Wordful Wednesday 411: Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, except WITH words. It’s for those of us that just cannot be wordless, no matter how much we try. Add my Wordful Wednesday badge to your post (right side bar under “WW”) if you really want to make me happy, and then add your post link to the linky below. Easy peasy.
In second grade all of my children thus far have been responsible for doing a family history project. Here’s how we did it this year! Let me just preface this tutorial with a few things however:
I think the project is such a great way for children to:
- learn about their family and heritage
- how to manage their time
- how to present material in a neat and orderly fashion
- how to speak in front of a group
But, the down side is that a family history report is DEFINITELY a project that requires substantial parental supervision/work. {not a fan}
Garrett’s project to quite a few hours, and lots of preparation. We had to decide:
- how to present his timeline and storyboard
- who to interview
- how to best utilize our time
- tri-fold story board
- glue
- copies of newspaper article
- report folder
- photos
- card stock
Here’s how we made the storyboard:
- We first picked up a trifold cardboard science report and
- Then made multiple copies of a newspaper article about the people that were highlighted in the project. {Garrett’s great-grand parents}
- Next we cut up the article in different shapes and
- Covered the surface of the board with copies of the article adhered with Elmer’s Glue.
- Finally, we mounted the images to be used on card stock,
- Printed out descriptive captions and
- Glued everything that we needed on the storyboard.
Even though this project is complete and I should just be glad to be able to check one more item off my “to-do” list, I’m unable to tear my mind away from the fact that next year we are going to have to tackle TWO of these family history projects at once and that thought kind of makes me want to cry.
Do your kids do a family history report/project at school? If so, what is your experience with it? Good or bad?
Have you been over to visit my co-host Amanda at Parenting by Dummies yet?
That’s one thing my kids never had to do for some reason, but the Rube Goldberg project about killed me twice. You guys did a great job, and I love that you were able to go and watch him present!
Twitter: tabithablue
says:
Wow, great job! That looks awesome!
Twitter: thenagainphoto
says:
Cool. I love the big hair photo! We had to do a family tree report at the beginning of the year for #1. It was dramatically less awesome.
Twitter: ByWordsMusings
says:
great that they get up and speak about it – but my goodness … what a load of work!
Twitter: ErinsMiracles
says:
It looks amazing! I think if my kids are going to need to do that I better get started on it now!
And if I don’t know it….can I make it up, you know to make it look like our family is more interesting?
Great job!
I have a kindergartner, so I have no idea what kind of homework that we are going be seeing. I hope we can do as well as you guys… and I kind of hope we don’t have assignments that extensive.
Twitter: elainea
says:
My oldest has yet to come home and say we have to do this one (although it does look fun) but we do have to build a castle this week… hmmmm…. ;P
Twitter: multiplemama
says:
Oh my gosh! How proud are you? He looks so grown up and responsible with that pointer in his hand. I’m proud for you just thinking of it!
Twitter: 3n3BabiesG
says:
How totally cool! I have always loved learning about my family tree and I cannot wait to foster that love in my children.
Twitter: debmomof3
says:
Looks like a great project! This is one thing we haven’t had to do yet – I’m sure it’s coming one of these days.
Twitter: AngryJulie
says:
We are only in first grade here, so no big projects quite yet. But I admire the craft skills that went into this project.
Twitter: babiesandbacon
says:
Wow! That project is impressive! Go Mama go! You might not like doing them, but man do you have a talent for it
I think family history is so important. Good for you for getting so involved with this project.
Twitter: BFLife
says:
What a cool project! Luckily, I have a while before my little one (meaning, ME) has to do this kind of stuff.
Twitter: thelucaszoo
says:
He did so great! We haven’t had to do big projects like this yet but I am sure it is coming
What a great project! We used to have lots of them that required lots of help from parents and they were at home projects… meaning that they didn’t work on them in school at all.
We still have the marble roller coaster & board games we’ve made!
Twitter: RandomCoolChick
says:
Princess Nagger didn’t have to do a family history, but did have to do a timeline of events starting with her birth. The project you did with your son is way cool! Since you’ll have two to do next year, maybe you should start working on it now.
LOVE how it turned out!
“The Dragon” a Short Story by Princess Nagger
Twitter: Mommy2Marlie
says:
That’s impressive! I better start collecting family photos for when mine reaches 2nd grade.
p.s. who’s the beauty queen?
Twitter: whatnowandwhy
says:
It does look time consuming, but also pretty damned awesome. Neither of my school-age kids have had to do a family tree/history report before. Hmmm
Bravo Mom and son that looks great!
In our family we are big into Family History. Knowing and learning about our heritage is truly a hidden treasure
Very cool and fun project!
Very cool! That is an A+ project in my book.
Twitter: 1momof5
says:
That’s such a cool project! My kids don’t do anything like that, but they DO get to put on a living wax museum every year and the 2nd graders put on a play called Going Buggy….
Twitter: diannakennedy
says:
Phew — that’s a lot of work!
You didn’t tell us what grade you got
Twitter: bzmomma
says:
That looks great! AND time consuming…here I was complaining about a popsicle stick castle! ahhhhhhh….
i guess i am missing this meme..will be backed to post mine before its too late..life is just so busy sometimes..see yah later..seems to be an intelligent boy like his Mom!
Twitter: SeriousKrystyn
says:
What a great job on his project..I bet the teacher was in awe of it.
im very very late…such busy days i had…nice looking boy…guess he had a great one here..
http://www.traveleuroasia.com/2012/02/fountain-in-dresden-germany.html