Genealogy Activities for Thanksgiving
Giving Thanks for the Family Tree
When the extended family comes together for the Thanksgiving holiday, it's the perfect opportunity to help your kids begin some genealogy research. Children love to hear about family history and figure out their lineage -- and you won't find personal stories in the public records! Their first few steps into family research may reveal some things you never knew before, and may even motivate you to take a look back into your distant ancestors' records. Before you know it, you might be able to name all the branches on your family tree and pass this valuable information on to the generations that follow you.
Family History Activities
While enjoying the holiday feast, encourage the senior family members to share stories of their younger days with the kids. Get everyone engaged with some conversation starters, and print out some interview questions the kids can use. Move beyond the basics with a family tree activity, and your genealogy research is off to a great start!
Next the kids can undertake one or more of the following projects, some of which make wonderful holiday gifts for the relatives:
Family Name History
The family name, or surname, is critical to any genealogical research. But when it comes right down to it, how much do you really know about the origins of family names? You can't assume that the spelling of your surname has stayed the same through the generations. The names of immigrants were often changed to make them "sound more American," and over many years some names were "corrupted" through misspellings. Even an easy name like Smith might have previously been Smyth. Think about it: How many times have you had to correct the spelling of your own name?
You can discover the meaning and origin of your surname, as you now spell it, in FamilyEducation's NameLab. You may be surprised what you find -- and you may also get some additional leads for your research. See whether any of your Thanksgiving guests recall spelling variants of the family name, as well.
Genealogical Printables
Streamline the process of gathering and recording data with these helpful printables:
- Learn About Your Family Questionnaire
- More Interview Questions
- Family Tree Form
- Family Group Worksheet
- Pedigree Chart
- Research Calendar
- Correspondence Log
Undertaking a Major Family History Project
If you're ready to dig down deep to your family's roots, our extensive genealogical resources can help. Find out where to look for the keys to your past, how to plan a genealogical field trip, how to use genealogical tools, and how to keep it all organized. Your great-great-grandkids will be grateful!
