Finding Fun in Your Family Tree

FINDING FUN IN YOUR FAMILY TREE—
Elma Stake Relief Society Conference
May 17, 2014

1.     With a map of the United States or World, show where your ancestors lived and how they migrated to where YOU are. 

2.     Look through old photographs and find people who look like you, your parents, maybe aunts and/or uncles. AND CHECK OUT THOSE CLOTHES, HAIR AND CARS!!

3.     Using old photographs—use a magnifying glass to look for hidden details such as license plate numbers on cars, flowers growing in the yard, etc. 

4. Display flags of the countries your ancestors came from.  Kids could draw or color them in.  Family crests also.

5. Placemats.  Label, decorate and laminate.  These could be gifts or children could make and keep them at grandma’s house to use when visiting.

6. Celebrate a deceased ancestor’s birthday. Display their photo, tell a story or two and add their name to the birthday cake. Especially if you share the same birthday!

7. Take kids to a cemetery and teach them how to clean a headstone.  If your relatives are buried close-by, make it a semi-annual project to keep the headstone and area clean and beautiful. You will develop special bonds with those ancestors.

8. Create a wall of pictures and heirlooms…..make sure you label with names and dates.

9. Write a skit or make a home video about events or stories from your family history.  

10. Have a NO-ELECTRICITY night to understand how our early ancestors lived.  Eat, clean up, play and prepare for bed using only candlelight.   Do it in the spring, summer, fall & winter to see the differences….should be HUGE!!

11. Scrapbooks / Pictures tell stories like no other!  

12. Find your ancestors Patriarchal Blessing.   Gives you an insight as to their character and how the Lord sees them.