🌍 Social StudiesGrade 2Lesson 32
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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).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Collect my own family history by interviewing a family member, drawing a family tree, and sharing what I learned about my family’s past
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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 family.
  • 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 — like the branches of a real tree growing upward.
  • 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?"
Family tree diagramA simple family tree showing three generations: grandparents at the top, parents in the middle, and the child at the bottom, with connecting lines.My Family TreeGrandparentsParentsMeGrandmaGrandpaGrandmaGrandpaMom / DadMom / DadMEYou are part of your family's history!
A three-generation family tree — grandparents at the top, parents in the middle, and "Me" at the bottom, connected by branching lines.
Oral history interviewA child sitting across from a grandparent, asking an interview question, with a speech bubble showing the question and a notepad for writing down answers.GrandparentMeNotes"What was schoollike for you?"Ask great questions. Write down the answers!
A child interviewing a grandparent and writing notes — the first step in collecting family history.
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Ask yourself: "Who in my family has the most interesting history story? What one question would I ask them first?"

Vocabulary
Family
The people who are related to you, like parents, siblings, and grandparentse.g. My family loves to eat dinner together.
History
A story of what has happened in the paste.g. Our family history started long ago.
Family tree
A drawing that shows how people in a family are connectede.g. I drew a family tree with my parents and grandparents.
Ancestor
A family member from long ago, like a great-grandparente.g. My ancestor came here on a ship.
Interview
When you ask someone questions to learn about theme.g. I will interview my grandma about her childhood.
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