Family History Project
Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).
What you will learn
- 1Collect your family history by interviewing a family member, drawing a family tree, and sharing what you learn about your family’s past
Mini Lesson
History isn’t just about famous explorers and inventors — it’s also about your family! Every family has its own story, and you are part of that story right now.
What is family history?
- Family history is the story of the people in your family — where they were born, what they did, how they lived, and how they came to be part of your life.
- It includes grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and everyone connected to you by birth, adoption, or love. Every family is different.
- Example: "My grandmother was born in a small town and walked to school every morning."
What is a family tree?
- A family tree is a diagram that shows how family members are connected.
- It usually starts with you at the bottom, then shows your parents, then their parents (your grandparents), and so on. Each row is one generation: people born around the same time.
- Each person is a "leaf" on the tree, connected by lines to show relationships.
How to collect family history
- Interview a family member — ask them questions about their childhood, their hometown, and what they remember about the past.
- Look at old photographs together and ask who is in them and when they were taken.
- Write down what you hear — those words become part of your family’s oral history.
Good interview questions to ask
- "Where did you grow up?"
- "What was school like when you were little?"
- "What is your favorite memory from the past?"
- "How has our community changed over your lifetime?"
Words to know
Family
The people who are related to you, like parents, siblings, and grandparents
e.g. My family loves to eat dinner together.
History
A story of what has happened in the past
e.g. Our family history started long ago.
Family tree
A drawing that shows how people in a family are connected
e.g. I drew a family tree with my parents and grandparents.
Ancestor
A family member from long ago, like a great-grandparent
e.g. My ancestor came here on a ship.
Interview
When you ask someone questions to learn about them
e.g. I will interview my grandma about her childhood.
Ask yourself: "Who in my family has the most interesting history story? What one question would I ask them first?"
Unlock the full HSEA system for 7 days.
Add your first kid profile and your 7 days start: every lesson in every grade, saved progress for each child. Nothing to set up, no card required, nothing to cancel.
- ✓ All 1,880 lessons, Grades 1–6, every subject
- ✓ Profiles + saved progress for every kid
- ✓ Printable lessons with answer key