Is your family having quality conversations across generations? Sure, you’re talking – but are you really learning about each other by asking enough questions? Ancestors unKnown has created a Family History Toolkit to encourage more conversations and help everyone share family stories. It’s designed for young people and families – and benefits everyone who gets involved!

The Toolkit includes lots of useful tools and guidance to learn more about your family

Why You Need a Family History Toolkit

At Ancestors unKnown, we often hear from parents and older family members that they were inspired by their child’s participation in our school programme because it sparked new conversations between their families’ younger and older generations.

When young people are given the task to ask questions and discover new details about their families, their curiosity can lead to important questions and remarkable conversations. Sadly, these conversations don’t normally happen.

Older generations commonly keep their best stories to themselves, whether they’re waiting for someone to ask, assuming no one is interested, or they’re simply not thinking about all the fascinating people they’ve met and events they’ve experienced, which the rest of us would love to hear about.

But can you blame them? Younger generations aren’t exactly known for asking many questions about an older person’s life. Without enough motivation, they don’t often show curiosity about the lives of older family members and other elders. Instead, people stay in their bubbles, talk about everyday things, and don’t enjoy the opportunity to go deeper and learn from each other (let’s remember that older generations also can learn from younger people’s stories!)

So, we’re introducing the Family History Toolkit! There’s no need to wait for Ancestors unKnown to come to your child’s school. Instead, encourage the young person/people in your family to become family historians, equipped with tools to spark curiosity, start conversations, and capture the stories and details that make your family special.

Beginners welcome

You don’t need to be an expert in the archives to start learning about your family’s history. Sure, it helps if you know how to search for vital records. But, it’s even more important to understand memories and storytelling.

The art of family history research begins with memories – your own memories and your family members’ memories.

Using our detailed workbook, which includes thoughtful activities and beautiful illustrations, family storytelling prompts that spark storytelling, and fun family activities that invite everyone to get involved, a young person can become a family historian (and project leader!) on their own.

What’s inside the Toolkit?

The Toolkit comes in a small package that’s full of goodies! Here’s what you’ll get:

• Family history booklet

The booklet includes 40 pages of family history guidance and activities. This interactive tool invites the historian to dig into their family story, starting with themselves. It’s divided into 4 chapters:

• 1. Me
  2. My family
  3. My ancestors
  4. Our story

• Family tree poster

A sample family tree from the Online Toolkit

The beautiful family tree poster will help the historian keep track of the family and any possible gaps in their research. Use the included pencil, just in case you catch a mistake or need to add more details.

• Family story prompts

To get family members talking, the historian has 10 lovely cards, each with a fun storytelling prompt.

For example, “What was school like when you were my age? What did you like at school? What did you dislike?”

• Family activity cards

Each family activity card includes multiple ideas to help the historian get the whole family involved in the family history research, storytelling – and celebration! For example, create a family recipe cookbook or plan a (virtual or in-person) walking tour of an ancestors’ neighbourhood.

• Cutout paper dolls

Here’s an activity for younger children in the family – and the lead young historian can help! After choosing a doll that best represents their favourite ancestor or family member, the young creative will design the doll to look like that person.

• Family story notebook

We want to help the historian keep all their important information and questions in one place. Great practice for any researcher!

• The Online Family History Toolkit (exclusive access!)

Throughout the Toolkit, QR codes will lead the historian to the online toolkit, which includes examples of other children’s work, more activity ideas, helpful links, and research support!

Are you ready to launch yourself or a young person into an exciting family history journey?

Order the Family History Toolkit today.

We can’t wait to see you and your family in the archives!