All Aboard The Surname Train!

8/23/2015

Kids love trains. They love watching them, playing with them, and riding in them. So, I thought, why not design a family history activity that is centered around trains.

Introducing the Surname Train! It's a very simple concept: One engine per surname, and then each individual family member gets his or her own train car, on which his/her photo and full name are included. Kids are able to visually put the faces with the surnames.

Surname Train

The train cars attach to each other and the engine using self-adhesive Velcro circles, which you can buy at any craft store or big-box store. This way, once you make several surname engines, you can make it a game, and ask the child to match the cars to the correct surname engine. I also love this interchangable aspect of the activity because I can show with the child how married women can actually be a part of two (or more) surname trains.

Close-Up of Self-Adhesive Velcro Circle

I laminated the engine and cars for durability, but you do not have to do that. Also, when doing this with a child, I encourage you to ask the child to color or decorate the engine and cars. Let the child show off his or her creativity in this project.

With older children, you may want to write birth years on the back of each train car, and then ask them to put the cars in chronological order when assembling each train.

And, hey, my train engine and cars template is FREE! Click on either photo below to be directed to a downloadable two-page PDF for your personal use. Simply print, cut, and create!