Genealogy Lesson Plans

Investigate national unity in a month-long lesson. After creating "I am from" poems, 5th graders will construct accordion flip books, listing and illustrating reasons for settlement. Choosing illustrations, essays, or Powerpoint presentations, they tell their own personal immigration stories. Working in groups, they create brochures persuading people to immigrate to selected locations.

Students examine their own strengths and weaknesses and try to determine if it is a result of nature, nuture or both. After reading an article, they discuss how gender may or may not account for differences in intelligence. They participate in a fishbowl discussion to talk about gender equality and write a reflection paper examining the issue in their school or community.

Students determine that all families create and pass on folklore. They research stories of their own names and draw parallels between their own and others' naming traditions. They infer characteristics of their communities' history and naming customs.

Ninth graders investigate why Acadians moved to Lousiana.  In this geography lesson, 9th graders research the migration of Acadian to Louisiana and how that influenced the culture.  Students analyze a list of cultural and physical characteristics of Canada and find those present in Louisiana. Students create a map showing migration patterns. Students write a paragraph about the importance of ethnic identity.

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.

Sixth graders work as Biographical Scene Investigators. In this investigative reporting lesson plan, 6th graders identify heroic individuals selected from the provided list and keep their own evidence notebooks regarding the actions of their subject. Students research print and Internet sources for evidence of the subject's heroic actions.

Learners view a PowerPoint and a map showing areas of land acquisition during the Revolutionary War.  In this Revolutionary War lesson, students complete area maps and study sheets.

Learners use the Internet to gather information about genetics, then research a genetic disorder. For this biology lesson, students listen to an interview with a geneticist, watch an animation of "chromosome coiling", then research and create a brochure with information about a genetic disorder. Lesson includes extension activities.

Students conduct research into family or community history and create a collage which they will present to the class. For this family/community history lesson, students conduct an interview of a family/community member who is over 60. Students create a collage of pictures, drawings, maps, family trees, decorative borders, glitter, etc. Students present this collage and their history to the class.

Sixth graders conduct research involving their family members or people who play significant roles in their lives. In this interdisciplinary perspectives instructional activity, 6th graders select and use technology tools and other media resources to collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize information about their families, extended families, or significant people in their lives. From the database created, they identify patterns and create charts and graphs to illustrate their findings.