At the conclusion of 2021, FFHS students completed an in-depth project that focused on researching their family heritage and lineage. Utilizing federal and state census records, vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates), military and immigration records, along with newspaper articles from Fulton County Historical Society and interviews with family members, students were able to discover details of their family lineage. As part of the research, students were responsible for gathering information from their sources and writing profiles of their ancestors’ lives, noting changes in professions, homes, etc., and analyzing the information to create a profile of the ancestor. Students cross-referenced documents to determine any discrepancies and worked to find missing links between sources of information.
The project is taught by English teacher Deidre Palmer and Media Specialist Amber Smith with a strong assist by Bea Rouse – – an FFHS teacher’s aide who has a deep interest in local history and genealogy.
“The most exciting part is watching students make connections with ancestors that they had never previously heard of, whether that is in the form of a shared hobby, potential career, or a physical trait,” said English teacher Deidre Palmer.
This unique research project allowed today’s students to access almost 250 years of records to learn more about the family members from past generations. On average, students researched 10-12 ancestors, continually moving backwards through generations to discover names on census records and finding multiple documents per person.
By the end, students learned how to work with primary and secondary sources, discovered methods of organizing their information, learned how to complete a works cited section, as well as understanding the components of research. Each step along the way features building of past skills and the learning of new skills, culminating in a ten-page paper. After reaching ten- pages, students inserted images to help document their research process. Students often go above and beyond the minimum requirements, writing fifteen or so pages by the time they are done.
At the conclusion of the project, students packaged their final research papers and wrapped them as gifts for their family members who helped participate in their research. This way, students can pass on their knowledge to other family and community members.
As one student commented: “Thank you so much for this project! It’s been the best one I have ever done, and helped me as a student tremendously,” shared FFHS Senior Alex Saltsman.