Family-Related Activities in the Classroom
Family-based classroom activities are designed for the children to discover more about their family and heritage and possibly discover both similarities and differences between their family and other students' families. There are activities suited for all grade levels that are family-based. Family-based activities and projects for the classroom can involve all subject areas, including art, science, history and many more.
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Drawing Family
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Having the students draw their family is a classroom activity for kindergarten and first-graders. The students should draw a picture of their immediate family, including any activities they like to do together, pets, or anything else they enjoy as a family. The students can then share their pictures with the class, explaining what they have illustrated. From here, the teacher can help the students find out who has the same amount of brothers and sisters, who has a pet dog, and so on. The children will enjoy seeing how each family is alike and different.
Family Tree
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To create a family tree, students will gather information from their parents and grandparents to date their family tree as far back as possible.Depending on the amount of detail included in the classroom activity, this project would be suitable from second grade all the way through high school. Have the students gather information about any colorful or interesting people and facts that they discovered in their family. If possible have the students try to find out where each family member was from and what they did for a living. Then, have the students start with themselves and draw out their family tree.
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Genetic Traits and Disorders
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Another family-related classroom activity that is more for high-school students and focuses more on the science aspect of family, is discovering any genetic traits or disorders that run in the family. Begin by having the students draw a family tree dating back as far as they would like. For each family member, have the student write down physical traits and any disease that has affected a family member. Have the students examine the tree once all of the traits and diseases have been recorded. From here, the students can determine what diseases are passed on, and what traits were passed on and therefore dominant.
Heritage
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To find out more about where their family is from, have the students ask their parents about their heritage. Most students will be a combination of many different countries around the world. Have them pick one of the countries, and locate it on a map. From here they can do more research on the country, discover its climate, food, and so on, so that they understand more about where their family came from.
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