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Looking Forward to Looking Back: Making A Family History Scrapbook
The importance of studying the past is often difficult for children and teenagers to grasp, because their whole lives are still ahead of them. In our fast-paced society, it is important to take time to remember where we have come from, to see where we are going, and to record our legacy for future generations.
Read below for information and instructions for initiating a family history project called “Looking Forward to Look Back.” The project is a scrapbook your family can work together to complete and treasure when it is finished. Through this project, families will not only learn about history, but they also will discover how it relates to them and develop a greater appreciation for their elders.
Purpose: To illustrate the importance of historical and family study by having children learn more about their own family history. History is, after all, the stories of people’s lives.
Description of the activity:
- A pictorial history – Have children arrange photographs of themselves and their immediate family in chronological order of their life. Add short descriptions of the pictures that include when and where each was taken.
- A family tree – Record your family’s genealogy as far back as possible.
- An autobiography - Have children record their own history by writing what they want others to know about them.
- Grandparent/Oldest living relative interview - Have children interview either one of their grandparents or their oldest living relative and write about that person’s life.
- Family recipes - Record the recipes for at least three of their families’ favorite foods. A short description of the tradition behind the dish should be included, i.e. who is known for making it, how long the recipe has been in the family, what the dish means to them, etc.
- Pictures of family houses - Have children place photographs of the different houses where their relatives have lived. Short descriptions of the photographs that include where the house is located and who lived in the house should be encouraged.
- Pictures of family heirlooms and a description of the heirlooms - Take photographs of family heirlooms such as quilts, furniture, silver and china. Add short descriptions of the photographs that include what the item is and to whom the item belongs.
- Military service - Students can include a section of photos and documents that belong to a relative(s) who served in the military. Short descriptions of the photos and documents should be encouraged.
- Pictures of pets - Include photographs of family pets as well as a description or favorite memories of the pet.
- Family photos - Compile photographs of relatives, both living and dead, with short descriptions of each photo.
- Important documents and clippings – Save important
documents and/or newspaper clippings about relatives, i.e. marriage certificates or birth certificates, wedding announcements or any article in the newspaper about a relative.
- Cemetery rubbings/photos - Include rubbings of gravestone engravings or photographs of family gravestones or cemeteries.
Materials needed for project: A photo album with protective pages for storing photos and papers.
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