Finding Family Treasure

In Finding Family Treasure students in Ms. Johansson's fifth grade class research their family roots to better understand the makeup of the people in America – both past and present.The students learn that history is more than names and dates. It's about people – where they came from, what challenges they faced, and why it's important to learn about them.

With the help of a genealogist, students learn to navigate websites that introduces them to written records which have documented their families' histories. Because the class is comprised of students with roots to many nationalities and ethnic groups, the diversity in their own class soon becomes apparent.

The students are then asked to interview their parents, grandparents, and other living relatives. They learn many things about their family that they had never known before. Documents, photographs, and family heirlooms help inspire the students to want to dig deeper. The young researchers gain a new appreciation for the challenges their relatives faced and how they have benefited from their ancestors' perseverance.

Join coauthors — genetic genealogist Kathryn Knight and educator Jane R. Wood — as they show how history comes alive for students when they make personal connections to the past.