Introduce the unit with a speaker from the local genealogical society to explain how to begin tracing a family tree and what resources are available locally. Other materials are available for students who have more family information. Write a family history beginning with the earliest known ancestor. Select a country from your ancestory and research events which caused people to immigrate from that country and what influenced their selection of a new region to live. Tape record a family member telling favorite family stories of people in the older generations.
Tape record the stories from a time period.
This assignment may span a nine weeks or a semester to allow students time and opportunity to make the necessary contacts. Therefore, time should be provided for students to share new discoveries with the class. Students should also be encouraged to share research information which is pertinent to the units taught in the class.