Family Tree Lesson Plans - Genealogy in the Classroom
Family tree lesson plans help teachers and students learn the important steps and principles of family history research -- genealogy -- including how to trace their family tree, understand immigrant origins, explore history in the cemetery, discover world geography, etc.
Family History in the Classroom
Lesson plans and ideas to help you use family history in your classroom to teach not only history - but also language arts - writing - math - geography - and even science.
Lesson plans and ideas to help you use family history in your classroom to teach not only history - but also language arts - writing - math - geography - and even science.
All in the Family: Discover Relatives & Genetic Connections
In this lesson, students develop family genealogy charts in search of noticeable genetic relationships between relatives.
In this lesson, students develop family genealogy charts in search of noticeable genetic relationships between relatives.
Ancestors Teacher's Guide
This guide is designed to help teachers and students in grades 7-12 use the Ancestors television series as a starting point to actively discover their ancestors. It introduces important steps and principles of genealogy research, and provides family history assignments.
This guide is designed to help teachers and students in grades 7-12 use the Ancestors television series as a starting point to actively discover their ancestors. It introduces important steps and principles of genealogy research, and provides family history assignments.
CanTeach - Family Tree
Several variations on the traditional family tree project for students in grades 5 and higher.
Several variations on the traditional family tree project for students in grades 5 and higher.
Cemeteries are Historical, Not Solely Grave
A Social Studies or Language Arts lesson examining graveyards as historical sites for students in grades 6-12.
A Social Studies or Language Arts lesson examining graveyards as historical sites for students in grades 6-12.
Cemetery Studies
Offers a variety of lesson plans for a field trip to the local cemetery, incorporating language arts, math, science and history.
Offers a variety of lesson plans for a field trip to the local cemetery, incorporating language arts, math, science and history.
Climbing the Family Tree - A Jewish Genealogy Lesson Plan
This lesson plan/lecture outline by Yigal Rechtman introduces Jewish genealogy myths and ways to reconstruct our ancestors’ lives. Includes teachers notes.
This lesson plan/lecture outline by Yigal Rechtman introduces Jewish genealogy myths and ways to reconstruct our ancestors’ lives. Includes teachers notes.
Coming to America - Immigration Builds a Nation
Discover the United States all over again as you introduce your students to the two major waves of immigration that brought 34 million people to our nation's shores and spurred the greatest period of national change and growth.
Discover the United States all over again as you introduce your students to the two major waves of immigration that brought 34 million people to our nation's shores and spurred the greatest period of national change and growth.
Correspondence from Students & Teachers
If you have your students write to the National Genealogical Society, they will receive a reply including a pedigree chart and a pamphlet, Suggestions for Beginners. Make sure they name the school and give their return addresses.
If you have your students write to the National Genealogical Society, they will receive a reply including a pedigree chart and a pamphlet, Suggestions for Beginners. Make sure they name the school and give their return addresses.
Establishing a School Archives
Practical suggestions from the National Archives and Records Administration on establishing and maintaining a school archives or historical collection. An excellent school or district-wide project!
Practical suggestions from the National Archives and Records Administration on establishing and maintaining a school archives or historical collection. An excellent school or district-wide project!
Exploring Our Roots - Educator's Reference Desk
Free lesson plan offers sample lessons that incorporate personal family trees into the larger context of community, state, and national histories. For students in grades 7-12.
Free lesson plan offers sample lessons that incorporate personal family trees into the larger context of community, state, and national histories. For students in grades 7-12.
Family Crest
Children in grades K-3 can begin to think about their family histories and their own lives by making a family crest.
Children in grades K-3 can begin to think about their family histories and their own lives by making a family crest.
Family History Lesson Plan - Educator's Reference Desk
Assignment is designed to get students involved in an activity in which they can work closely with their family, identify their ancestors, appreciate their ethnic backgrounds, connect events in history with the movement of their ancestors and develop a better understanding of the United States as a melting pot. This plan is written for American schools but is easily adapted for any culture.
Assignment is designed to get students involved in an activity in which they can work closely with their family, identify their ancestors, appreciate their ethnic backgrounds, connect events in history with the movement of their ancestors and develop a better understanding of the United States as a melting pot. This plan is written for American schools but is easily adapted for any culture.
Family History in the Classroom
A great article for teachers by Maureen Taylor.
A great article for teachers by Maureen Taylor.
Family History Map - Tracking Your Ancestors
Help kids recreate their family's migration to the United States with this project from Family Fun magazine.
Help kids recreate their family's migration to the United States with this project from Family Fun magazine.
Family History Workshops
Family History Education Associates present half, full, and two-day workshops around the U.S. for integrating genealogy and family history into the classroom by experienced certified educators who have taught genealogy.
Family History Education Associates present half, full, and two-day workshops around the U.S. for integrating genealogy and family history into the classroom by experienced certified educators who have taught genealogy.
Family Tree
A 5th-grade lesson in which students compile a four generation family tree, create a family crest and write a brief autobiography with pictures included.
A 5th-grade lesson in which students compile a four generation family tree, create a family crest and write a brief autobiography with pictures included.
Genealogy For Children
Developed by a retired teacher in Ontario, CA, this site is dedicated to encouraging the development of future genealogists and contains several pages with activities and lesson ideas to introduce children to genealogy.
Developed by a retired teacher in Ontario, CA, this site is dedicated to encouraging the development of future genealogists and contains several pages with activities and lesson ideas to introduce children to genealogy.
Genealogy in the Classroom
by Wendy Elliott
A recording of a seminar from the 2000 NGS Conference in the States. Available for purchase from Audiotapes.com.
by Wendy Elliott
A recording of a seminar from the 2000 NGS Conference in the States. Available for purchase from Audiotapes.com.
Genealogy Research Lesson Plan - Educator's Reference Desk
Free lesson plan designed for students in 11th grade which uses a long-term family history project as a way to personalize the history they are learning in class.
Free lesson plan designed for students in 11th grade which uses a long-term family history project as a way to personalize the history they are learning in class.
History Hunters Cemetery Tour
Elementary lesson plan makes an interesting field trip to the local cemetery or is easily adaptable to a regular classroom setting when exploring topics in state and local history. From the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Elementary lesson plan makes an interesting field trip to the local cemetery or is easily adaptable to a regular classroom setting when exploring topics in state and local history. From the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Interviewing a Historical Figure
Teach students in grades 5 and higher about oral history with this fun lesson plan from CanTeach.
Teach students in grades 5 and higher about oral history with this fun lesson plan from CanTeach.
King Arthur's Family Tree
This free lesson plan for students in grades 9-12 teaches them to trace the genealogy of the legendary king before or after his birth.
This free lesson plan for students in grades 9-12 teaches them to trace the genealogy of the legendary king before or after his birth.
Listening to History
This lesson plan from Edsitement is designed to help students tap oral history by conducting interviews with family members. Recommended for students in grades 6-8.
This lesson plan from Edsitement is designed to help students tap oral history by conducting interviews with family members. Recommended for students in grades 6-8.
Little House in the Census - Almonzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder
Access pages from the 1880 and 1900 census schedules, teaching activities, and valuable links which relate to the Ingalls family and the census. From the US National Archives and Records Administration.
Access pages from the 1880 and 1900 census schedules, teaching activities, and valuable links which relate to the Ingalls family and the census. From the US National Archives and Records Administration.
My Piece of History
Students examine pictures of household objects from the late 20th century, gather historical information about them from older family members, and then create an in-class exhibit of historical objects from their own homes. Grades K-2.
Students examine pictures of household objects from the late 20th century, gather historical information about them from older family members, and then create an in-class exhibit of historical objects from their own homes. Grades K-2.
National Archives Learning Curve - UK
Designed for teachers, this online resource is designed to tie in with the History National Curriculum from Key Stages 2 to 5 and contains a varied range of sources from the holdings of the Public Records Office in the UK.
Designed for teachers, this online resource is designed to tie in with the History National Curriculum from Key Stages 2 to 5 and contains a varied range of sources from the holdings of the Public Records Office in the UK.
National Genealogical Society - Teaching Materials
A variety of well-designed teaching materials for grades kindergarten through high school are available for purchase from the Society’s book store.
A variety of well-designed teaching materials for grades kindergarten through high school are available for purchase from the Society’s book store.
Refugees - A Special Type of Migrant
Several lesson plans designed to help teach students age 9-11 about immigrants and refugees from the perspective of investigating their family history and ancestors.
Several lesson plans designed to help teach students age 9-11 about immigrants and refugees from the perspective of investigating their family history and ancestors.
Rubincam Youth Award for Genealogy - NGS
Are you doing an in-depth genealogy project in your classroom? Consider having your students apply for the Rubincam Youth Award offered by the National Genealogical Society each year to encourage the participation of young people (grades 8-12) in the field of genealogy.
Are you doing an in-depth genealogy project in your classroom? Consider having your students apply for the Rubincam Youth Award offered by the National Genealogical Society each year to encourage the participation of young people (grades 8-12) in the field of genealogy.
Show and Tell
An article on implemementation of teaching family history research in the elementary school. By Audrae Turner Mathis.
An article on implemementation of teaching family history research in the elementary school. By Audrae Turner Mathis.
Teaching with Documents
Make history hands on with these reproducible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the United States, teaching activities correlated to the National History Standards and National Standards for Civics and Government, and cross-curricular connections. Enjoy varied activities from Eli Whitney's cotton gin to Navaho code talkers.
Make history hands on with these reproducible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the United States, teaching activities correlated to the National History Standards and National Standards for Civics and Government, and cross-curricular connections. Enjoy varied activities from Eli Whitney's cotton gin to Navaho code talkers.
TeachNet.com - Family Tree Lesson Plans
Some good suggestions for handling non-traditional families, as well as less traditional genealogy activities such as timelines and map projects. The family tree competition is not recommended, however, as it doesn't teach proper genealogy research methods.
Some good suggestions for handling non-traditional families, as well as less traditional genealogy activities such as timelines and map projects. The family tree competition is not recommended, however, as it doesn't teach proper genealogy research methods.
The Third-Grader's 1850 Census
This suggested project by Michael John Neill uses a family group chart to explore the census and to interpret old handwriting. The exercise leads to map reading and ends with more genealogy exercises for children.
This suggested project by Michael John Neill uses a family group chart to explore the census and to interpret old handwriting. The exercise leads to map reading and ends with more genealogy exercises for children.
This is Your Life
In this set of three activities, students in grades 7-12 create family trees, interview a family member, and share childhood treasures.
In this set of three activities, students in grades 7-12 create family trees, interview a family member, and share childhood treasures.
Tracing Immigrant Ancestors
This assignment is designed to teach students the concept of immigration and how to connect events in history with the movement of their ancestors, as well as develop a better understanding of the United States as a melting pot. Appropriate for grades 5-11.
This assignment is designed to teach students the concept of immigration and how to connect events in history with the movement of their ancestors, as well as develop a better understanding of the United States as a melting pot. Appropriate for grades 5-11.
Uncover Your Culture
A 5th-grade lesson in which students define "culture" and orally report on their individual family culture.
A 5th-grade lesson in which students define "culture" and orally report on their individual family culture.
Up Close & Personal Lesson Plan - Educator's Reference Desk
To counteract students complaints that history is boring, this assignment was devised to bring history "up close and personal." Designed for highschool students in grades 9-12.
To counteract students complaints that history is boring, this assignment was devised to bring history "up close and personal." Designed for highschool students in grades 9-12.
U.S. Immigration & Naturalization - Resources for Teachers
Find inspiration for your classroom from this impressive collection of online resources for students and teachers from U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services.
Find inspiration for your classroom from this impressive collection of online resources for students and teachers from U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services.
The Valley of the Shadow
The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War by historian Edward L. Ayers of the University of Virginia allows students to compare and contrast a Northern town with a Southern one before, during, and after the Civil War.
The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War by historian Edward L. Ayers of the University of Virginia allows students to compare and contrast a Northern town with a Southern one before, during, and after the Civil War.
What is History? Timelines and Oral History
To understand that history is made up of many people’s stories of the past, students interview family members about the same event and compare the different versions, construct a personal history timeline and connect it to larger historical events, and synthesize eyewitness testimony from different sources to create their own “official” account. Grades K-2.
To understand that history is made up of many people’s stories of the past, students interview family members about the same event and compare the different versions, construct a personal history timeline and connect it to larger historical events, and synthesize eyewitness testimony from different sources to create their own “official” account. Grades K-2.
Where I Came From
Students take research into their heritage a step beyond the construction of a family tree in this Edsitement lesson, traveling through cyberspace to find our what's happening in their ancestral homelands today. Grades 3-5.
Students take research into their heritage a step beyond the construction of a family tree in this Edsitement lesson, traveling through cyberspace to find our what's happening in their ancestral homelands today. Grades 3-5.
Where We Came From
A social studies activity to help students in grades K-3 explore their family heritage.
A social studies activity to help students in grades K-3 explore their family heritage.