Exploring Family Heritage
Families are unique and families have similarities. This series of articles and lessons explores the ways we can learn about families including our own.
One good way for students to learn about the concepts of customs, traditions, oral history, memoirs, diaries and biographies is to have them explore their own families' stories, songs, legends, history, and customs. Here are articles and lessons that will introduce students to the study of family heritage by helping them learn from their own families.
Articles
We Are Family, Grades K–1
by Naomi Kornman and Ruth Bilbe
Instructor Magazine |
November ,1995
Activities, reproducibles, and tips for teaching kids K-1 about families. Includes "Button Broods, "Families on Display," a discussion of animal families, and much more!
We Are Family, Grades 4–8
by Adam Berkin
Instructor Magazine |
October ,1995
Presents a family studies unit developed to encourage students in grades 4-8 to explore different ethnic groups and types of families
Books for Teaching About Cultural Diversity
by Genia Connell
Teacher created book list that focuses on how people from cultures all around the world have come together as Americans.
Writing Workshop: Oral History
Step-by-step instruction for writing a report based on another person's oral history.
Internet Field Trip: Families: The Roots of History
Provides Web sites with information on genealogy and family history. A research guide, oral history questions, and example memoirs are featured.
True Stories: Oral History How-to’s
by Karen N. Peart
March 24,1988
How to capture and preserve the memories of the World War II generation while they are still here to tell their stories.
Books for Teaching Family Stories
by Bryna Watkins and Valeta Pafford
Teacher created book list includes tips for classroom use.
Resources
Home Story Quilts
Here is a story about a quilt. It is a special quilt because it tells a story about home. The author is Carolyn Elwood, a teacher who works with children to teach them about the arts as a way to build their sensitivity to their environment.
Lesson Plans
Tracing Our Own Family Pilgrimages
Students track their ancestors' voyages to America in this Thanksgiving lesson plan focused on diverse cultural heritages.
We Are History: Family Stories
by Bryna Watkins and Valeta Pafford
Break the ice and let your new students get to know their classmates through oral storytelling of their family histories.
Immigrants: Our Ancestors
by Ruth Manna
Prompt students to learn about their cultural heritage through interviews with family members. Students present charts, maps, based on their findings, while family members are invited to bring cultural dishes.
Celebrate Your Heritage
by Genia Connell
Shares a lesson unit that teaches students the beauty of America's cultural diversity. Students interview relatives about their heritage, make a family tree, and map their ancestors'; migration.
Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today
Students learn the various reasons people come to America through oral histories of recent and historic immigrants, recognize immigrant contributions,and compare Ellis Island and Angel Island experiences.
