It’s time for your child or loved one to become a Family History Investigator! They will have the chance to become private eyes and investigate family lore and artifacts. On their search for clues, they may surprise you with the questions they ask and the stories and topics they choose to investigate. They will offer a perspective in family history that may not have been heard or viewed yet. The next generation of the family line may surprise you as they uncover things about your family history you may not have even been curious about prior. They may take you on an adventure through your shared family history!
What you’ll need:
1) Interview Worksheet
Optional Materials
2) If you have completed the Tracing our Roots Parent Activity and Family Tree Activity you can also refer to your filled in World Map and Family Tree Worksheets as you prepare for the interview!
The first step in investigating a family story is for your child or loved one to decide what they want to investigate about their family history. Possibly they want to learn more about a trip a family member took, or a family artifact about which they have always been curious. Once they have chosen their topic of inquiry, you can guide them to decide whom they could interview to find their answers.
1) Have a discussion with your child or loved one about family stories and artifacts that have been passed down. Support your child or loved one in choosing the topic they want to explore and the family member (or members) to interview about it!
2) If your child or loved one has completed the Tracing Our Roots Parent Activity or Family Tree Activity Worksheets, have those worksheets available as reminders of what inspired interest earlier!
Go over the interview worksheets with your child or loved one, including any additional questions that you can add on the last page.
Help your child or loved one practice an interview. Ask them to choose a story that you know well and have them interview you. When they feel prepared, they are ready to step into the role of Family History Investigator and conduct their formal interview!
Although this activity is designed for the Family History Investigator to write the answers they learn on their worksheets, it can be done in other ways. The interviews can be recorded by audio or video.
Possibly this is only the first of many interviews the Family History Investigator will conduct. Think of ways these important projects can be saved for posterity. They can be shared within your family circle and also publicly as a way to connect with other families. There are many options: they can be digitized and shared online, they can be put into scrap books or family albums, they can be framed and hung in your home, and any other ideas you can think of. For inspiration and guidance take a look at the resources listed in the Lost Rolls America Parent Activities guide.