Description

Greeting Friend!

Honestly, this is my favorite history project of the year! After spending all year (and all their school years) learning about mostly other people’s history, it’s time for students to dig deep into their own personal as well as family history. Whether students realize it or not, they are a part of history and their stories not only matter but are incredibly powerful. After all, history is pieced together by what’s left behind. So, it’s the students’ turn to create their own, real life primary sources. Every year many of my students tell me that this was the most meaningful, impactful project they’ve done in a history class.

This project is designed as a series of four assignments: Student’s Autobiography, Student’s Personal Historical Account (of a current or historical event they’ve lived through), Family Member’s Biography (who they interview…can be ANYONE they consider family), and their Immigration Story. For the Immigration Story, there are three options: Option A is for students who remember or have a family member who remembers immigrating to the US; Option B is for students whose families are indigenous to the U.S; Option C is for students whose family immigrated long ago or have no living relative to tell the story (includes research).

All assignments are designed as a series of questions meant to prompt students. I have my students type each assignment and I check that each assignment is completed at intervals over the course of a month or two. The final project can be submitted as a scrapbook, booklet, binder, or other creative idea approved by you! It will include a front and back cover page (with a family tree!).

All pages of the assignments are editable in PowerPoint, including the rubric!

Versions of the Packet:

-Family History Project PDF: If you do not wish to make any changes to the project, you can simply use this version and print off enough packets for all of your students.
-Family History Project Editable: Allows you to edit the project using PowerPoint if you wish to make modifications.

Materials Needed:
Student access to computers and printers for typing the assignments

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