Note: This article by Janet Helland was published previously on the Granite Family History Center blog siteand is used with the author’s permission.

Family History Fun

In Part Three of this series, we will explore family history activities that individuals, families, friends and church groups can organize and participate in.  Once you start investigating a few of the options in this blog, you will discover that there are many other great activities to share family history.

• Plant something in honor of an ancestor.  In our yard we have planted raspberry canes from my grandfather’s garden.  All summer while we enjoy the berries, we think of him and reminisce.
• Learn a skill of an ancestor.  This could include; fishing, gardening, carpentry, sewing, crocheting, fly tying, painting, photography, archery, cooking, etc.  As you engage in the activity, take time to talk about the ancestor.
• Collect and read storybooks with a family history theme.  A couple of my favorites are the “Song and Dance Man” and “Seven Brave Women.”  Search for others, check them out of the library or buy them from used books sites.
• Create a Time Capsule.  You can find instructions and good questions for your capsule at https://www.familysearch.org/discovery/activities/about_me/10
• Print an 12×17 inch multi-generation fan chart from a genealogy website.  Have it laminated and back it with non-slip shelf paper.  Use for placemats.
• Learn about a family tradition and share it with family and friends, example: one of our favorite family traditions is making Grandma’s delicious Norwegian heart waffles.  Yum!
• At a family gathering, ask a question everyone can answer and enjoy the fun conversation that follows, example: “What is your favorite childhood vacation?” For more questions you can go to: www.thefhguide.com/project-2-memories03.html
• Celebrate an ancestor’s birthday or holidays by relating stories from your family’s history.  You can find significant dates in your family history here:

https://www.familysearch.org/campaign/calendar.  You may also further enjoy holidays by seeing your ancestors in other historic records:

https://www.familysearch.org/campaign/pioneers/

https://www.familysearch.org/campaign/militaryrecords

• Take a road trip.  A consultant at our Family History Center marked his family tree fan chart with the birth and death places of his ancestors.  These places became the destinations of his road trip with his family.
• Give the gift of Family History.  Ideas may include: DNA kit, membership to an online genealogy site, genealogy software, framed photo of ancestor(s), digitize old media forms of your family such as VHS, movies, photos.  Make a photo book or slide show.
• Family History Games.  See www.familysearch.org/discovery/ or www.thefhguide.com/act-home.html.  FH board games are also available.
• Organize a family reunion.  There are many ways to achieve this from a simple meet in the park with your own dinner and bring any family heirloom or photos to share or it could be organized with T-shirts, games, directories, slide shows, etc.  For ideas go to:   https://www.thefhguide.com/project-6-help03.html or https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/family-reunion-ideas-celebrate-family-history/.

Hopefully these activity ideas will inspire you to SHARE FAMILY HISTORY.  And as my dad would have said, “Have a little fun along the way!” Janet Helland – Assistant Director – Granite Family History Center