Where Do I Come From?: The Family History Project

“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”

President Jimmy Carter

This month, we studied immigration learning that our country was shaped by people from all over the world coming together in search of a better life. It’s easy to assume our families have always been “American”, so they were encouraged to ask questions and learn more about their own family histories. A majority of kids were surprised that they shared European roots and a few delighted in their indigenous North American lineage.

Some students interviewed grandparents and other elders, while others got a chance to build family trees. I love how our families shared photos, stories, and traditions over Thanksgiving break. The children then brought those stories back to the classroom to share with one another in different forms: digital slideshow, posters, and hand-drawn family trees.. Storytelling has always been a powerful way humans pass on knowledge, and it helped make history feel personal and real to these young people.

Our goal was to better understand the experiences of immigrants in the past and today. On presentation day, students shared what they learned, including cultural traditions and foods passed down through generations, deepening our collective understanding of the many journeys that continue to shape our community and country.

Thank you for all your support, parents. I think this really helped them better understand themselves and their special place in your family history! - Lisa