Interviewing Family MembersActivities & Teaching Strategies
Active learning turns abstract questions into real conversations, which fits this topic perfectly. Students build confidence by practicing interviews with classmates before reaching out to family, making the skill feel manageable and purposeful.
Learning Objectives
- 1Formulate at least three open-ended questions to gather information about a family member's past experiences.
- 2Record responses from a family member using drawings, short written notes, or voice recordings.
- 3Compare and contrast at least two different family stories about past daily life.
- 4Identify at least one continuity or change in family traditions or daily routines over time.
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Pair Practice: Mock Family Interviews
Pairs take turns as interviewer and family member, using 5-6 prepared question cards. Switch roles after 5 minutes and note one interesting fact on a shared chart. Debrief as a class on what made questions effective.
Prepare & details
What questions could you ask a family member to find out what life was like when they were young?
Facilitation Tip: During Pair Practice, model how to phrase questions slowly and wait for a thoughtful answer, especially with shy students.
Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging
Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet
Whole Class: Question Bank Build
Brainstorm questions together on the board, categorizing them by themes like food, toys, or school. Vote on the top 10 for home use. Students copy their favorites into personal booklets.
Prepare & details
What do you think your parents' or grandparents' lives were like when they were your age?
Facilitation Tip: When building the Question Bank, limit options at first to 5-6 strong examples so students focus on quality over quantity.
Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging
Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet
Small Groups: Story Reenactment
After home interviews, groups reenact a family story using props like hats or drawings. Perform for the class and discuss similarities to today. Record key learnings on group posters.
Prepare & details
How can asking family members questions help us learn about our family's history?
Facilitation Tip: For Story Reenactment, provide simple props like hats or fabric to help students step into roles without pressure.
Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging
Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet
Individual: Home Interview Journal
Students prepare 3 questions at home, interview a family member, and draw or dictate the response in a journal. Bring journals to school for a show-and-tell circle.
Prepare & details
What questions could you ask a family member to find out what life was like when they were young?
Facilitation Tip: Set a clear time limit for Home Interview Journals so students know the task is concise and doable.
Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging
Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet
Teaching This Topic
Start with structured practice in class to normalize mistakes in a safe space. Use modeling and think-alouds to show how to turn vague ideas into clear questions. Avoid rushing into real interviews before students have tested their questions with peers. Research shows that young learners benefit from repeated, low-stakes practice before tackling more complex tasks.
What to Expect
Students will listen actively, ask clear questions, and share findings with respect. They should recognize that family stories hold value whether they describe big events or everyday moments, and they should feel prepared to conduct their own interviews at home.
These activities are a starting point. A full mission is the experience.
- Complete facilitation script with teacher dialogue
- Printable student materials, ready for class
- Differentiation strategies for every learner
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionDuring Pair Practice, watch for students who assume family stories must focus only on holidays or birthdays.
What to Teach Instead
Use the mock interviews to expand their idea of what counts as a story. After each round, pause and ask, 'What about everyday life? Like what they ate for breakfast or how they got to school?' List these on the board to normalize the idea.
Common MisconceptionDuring Question Bank Build, some students may default to yes/no questions.
What to Teach Instead
Hold up two sample questions and ask the class to vote silently on which one invites more detail. Use this to introduce the power of open-ended starters like 'How' or 'What was it like when...'.
Common MisconceptionDuring Story Reenactment, students may conclude that life in the past was completely different from today.
What to Teach Instead
After reenactments, gather students to compare their scenes with modern photos or objects. Ask, 'What feels familiar? What feels new?' Use sticky notes to sort observations on a chart to show both change and continuity.
Assessment Ideas
After Pair Practice, circulate and ask each pair to share one question they would ask their own family member about childhood games. Listen for clarity and relevance to the topic.
After Home Interview Journals are collected, review each card. Look for a drawing that reflects a family memory and a single word that captures the essence of what was learned.
After Story Reenactment sharing, ask, 'What surprised you most about your classmates’ family stories? How does this compare to your own life today?' Facilitate a 3-minute turn-and-talk before inviting volunteers to share with the class.
Extensions & Scaffolding
- Challenge: Students who finish early can write a second version of their interview questions, this time aiming for five open-ended questions.
- Scaffolding: Provide sentence stems on cards (e.g., 'Tell me about a time when...') for students who struggle to form questions.
- Deeper exploration: Invite a local elder or community member to join the class for a short interview demonstration, expanding perspectives beyond immediate family.
Key Vocabulary
| Interview | A conversation where one person asks questions to get information from another person. |
| Memory | Something a person can recall from the past, like an event or a feeling. |
| Experience | Something that happens to a person or that a person does. |
| Tradition | A belief or behavior passed down within a family or group, often with symbolic meaning. |
| Continuity | The state of staying the same or continuing over time. |
| Change | The act or instance of becoming different. |
Suggested Methodologies
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Students share and listen to stories about their family's past, focusing on significant events or memories.
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Exploring Family Traditions
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Origins of Family Migration
Students investigate where their families originated and the reasons for their journeys to Australia or other locations.
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Commemorating Special Events
Students learn about how families and communities commemorate important events through holidays, anniversaries, and memorials.
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