Archive for March, 2012
Generations publishes six new genealogy textbooks for kids. Parents, teachers, and genealogical societies looking for a how-to genealogy textbook for elementary through high school-aged students need to look no further. In Branching Out, a new series available from Generations, author and professional genealogist Jennifer Holik provides parents and educators with the tools they need to teach genealogical research skills to children and teens.
Through thirty fun and educational lessons, students will learn the foundations of genealogy and how to begin research on a level that they can understand and enjoy. Each lesson contains a clearly defined goal, all necessary vocabulary, additional reading assignments, and lesson and homework assignments to extend understanding of the concept.
The Branching Out series of books begins with six paperback textbooks which are also available as a PDF or PowerPoint download. The PowerPoint files, which were created with the visual and hands-on learner in mind, contain the same information as the textbooks with a few fun and interactive extras.
The Branching Out: Genealogy Lessons for Adults will be released in April with additional books for families, genealogical societies, and educators to be published later in 2012.
The books are available on CreateSpace in paperback form at the links provided. The PDF and PowerPoint files are available at the Generations Store at: http://www.e-junkie.com/generationsBranching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15 Book $24.95
PDF $17.95
PowerPoint $17.95
Branching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30 Book $29.95
PDF $20.95
PowerPoint $20.95
Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15 Book $26.95
PDF $18.95
PowerPoint $18.95
Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30 Book $32.95
PDF $23.95
PowerPoint $23.95
Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 Book $29.95
PDF $20.95
PowerPoint $20.95
Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30 Book $34.95
PDF $24.95
PowerPoint $24.95
If you live in the Chicagoland area, you can meet Jennifer and purchase books at the Fountaindale Public Library’s Author Fair on Saturday, April 14, 2012. For more information visit the Ge
Related articles
This is a guest post written by my Branching Out series of books editor, Stephanie Pitcher Fishman. The books launch Wednesday!
Where Our Lines Intersect
I come from good stock: Corn and Cotton. One line grew up among the cornfields of Ohio and roaming through the beautiful lands of New England. Another is deeply rooted in the cotton fields growing in red Georgia clay and proud of it. I’ve been blessed to spend half my life in each, and I’m finally starting to feel as though both are home. What seemed so different to me growing up has become nearly the same in my adult years. Yes, there are differences, but they boil down to the same good stuff: once you step foot into either house you are home. I feel the same way when I search the genealogical records of each branch of my family. They may have been on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon and the Civil War, but they are both mine. And, I’m proud of each.
The study and practice of genealogy is as different to people as my corn line and my cotton line may
appear to those on the outside of my research. Whether you consider yourself a hobbyist or a
professional, or someone caught between the two, genealogy is far more than can be defined by those two designations. Genealogy is built on relationships. It’s a passion of the heart and a longing of the soul to connect to relatives unknown to us. We call them ancestors and descendants, and we place them neatly on their branch of a chart. However, they are much more than that to us. They are family.
Whether we are new to research or seasoned with discoveries we all long to find just one more connection before we quit for the day.
My journey into family history started when I was looking for an activity to do with my cotton Granny. Unknown to me at the time, she was in the beginning stages of dementia. The project that started as a time killer grew into one that created memories that I would soon cherish. It saved names and places that we may have lost with her a few years later. It created in me a desire to know more about our past generations than I did. And, it shaped who I would become nearly two decades later. As genealogists we look at the facts and records, and we take note of the accomplishments of those around us. However, we rarely stop to ask why a person was drawn to their research in the first place. I’m sure if we did we’d find that we all have the same motivations even if our starting and ending points are different. Our community is large and loving, and we need to recognize our similarities rather than our differences just like I did with my lines. Whether hobbyist or professional, if we look closely enough we’ll find that we are all the same. We are all corn and cotton. We just need to find where our paths intersect like my lines did in me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stephanie Pitcher Fishman is a freelance writer, editor, and genealogical researcher specializing in Midwestern and Southeastern United States family history, specifically within Ohio and Georgia. Stephanie also writes the Columbus Genealogy column (http://www.examiner.com/genealogy-30-in-columbus/stephanie-fishman) for Examiner.com. You can learn more about her research, writing, and editing services at Corn and Cotton: My Family’s Story (http://www.cornandcotton.com).
Related articles
- Book Review – “Finding Your Chicago Irish” (generationsbiz.com)
- Are you Reading other Genealogy Examiners? (examiner.com)
Have you signed up for the Generations newsletter? If not, you should! There are giveaways, news about the new Branching Out kids’ books, news from other genealogists and information for kids and teachers, just to name a few of the included items.
Sign up today! Monday, March 19, I’m giving away a copy of Finding Your Chicago Ancestors by Grace DuMelle.
And, you will be among the first to receive the press release with links to purchase my new kids’ books!
I am pleased to report my Branching Out Kids’ Textbooks are on track and will be released March 28, 2012. On this day you will be able to purchase the textbook in paperback form, PDF, or PowerPoint. The PowerPoint version has the same content as the book but with a few extras. It was designed for the visual, hands-on learner in mind.
The paperback will be available on CreateSpace. The PowerPoint and PDF versions will be available on my website through my E-Junkie store. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay in touch with what’s going on with Generations. This is only the beginning of a major kids’ series. Also sign up for my editor, Stephanie Pitcher Fishman’s newsletter at Corn and Cotton. Together this year we will be collaborating on more educational resources. You will want to know what she is working on as well!
The following will be released March 28.
1st-3rd Grade Students
Books
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30
PowerPoint
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30
PDF Version
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30
4th-8th Grade Students
Books
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30
PowerPoint
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30
PDF Version
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30
High School Students
Books
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30
PowerPoint
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30
PDF Version
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15
- Branching Out Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30
