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#MyColorfulAncestry for Kids

3/30/2016

6 Comments

 
#MyColorfulAncestry for Kids // GrowingLittleLeaves.com
A week or so ago, a genealogist by the name of J. Paul Hawthorne posted an image of five generations of his ancestry, which was color-coded by birthplace. Well, his idea (and his Excel template) went viral, and genealogists have been creating their own colorful ancestry charts and posting them on social media. (Read more about it and download the free template on J. Paul Hawthorne's blog, GeneaSpy.)

Instead of making one for my own ancestry, I decided to go one generation forward and make one for my kids. And instead of limiting it to five generations, I completed the chart until I reached the 'immigrant' generation of each line. As you can see, my kids' Ohio roots run deep, but they also claim ancestors from seven separate present-day European countries. In other words, this is a great opportunity to use their ancestry to teach them some European geography.

#MyColorfulAncestry for Kids // GrowingLittleLeaves.com
My daughter loves to color, so she used colored pencils to fill in the states and countries listed on the chart onto blank, black-and-white political maps. There are lots of free, printable map resources out there on the Internet, but my favorite one is the Maps section of SuperColoring.com. 

The color I used for each location on the chart is the same color my daughter used to color that location with. Visually, I think it helps her connect the chart more with the map than if we had used different colors. Feel free to talk about the locations and the individual ancestors as much or as little as your child will tolerate. Perhaps hang the colorful maps in their room or playroom as a reminder of where they come from. :-)
#MyColorfulAncestry for Kids // GrowingLittleLeaves.com
#MyColorfulAncestry for Kids // GrowingLittleLeaves.com
©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder. Ancestry chart template created by J. Paul Hawthorne (JPaulHawthorne@gmail.com)
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6 Comments
J. Paul Hawthorne
3/30/2016 05:05:27 pm

Emily, it is so wonderful how you incorporated the chart with maps of Europe for your kids. This is what it's all about! Thank you!

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Jana Last link
4/1/2016 09:20:38 pm

Emily,

I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/04/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-april-1-2016.html

Have a great weekend!

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Yvonne Demoskoff link
4/2/2016 04:23:37 pm

What a fun activity for children and a great idea for parents who homeschool!

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Emily
4/3/2016 07:01:57 pm

Thanks for reading, Yvonne! My daughter definitely had fun with it!

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Bill Buchanan link
9/20/2016 01:50:08 pm

In my latest posting on Bill's Family History Center Blog, I highlight http://www.growinglittleleaves.com/ and say "If you want young children to enjoy family history, I suggest you visit Emily's blog."

My URL is http://billsfamilyhistorycenter.blogspot.ca/

Reply
Emily
9/20/2016 03:27:24 pm

Hi Bill! Thank you for mentioning my blog on your blog! I am always hoping more people find my ideas and use them with their own children, grandchildren and students! All children should learn their family history. ~Emily

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    Emily Kowalski Schroeder

    Founder and Author of Growing Little Leaves

    Emily Kowalski Schroeder / Founder and Author of GrowingLittleLeaves.com
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    Emily Kowalski Schroeder: 2018 RootsTech Speaker
    Emily Kowalski Schroeder: 2017 RootsTech Speaker

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