Recently, I've been thinking about ways in which to help my children understand what I do when I research and record information about our ancestors. At ages four and seven, they are still too young and their attention spans are still too small to sit down with me at the computer and search on FamilySearch.org or Ancestry.com. However, they both can write now and they are able to understand the basics when I show them a death certificate or census form, as long as I explain things in simple terms.
I am starting a series of worksheets that will make it easier for elementary-aged children to record basic information about their ancestors. Older children will even be able to record where that information is coming from, which is a great way to get them used to recording sources of information. Of course, documentation is a skill that has great use in many other fields of study, not just genealogy.
My vision is to create worksheets about ancestors of specific nationalities; today's sheets apply to Chinese ancestors to coincide with start of Chinese New Year this week. I also plan on creating forms specific to ancestors who served in various U.S. wars, and probably for Mayflower and Jamestown settlement ancestors.
Why create so many different forms, especially when most of the wording on the worksheets will be the same? The clip art images will make each printable unique and more visually-appealing to kids. Today's generation of children is the most ethnically-diverse the nation has ever seen. Exploring their family history involves teaching them about at least several different nationalities and/or cultures. The different worksheets will help the children better compartmentalize and remember each ancestor, and they will serve as starting points for discussing the different cultures.
In the coming weeks, look for worksheets for Polish, Irish, and Black (people of African descent) ancestry. I will always include male and female versions of each worksheet and I will include versions both with and without footnote numbers. Also, I encourage you to fill out these forms with your children and grandchildren, even if you don't know all of the information about a particular ancestor. Don't know when great-great-grandma came to America? That's ok - leave the space blank and tell the child that more research needs to be done!
Click on each image to be directed to a PDF of each worksheet. A separate sheet on which to record sources can also be downloaded from the link below.
I am starting a series of worksheets that will make it easier for elementary-aged children to record basic information about their ancestors. Older children will even be able to record where that information is coming from, which is a great way to get them used to recording sources of information. Of course, documentation is a skill that has great use in many other fields of study, not just genealogy.
My vision is to create worksheets about ancestors of specific nationalities; today's sheets apply to Chinese ancestors to coincide with start of Chinese New Year this week. I also plan on creating forms specific to ancestors who served in various U.S. wars, and probably for Mayflower and Jamestown settlement ancestors.
Why create so many different forms, especially when most of the wording on the worksheets will be the same? The clip art images will make each printable unique and more visually-appealing to kids. Today's generation of children is the most ethnically-diverse the nation has ever seen. Exploring their family history involves teaching them about at least several different nationalities and/or cultures. The different worksheets will help the children better compartmentalize and remember each ancestor, and they will serve as starting points for discussing the different cultures.
In the coming weeks, look for worksheets for Polish, Irish, and Black (people of African descent) ancestry. I will always include male and female versions of each worksheet and I will include versions both with and without footnote numbers. Also, I encourage you to fill out these forms with your children and grandchildren, even if you don't know all of the information about a particular ancestor. Don't know when great-great-grandma came to America? That's ok - leave the space blank and tell the child that more research needs to be done!
Click on each image to be directed to a PDF of each worksheet. A separate sheet on which to record sources can also be downloaded from the link below.
My Chinese Ancestor Female With Notes
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My Chinese Ancestor Female Without Notes
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My Chinese Ancestor Male With Notes
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My Chinese Ancestor Male Without Notes
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| sources_worksheet_7.pdf |
These worksheets are not difficult to make, and I encourage you to make your own to fit your own family's ancestry. As I mentioned above, my plan is to make many more, and if you have a particular nationality or historical time period you would like me to 'fastrack' in my creation queue, let me know and I can get to work on it!
All of the worksheets will be posted on the 'Ancestor Worksheets' page of GrowingLittleLeaves.com.
©2015, Emily Kowalski Schroeder. Worksheets for personal use only. May not be reproduced without written consent from owner.
All of the worksheets will be posted on the 'Ancestor Worksheets' page of GrowingLittleLeaves.com.
©2015, Emily Kowalski Schroeder. Worksheets for personal use only. May not be reproduced without written consent from owner.
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