Social Studies · Grade 1 · Heritage and Identity: Our Families and Stories · Term 1

Uncovering My Family's Past

Children learn that every family has a story and that these stories connect us to our heritage and help us understand where we come from.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Heritage and Identity: Our Families and Stories - Grade 1

About This Topic

Family stories serve as the primary bridge between a child's personal life and the broader concept of history. In this topic, students explore how families pass down memories, use objects to remember the past, and maintain connections to their places of origin. This aligns with the Ontario curriculum's focus on chronological thinking and the use of primary sources, even at a primary level. It encourages students to see themselves as part of a continuing narrative that spans generations.

By investigating family origins, students also begin to see the map of Canada and the world as a collection of personal journeys. This includes acknowledging that while some families have been here since time immemorial, others arrived more recently as immigrants or refugees. This topic comes alive when students can physically handle 'history' through a show-and-tell of family artifacts or by interviewing family members to uncover hidden stories.

Key Questions

1. Analyze the stories your family tells about the past.
2. Explain where your family came from before they lived here.
3. Evaluate the importance of special objects your family keeps to remember the past.

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least three special objects that represent a significant memory for their family.
• Explain one way their family's story connects them to a place outside of their current community.
• Compare and contrast the origins of two different family members' journeys to Canada.
• Describe one tradition or event that their family celebrates to remember their past.

Before You Start

My Immediate Family

Why: Students need a basic understanding of their immediate family members to begin exploring broader family histories.

People and Places in My Community

Why: Understanding their current community helps students contextualize where their families live now and compare it to where they came from.

Key Vocabulary

heritage	The traditions, beliefs, and values that are passed down from generation to generation within a family or culture.
ancestor	A person, such as a grandparent or great-grandparent, from whom one is descended.
immigrant	A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
artifact	An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest, such as a photograph or a piece of jewelry.
tradition	A belief or behaviour passed down within a family or community, often with symbolic meaning.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

History only happens in books or to famous people.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think 'history' is a separate subject. By using personal family stories, teachers can show that history is the sum of everyone's daily lives. Active sharing of personal stories reinforces this connection.

Common Misconception

All families have lived in Canada for a long time.

What to Teach Instead

Some students may assume everyone's 'past' is local. Mapping activities where students place a sticker on their family's place of origin help visualize the diverse timelines of Canadian families.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: Artifact Investigators

Set up stations with common 'old' items (a rotary phone, an old photo, a physical map). Students rotate in groups to guess what the item is and how a family might have used it long ago.

40 min·Small Groups

Role Play: The Family Interview

Students practice being 'historians' by role-playing an interview with a partner. One acts as the grandparent and the other as the grandchild, asking questions about life in the past.

20 min·Pairs

Collaborative Problem-Solving: The Memory Box

Groups are given a scenario where they must choose only three items to put in a time capsule for a family 50 years in the future. They must negotiate and explain their choices.

25 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Museum curators, like those at the Royal Ontario Museum, preserve and display artifacts that tell the stories of different cultures and historical periods, helping communities understand their past.
• Genealogists, such as those working with Ancestry.ca, help people trace their family trees and discover where their ancestors lived and their journeys to new countries.
• Local historical societies often collect family histories and photographs from residents to create archives that document the development of a town or city over time.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a small card. Ask them to draw one special object from their family's past and write one sentence explaining why it is important. Collect these to check for understanding of object significance.

Discussion Prompt

Ask students: 'Imagine you are telling a new friend about your family. What is one story you would share about where your family came from before living here?' Listen for explanations that connect to places or journeys.

Quick Check

During a 'Show and Tell' of family artifacts, have students briefly explain what the object is and one thing it helps their family remember. Observe student participation and clarity of explanations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I include students who do not have access to their family history?

Focus on 'chosen families' or the stories of the community. You can also use a fictional character's family story as a model so no child feels excluded if they lack specific genealogical information.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching family history?

Using a 'History Suitcase' is highly effective. Students can pack a small bag with drawings or photos representing their family's journey. This physical representation helps them organize their thoughts and makes the abstract concept of 'heritage' something they can touch and explain to others.

How do we address the fact that some family stories involve moving due to hardship?

Keep the focus on resilience and the bravery of starting over. Acknowledge that moving is a big change and that every family's journey is respected in the classroom.

How does this topic respect Indigenous family structures?

Broaden the definition of family to include elders and community members. Explain that for many Indigenous peoples, 'family' is a wide circle of people who care for one another and the land.