Okay, this is only tangentially genealogy related... but I'm excited and want to share! I'm in the process of preparing the materials for this year's American History Essay Contests for my DAR chapter. What's that you ask? The DAR actually runs two. One is for middle school; the other for high school. The rules (and the rewards for participation) vary slightly by age group. Topics change every year. This year's middle school topic is fantastic:
Pretend you are a boy or a girl during the
colonial fight for freedom. Using historical facts, discuss how the war is
affecting your life. The war dramatically changed the lives of children during
the Revolution. Some actually followed their fathers into battle; others stayed
home and assumed new responsibilities that were necessary for their families’
survival. Imagine yourself in the place of such a child taking on important and
often adult responsibilities. Describe some of the changes that are taking
place in your life and that of your family as you face this new situation. You
may portray either a historical child or a fictional child living in the era of
the American Revolution.
Why is this so cool? Can you imagine a better way to get your child digging into genealogy? Send them looking at their Revolutionary ancestor's kids. They could study battle narratives. They could look at pension files. There are a multitude of options. What a great teaching tool!
How do you find out more? If you're not my chapter's area, you'll need to contact your local chapter for details. Or feel free to post comments. I'll do my best to answer questions or point you in the right direction. Remember one thing, though - they need to do their own work! You're just the teacher :)