What was my grandmother's name?   What did my grandfather do for a living?  Where did they live?  Where did their parents live?  Do I look like them?

Finding answers to these and other  questions may open the door to a lifetime search of  family history for some students.  Along the way, as they learn about their ancestors and themselves, they may learn more about  local,  state, national, and
international history!

The study of family history can be a rewarding and valuable classroom activity.   It draws our attention to the many cultural and ethnic threads that are the strength of the American fabric.  Studying family history  provides an opportunity for students to make direct connections between yesterday and today.   They begin to see themselves as part of an ongoing story that began in the past, connects with the present, and continues in the  future. 

   
    World history, social studies, geography and American history become less remote when a link is established.  The often repeated observation that students learn better when they move from the familiar and specific to more general themes and broader concepts is a good reason to include an activity or unit on family history.   Encouraging students to look into their own ethnic and family backgrounds piques interest and increases involvement in classroom activities.    As they study how circumstances, events, and personalities shaped the lives of their ancestors, students begin to understand history from a new perspective beyond the textbook. Projects focusing on family history give students direct experience with the tools and methods of historical inquiry and analysis.