Research your family tree for three generations
About this idea
Discover your ancestry by interviewing family and researching family history. This 15-minute social studies activity teaches research skills, family history, and genealogy basics. Learn about your great-grandparents and where your family came from.
On this page
How to get started
draw your family tree (5 minutes)
- Start with yourself at bottom of page
- Draw line up to your parents (two branches)
- From each parent, draw lines to their parents (your grandparents)
- From each grandparent, draw lines to their parents (your great-grandparents)
- You now have three generations mapped: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents
interview family (10 minutes)
- Ask parents: 'What were grandma and grandpa's full names? When were they born? Where did they grow up?'
- Call or visit grandparents if possible: 'Tell me about your parents (my great-grandparents)'
- Questions to ask: Full names, Birth years, Birthplaces, Occupations, Special stories
- Write answers on your family tree
research online (Optional 10 minutes)
- Search family names on FamilySearch.org (free)
- Look for census records, immigration records
- See if you can find great-great-grandparents
- Note: Not all records are online, and that's okay
connect TO history (5 minutes)
- Look at birth years of your ancestors
- What was happening in history when they were born?
- Example: Great-grandparent born 1920 → lived through Great Depression, World War II
- Ask: 'What historical events did my family live through?'
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencil
- phone to call relatives
Recommended resources
Tools & Apps
Tutorials & Learning
Progress milestones
Track your progress with these key achievements:
1
10 minutes
Family tree drawn for three generations
2
20 minutes
Interviewed family, filled in names and dates
3
30 minutes
Researched online, found historical context
Common challenges
Every beginner faces obstacles. Here's how to overcome them:
Family members don't know or won't share information
Solution: That's okay! Work with what you have. Some families have complicated histories. Focus on what people are comfortable sharing. Even partial information is valuable.
Can't find records online
Solution: Not all records are digitized. Many are in physical archives, libraries, or churches. Start with what family remembers. Professional genealogists spend years researching—this is just your beginning.
Share your progress
Celebrate your achievements and inspire others:
- • Create a nice copy of your family tree to give to grandparents
- • Share interesting family stories you discovered
- • Make a presentation about your family history
- • Continue researching—add more generations over time
Reflection prompts
Deepen your understanding with these thought-provoking questions:
1
What surprised you most about your family history?
2
Which ancestor would you most like to meet and why?
3
How did historical events affect your family?
4
What family stories do you want to pass down?