Family History Cards!

This is the most exciting idea for helping children get interested in family history--Ancestor cards!

Aren't these gorgeous?  See how they are are done and how you can make them here:

http://catchthewindow.blogspot.com/2011/09/ancestor-cards-how-i-did-it.html

If that is a bit too complicated, try these simple ancestor cards:

They are available here:

http://www.ancestrygames.com/products.php

I like this idea because it is so meaningful!

Ancestors card game--My Grandma Maxine made cards with pictures of family members on them.  Each card had a duplicate so that we could play "memory" by placing the cards face down on the table, picking two and hoping for a match.  If you got a match you got to keep the cards and go again.  The person with the most cards at the end was the winner.  This game was a great way to help us grand kids keep track of our ten aunts and uncles and their spouses and children.

Quiz game:  Once family members become more familiar with the ancestry cards, take turns drawing a card and asking the other player a question about the information on the card.  If they answer right, they get to keep the card.  Play till all the cards have been used.  Person with most card winds.

You're invited

Help children keep in touch with their cousins and learn about an ancestor at the same time by having a cousins camp.  Base it on the life of an ancestor.  Have the kids 12 and older be the counselors.  Divide the younger kids into jr (6-8) and sr (9-11).   Prepare a framework for the camp including a schedule and menu.  Have the counselors research the ancestor and prepare games, etc for the camp.  Let the counselors come a day early and set up camp.  Let them have a campfire with stories about the ancestor and sleep over in a tent.
Have the young ones come the next day for a 3-5 hour camp
Camp songs:  based on songs you know the ancestor used to sing, or songs from the period they lived.
Camp games:  games they used to play or games to get to know them better
Camp crafts:  based on their life
Celebrations:  Celebrate an anniversary or birthday with period food.  Include a spotlight of the person.
Skits: based on the life events of the ancestor
Etc.