Fifth Grade Family Tree Project
Each year the fifth grade students gather information on their ancestors. Students compile stories about different ancestors using various sources and present those stories to the class. The information gathered is added to a database that can be used by others in future years. We can trace most families from this area back to the 1700s and many even further back. Using this information, students are then able to identify all the other students to whom they are related. The information is also added to our ever-expanding database.
Background
Little Chute was settled by Dutch immigrants starting in 1848. Today, almost all of our students descend from these Dutch immigrants. Because of that, many students are related to many of the other students in the class. Often two students are related in many different ways. The most exciting part of the project is when students find out who they are related to and who is related to the teacher.
This project allows students to gather information about their ancestors that they may one day share with their children and grandchildren. Interviews with grandparents and other elder family members provide an opportunity for sharing old family stories, information and photos.
A field trip is taken to St. John Nepomucene Cemetery where students find the graves of ancestors. At the conclusion, a prayer service is held to pray for all the ancestors and other relatives that are buried there.
The database we use is online and available for others to use for their own research. Information on living people is withheld. Only information for those who are deceased is available. The database can be accessed at the RootsWeb.com Web site.
Each year after the 5th grade class has researched their genecology and visited the St. John Cemetery, Mr. West compiles their information into a database of over 180,000 names. With these names the students find out what it means to be a second, third, fourth, etc. cousin and how once and twice removed cousins are related.
Mr. West prints out the family tree of every student in 5th grade which illustrates how they are related to each other, the teachers, and the rest of the staff at St. John School. This is cause for a lot of excitement and giggling. One of the best parts of this activity is when the students find out they are 11th cousins with themselves!
The 5th grade students then make a paper link for every teacher, staff member or other 5th grade students they are related to. The links are put together to make a chain. Some students aren’t related to any member of the above group, so their chain is very short. Most students average about 20 links on their chain, however, this year one student had as many as 35 links!
The chains are proudly hung up in school for everyone to see who they are related to.
Last updated 10/9/2009
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