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CLIMB YOUR FAMILY TREE (YOU MIGHT FIND SOME NUTS!!!)
Description:
This is a basic lesson in research geared for third grade students that explores people, places and things as possible resources. The lesson uses genealogy as an example research topic. A family tree chart will be introduced and students will discuss what information would be useful to collect in order to fill it out. Students will break into groups to brainstorm possible sources for the information. Their suggestions will be compiled using a graphic organizer. The LMS will show examples of actual genealogy resources, including internet resources. Students will be given a handout family chart to take home to aid them in their own research.
Goals & Objectives:
Instructional Goals:
  1. To introduce the basics of genealogy research
  2. To explore various resources used for genealogy research
  3. To outline sources in terms of People, Places and Things


Learning Objectives:

  1. Third grade students will successfully create and complete a family tree chart.
  2. Students will identify information sources (People, Places and Things) used in genealogy research.
  3. Students will synthesis and summarize brainstormed ideas using a graphic organizer.

Motivational Goals:

 

  1. To instill an interest in family history.
  2. To instill an interest in research using the relevancy that comes with investigating one's own roots.
Materials & Sources:
Fami;y Tree Worksheet
Procedures:
Collaborators: Third grade classroom teachers

This lesson is meant to be only an introduction to research and resources, using genealogy as an example. The goal is to outline the basic tools and get the students thinking about where they would go to get the needed information. The actual research for each student would be left to them to do outside of class. This lesson, however, could be modified to be one part of a larger unit lesson with the actual research taking place in the LMC (with a possible field trip to the Local History Department at OCPL to view and use databases, census records etc.) and the final product being a completed family tree chart. The content and technique outlined below are for single period (40 minute) basic lesson.


Introduction:

 

1.Students will arrive in the library. 'Family Tree' by Tom Chapin will be playing in the background.

 

2.Show students the family tree handout (downloaded from www.scholastic.com , see attached). Ask if anyone knows what it is.

 

3.Define 'genealogy' in terms the students can understand.

 

4.Tell an anecdote about your own family tree experience (if you have one) or about some interesting person in your family's history.

 

5.Ask students why it may be interesting to find out about their own family history.

Body:


6.Ask students what information they would want to find to fill in a family tree. List suggestions on idea map created with 'Kidspiration' (or similar graphic organizer).

 

7.Break class into groups of 4 or 5 (or whatever seems reasonable) and ask them to appoint a group spokesperson.

 

8.On idea map add sections for 'People', 'Places' and 'Things'. Ask students to brainstorm about where they might find the information they just outlined in terms of these categories


9.List suggestions given by group spokesperson on graphic organizer.


10.When groups are done giving suggestions, talk about the most common resources used in genealogical research. Discuss the use of places like libraries, historical societies, court houses, and county clerk offices. Discuss things like family records, bibles, census record (bring some examples to show), use projection computer screen to show examples of genealogy websites and WebGen project (use http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb/ and then go to the Onondaga county link to discuss local resources). Discuss talking to relatives like parents, grandparents etc. and using older members of the community as sources of information.

Conclusion:

 

11.Review ideas generated.

 

12.Give family tree handout to go home. Discuss importance of starting with family resources.

13.Ask students with whom they would start their research.

 

14.Ask students to come back and tell you if they find any interesting discoveries, these could be posted if appropriate.

Assessment:
Learning Assessment Methods:

1.Third grade students will successfully create and complete a family tree chart
2.Students will identify information sources (People, Places and Things) used in genealogy research
3.Students will synthesis and summarize brainstormed ideas using a graphic organizer
Sources:
Print this Lesson Plan
Presented By: Deb Abbott
Website by Data Momentum, Inc.