Where Did I Come From

The next six lesson focuses on the discovery of the student's Family History through various sources. The focus of these lessons is answering the question: Where did I come from? By playing detective students will collect clues that will open the door to their Family History.

Lesson 4

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing this lesson the teacher should discuss the following questions to determine the level of student's understanding.

1. Why is documenting your sources so important?

2. Why should you check the sources of information you gather from other people?

3. In what ways does a research log help you document and organize your information?

Assessment

This lesson has no formal assessment. Teachers can use the above questions to assess students understanding. Any misunderstandings should be cleared up at this time.

Modifications

Although no assignment is included in this lesson, teachers may want to work with students on filling out their research log with the information that they have collected thus far. For students who have difficulty writing may want to keep their research log on a tape or have a partner assist them in filling out their research log.

Lesson 5

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing their interviews discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. What questions were most helpful in your interview and why?

2. What events seemed to be most important to the person interviewed and why do you think so?

3. What new information did you discover about your family in the interview?

4. Did the interview help you to discover more about who YOU are and in what way?

Assessment

Use the Interview Rubric to assess the students' interview  report. The teacher may also additionally assess students' understanding through class discussion

Modifications

Students may not be able to interview a relative. If this is the case, the teacher should arrange an opportunity for the student to interview another member of the community, perhaps and elderly volunteer or classroom aide. Students with disabilities may be allowed to dictate the results of their interview or present it in oral form.

Lesson 6

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing the unit discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. How does the Ancestral Chart help you?

2. What type of information was most difficult to find?

3. What are some of the resources you can use to find that information?

Assessment

Students in this lesson will be assessed on their ability to fill in the information on their Ancestral Chart correctly. Students should fill out the chart as explained in the lesson.

Modifications

Students may need to go through an example Ancestral chart as a whole group. Student's with disabilities may need to have assistance filling out the chart. It is recommended that these students work with a partner on their online searches. If text readers are available on the computers enable them for poor readers.

Lesson 7

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing the unit discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. How has the Internet changed how people discover their family history?

2. What are the advantages of using the Internet to find your family history?

3. What are some things you need to be cautious about when getting information from the Internet?

Assessment

Use the Writing to Inform Rubric to evaluate the students' Paragraph on Technology. Teachers can further assess student understanding through the classroom discussion.

Modifications

Students may work in small groups or partners to conduct their online research. Students with disabilities may be given assistance in filing out their Family Group record.

Lesson 8

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing the unit discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. What events do you consider to be most important and why?

2.  How did certain historical events affect your ancestor?

3. Based on what information you have gathered, how was your ancestors life different from yours?

Assessment

Use the Journal Assessment Rubric to assess students' Journal Entries as well as classroom discussions to assess understanding.. 

Students may work in small groups or partners to conduct their online research. Students with disabilities may dictate their journal entry to another student or aide..

Lesson 9

Objectives:

Questions to Consider: After completing the unit discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. In what ways can a cemetery help you in your family search?

2. What information can you find about cemeteries online?

3. How can you preserve the information found on a tombstone?

Assessment

There is no formal assessment for lesson 9. The teacher should use the questions above to assess the student's level of understanding.

Modifications

Teachers who are uncomfortable with the lack of assessment could devise a short quiz  for this unit. It is advised that student's with disabilities have a partner for this unit and that text readers are enabled if they are available.

Lesson 10

Objective:

Questions to consider: After completing the unit discuss the following questions with the class to determine their level of understanding.

1. In what way is the Census useful to genealogists?

2. What kind of information can be obtained from a Census?

3. Why is knowing how to use the Soundex Code important?

Assessment

Student's will be assessed on their ability to use the Soundex code to translate their names and several of their classmates.

Modifications

Teachers may elect to have the students create a classroom census and record the information as a class project. Student's with disabilities should work with partners for this assignment.

Final Thoughts

Students have completed Section 2 of this Unit and should begin to understand Where they came from?

In the next Section Students will collect all their information to create their final project.

To Section 3