7 Genealogy Activities You Can Do With Kids
People often ask how I got so interested in family history. The truth is this: My parents encouraged it from the time I was young. Our family vacationed at historic sites and cemeteries. We never made it to Disney World. We worked in the vegetable garden to the sounds of my parents’ stories about their […]
Read More
Holiday Heritage Activity Ideas for Kids
The holiday season is a magical time for children. Keep them busy during this hectic time of year with projects that help them celebrate and learn more about their family heritage: Create crafts that help celebrate the season in traditional ways. Make clay candleholders and wax candles for a menorah, weave a Kwanzaa mat or […]
Read More
10 Ways to Make Family Reunions Fun for Kids
Make your next family reunion kid-friendly and family history-focused with these fun activities for the younger set. 1. If you have a family newsletter or website for pre-reunion updates, create a kids’ section. The section can include information on activities planned for them, plus word scrambles or trivia related to your family history. You can […]
Read More
Teachers Projects
Genealogy Word Scramble Let students guess these jumbled-up family history and relationship terms. Play now >> Word Search: Family History Records In this puzzle, students can search for 12 types of records genealogists often use to trace their family trees. Play now >> Make Picture Magnets For this easy art project, kids use a copy […]
Read More
Teachers Forms
Family Tree Forms Students working on family history projects can use these blank charts and worksheets (PDF) for recording genealogy information: 5-Generation Ancestor Chart: This chart is for recording names, birth dates, birthplaces, marriage dates, marriage places, death dates, and death places of your grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents and so on. (For the women, use their […]
Read More
Name Variations and Different Spellings Sleuthing
Do you hate spelling tests? Maybe you should have lived centuries ago. Spelling wasn’t as important in our ancestors’ time as it is now—they didn’t even have a dictionary until Noah Webster published the first American one in 1806. Also, fewer Americans could read and write. So people wrote words however they thought the words […]
Read More
Free 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms
Sign up for the Family Tree Newsletter and get 10 research forms as a special thanks!
15 Common Heritage Groups Word Search
America is a melting pot of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Can you find the 15 most common heritage groups hidden in this puzzle? Hint: Use the word list next to the puzzle for help. Words are hidden horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Downloadable version (PDF) Check the answers!
Read More
Family History Records Word Search
In this puzzle we have hidden 12 types of records genealogists often use to trace their family trees. See if you can find them all! Hint: Use the word list next to the puzzle for help. Words are hidden horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Downloadable version (PDF) Check the answers!
Read More
Genealogy and Family Relationships Word Scramble
All these jumbled-up words relate to family history and relationships. How many can you solve? nrdareagtpn = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ scnoiu = _ _ _ _ _ _ antu = _ _ _ _ nuecl = _ _ _ _ _ certnaso = _ _ _ _ […]
Read More
Exploring Grandma’s Attic “Artifact” Scavenger Hunt
At first glance, you might think your grandparents’ attic or basement is full of old junk. But grownups keep lots of interesting stuff in those places—including papers and “artifacts” with clues to your family history. Give yourself one point for every artifact you collect. Five bonus points if you get Grandma or Grandpa to help […]
Read More
How to Create a Tombstone Rubbing
Old gravestones are works of art, and they contain lots of family history information. You can preserve that history by making a tombstone rubbing of a relative’s grave. You should only attempt a rubbing on a sturdy gravestone—don’t try a loose or crumbling one, because the process can further damage the stone. Be sure to […]
Read More
Parents Sites
Genealogy Web Sites for Parents and Teachers These Web sites offer genealogy-related school project ideas; help for parents, teachers and scout leaders working on family history projects with kids; and youth-oriented genealogy how-to advice. America’s Story www.americaslibrary.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb: The Library of Congress guides kids through American history with fun facts about people, places and pastimes. […]
Read More