Introduction: Assess how much you know about your family history

1867 The goal of this assignment is for you to learn that the foundation of the country of Canada that we enjoy today was laid down by the people who lived in the 19th century and before. We all stand on the shoulders of ancestors who came before us -  from all over the world.

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Pre activity discussion:

  • What do you know about 19th century Canada? What are some important dates and events?
  • What do you know about your own family history?
  1. Where was your family living in 1867, when Canada became a nation?
  2. Does your family belong to a particular ethnic group?
  3. When did your family immigrate to Canada? In which century did they immigrate?

      4.  What generation Canadian are you? (It is commonly accepted that a generation averages about 25 years—from the birth of a parent to the birth of a child.)

Pre activity in class:

Draw a family tree with names, dates and as far back in the family as you remember. 

Homework: Interview your parents, grandparents, any family members

  1. Ask them to help you fill in the parts of the tree that you left blank. Please add names, dates and places, as far back in the family as you can record.
  2. Interview family members, asking the following questions.

Interview Questions for your Family

What country (countries) did our family come from originally?

  1. Do we belong to a particular ethnic group?
  2. Do you know why they left the old country?
  3. What language(s) did they speak?
  4. Do you know how they travelled to Canada? Do you know if they suffered hardships along the way? Please describe.
  5.  Were there historic events that compelled them to leave their country? Please name them.
  6.  Once the family arrived in Canada, where did they live? Please name approximate towns, cities and provinces if possible. If they moved around a lot in Canada, do you know why?

 

PROJECT: Family History Archive

What will it look like? It can be a poster, or a scrapbook or a box of memorabilia, or any creative idea you have (but please discuss with your teacher in advance). It must be made of real stuff, that can be saved and looked at later, but the family interview may be audio or video as long as there is a printed out text to accompany it.

The Family History Archive must include:

  • Family tree: including names, places and dates ( e.g. births, deaths, immigration)
  • Family interview sheet
  • A map of the world: pinpointing the country and cities, town (if possible) where your ancestors lived as far back as you can find out.
  • A map of Canada: pinpointing their movements since they arrived in Canada

*Note: where borders moved over time, you can draw them in dotted lines on the map

1.    Two or more from your subjective family resources (scans of photographs, letters, documents etc)

2.    Two or more from archival databases (Good luck searching your family name. Use what information you find even if not a direct relative.)

  • What/why/who/when/where/how table describing the History of Mass Immigration to Canada  by your ethnic group (e.g. Dutch, Icelanders).  Right hand column or See Canadian Encyclopedia.

 

Mass immigration of …………………………..

 
  • Why did they leave the country of origin? Include major or minor historical events, political, social, economic reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • What was the communication technology of the day? Possible to communicate with the family left behind in the mother country?

 

 

 
  • What hardships did they experience along the way?

 

 

 

 
  • What kind of life did they have when they arrived? (Social, economic, political)