" and view the painting Family Record for Andrew Bickford and Olive Clark. They investigate their own family history by asking a parent or relative.

Students investigate world history by completing a timeline activity.  In this European History lesson, students identify the Habsburg family from Europe and perform research using their textbooks to discover the "House of Habsburg".  Students complete worksheets and create a timeline about the Habsburg family history.

Students work as genealogists. In this family history lesson, students collect information regarding their ancestors, use maps to locate the locations they lived in, and examine the geographical movement of their ancestors.

Students explore the concepts of immigration and growth of U. S. cities. In this family history lesson, students write of a letter from their ancestors to themselves. Students investigate their family tree and create a biographical summary sheet on an ancestor.

Fourth graders identify primary source items in the study of their families. They relate the importance of primary source materials in understanding history and events of the past.

Fifth graders research their family histories and interview relatives. They construct a family tree or timeline and present several family artifacts for a classroom presentation.

Pupils interview members of their family, research their family's history and record it. They observe and identify people in their oldest family photographs. They create a photo album with captions.