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Posts Tagged ‘kids genealogy’

Have you heard about the new digi-mag called The In-Depth Genealogist? If not, you should definitely check it out. There is a blog, newsletter, chat forum with every topic a genealogist could think of discussing, and coming soon – Resource Pages!

This new magazine was started last month by two colleagues, Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, Terri O’Connell, and myself. Our plan for The In-Depth Genealogist includes creating a huge resource section for parents, teachers, homeschool parents, kids, genealogy societies, and libraries. With this goal in mind, by the end of summer, this blog, Genealogy for Kids will disappear and the resources will be moved to The In-Depth Genealogist.

You will still be able to visit my business site, Generations and the Generations Blog for updates on new teacher and youth genealogy books. There will be a teacher book out by the fall and some short individual lessons available as PDFs and Ebooks. Information will be posted as the release dates approach.

Please check out The In-Depth Genealogist today! Let us know what you think.

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My latest book, Branching Out: Genealogy for Adults Lessons 1-30 is now available on the Nook and Kindle.

The paperback version in in proof stage and will be released by NGS on May 9. You will be able to purchase it on CreateSpace when it is released. At this time I am not sure if there will be copies for sale at NGS.

Stay tuned for more information on this book and the Engaging the Next Generation: A Guide for Genealogy Societies and Libraries which helps societies and libraries create youth genealogy programs. That book also contains the entire 30 lessons for the 4th-8th grade student books.  I am hoping to have these available for sale at NGS.

What’s in this book?

Lesson 1: What is Genealogy and Why Should I Care?

Lesson 2: Where Do I Start? What Do I Need?

Lesson 3: Genealogy Databases

Lesson 4: Timelines

Lesson 5: Sources and Citations

Lesson 6: Direct and Indirect Evidence

Lesson 7: Interviewing Family

Lesson 8: Write a Story

Lesson 9: Research Plans and Logs

Lesson 10: Research Agendas for Libraries and Archives

Lesson 11: Home Sources

Lesson 12: Hidden Sources

Lesson 13: Vital Records

Lesson 14: Census Records

Lesson 15: Social Media

Lesson 16: Health and the Causes of Death

Lesson 17: Occupations

Lesson 18: Probate Records

Lesson 19: Land Records and Maps

Lesson 20: Military Records

Lesson 21: Religious and Cemetery Records

Lesson 22: Immigration

Lesson 23: Naturalization Records

Lesson 24: Newspapers

Lesson 25: Ephemera

Lesson 26: Examine it Once, Twice, and Again

Lesson 27: Travel and your Family History

Lesson 28: Storing and Organizing Paper and Digital Files

Lesson 29: Putting it all Together

Lesson 30: Where to Go From Here

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Did you know my two latest books are coming out by May 8! Branching Out: Genealogy Lessons for Adults and Engaging the Next Generation: A Guide for Genealogy Societies and Libraries. In addition, there will be the option to purchase the full 30 lesson set for each age group in one paperback book!

You can now purchase the full 30 lesson sets of 1st-3rd, 4th-8th, and high school on the Kindle.

The titles are also available on the Nook.

1st-3rd Grade Lessons 1-304th-8th Grade Lessons 1-30High School Lessons 1-30

To purchase any of my other books or check out my genealogy tip sheets, visit my Generations products page.

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This weekend I participated in the Fountaindale Public Library’s Author Fair. Sitting next to me was a very nice man, dressed to the nine’s, named Joseph.

The event was held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and many people came through to chat with the roughly 20 authors in attendance. I had the pleasure of speaking with several interested in genealogy, who said they would be attending the Fountaindale’s Genealogy Day next weekend, April 21.

My new Branching Out books were available for sale, as was my To Soar with the Tigers book. All books will be available for sale at Genealogy Day on Saturday.

It was a great day and I hope to attend again next year.

Here are some articles and reviews about my Branching Out books.

Woodridge Patch

The Berry Patch

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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

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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).

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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
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Lake Claremont Press sent me a couple of books to read and review on my website. Finding Your Chicago Irish, by Sharon Shea Bossard was one of these books.

Before I opened this book I thought it would provide a lot of information about Irish genealogy in Chicago. Well, it has a chapter on genealogy, but the book is much more than that. Bossard writes not only about finding your Irish roots, but enjoying and being a part of the Irish culture in Chicago. Her book is described as a GPS of finding your Chicago Irish.

Her book is divided into twelve chapters which aid researchers and non-researchers on their quest of everything Chicago Irish. By exploring the resources and participating in the events Bossard describes, you will learn more about your heritage and the place of the Irish in the city.

  • Cinema and Theater
  • Music, Dance, and Performance
  • Organizations and Clubs
  • Education, Language, and Media
  • Sports
  • Pubs and Restaurants
  • March and St. Patrick’s Day
  • Events, Festivals, and Tourism
  • Shopping
  • Canines
  • Citizenship and Genealogy
  • Recipes

Of special interest to genealogists is the Citizenship and Genealogy chapter. Bossard discusses how to research and submit documentation for dual citizenship. She goes on to briefly explain how to begin genealogical research, where to find records and suggests local resources and various websites such as Ellis Island.

This book is definitely a must have for anyone tracing their Irish Chicago ancestors. I am giving away a copy of this book on March 19. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter to enter the giveaway.

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I ordered the first proof copy of the first book in my new Kids’ Genealogy Series!! I should have it in a couple of days. I’m so excited!

To celebrate I’m doing a giveaway! I received a complimentary copy of Finding Your Chicago Ancestors by Grace DuMelle from Lake Claremont Press. I will have a random drawing on Monday, February 20, 2012. All you have to do to enter the drawing is subscribe to my newsletter!

The subscription area is in the left-hand column of this site.

My newsletter will begin going out on Monday, February 20, 2012. The winner will be announced there!

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I am happy to report that my Kids Genealogy Lesson Books are on track to sell April 1. Lessons 1-15 are complete and proofs have been ordered!  The following titles will be released.

  • Branching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15
  • Branching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30
  • Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15
  • Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30
  • Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15
  • Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30
  •  Engaging the Next Generation: A Guide for Genealogical Societies and Libraries

If you would like to stay informed of the progress and possibly win a copy of one of the books, you can sign up for my newsletter on this site in the top left column of the page. My newsletter will launch in May where the winner will be announced.

For more information, watch this blog or my Generations site.  You can also “Like” us on FaceBook.

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