Discovering Your Roots

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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From Curiosity to Clues

You already know what genealogy is. Now it’s time to actually do it.

Researching your family history means gathering clues, asking questions, and building connections step by step. It’s less about memorizing names and more about solving a puzzle—one piece at a time.

Here’s the key: you don’t need to know everything to begin. You just need a starting point and a plan.

Step 1: Pick a Direction (So You Don’t Get Lost)

Trying to research your entire family at once is like trying to read every book in a library at the same time. It doesn’t work.

Start by choosing a focus.

• One side of your family (mother’s or father’s)

• One person or branch

• One question you want answered (Where did they come from? Who were their parents?)

This keeps your research clear and manageable.

Step 2: Gather What Already Exists

Before searching anywhere else, look at what’s already around you.

Important records—called vital documents—are some of your best clues.

These include:

• Birth certificates

• Marriage records

• Death records

• Religious records (like baptisms)

• Legal documents (like land records)

These documents were created at the time the events occurred, making them very reliable starting points.

Step 3: Ask Better Questions

Good research starts with good questions.

Instead of just collecting names, write down what you don’t know.

Examples:

• Who were your great-grandparents?

• Where did a family member live before moving?

• How many siblings did they have?

Writing questions gives your research direction and purpose.

Step 4: Look in the Right Places

Not everything is online—and even when it is, not everything is correct.

You can find information in:

• Family members and relatives

• Old photos and personal records

• Libraries and local archives

• Government records (like census data)

• Cemeteries and historical records

Online tools can help, but real-life sources are just as valuable—sometimes more.

Step 5: Know Your Sources (This Part Matters More Than You Think)

Not all information is equal.

You’ll come across two types of sources.

Primary sources

• These come directly from the event.
• Example: A birth certificate filled out when someone was born.

Secondary sources

• These are created later by someone else.
• Example: A newspaper article written years after an event.

Primary sources are usually more reliable, but even they can contain mistakes.

Step 6: Double-Check Everything

Here’s the truth: genealogy can get messy.

Names get misspelled. Dates get mixed up. Different records can contradict each other.

For example, one record might say someone died in 1976, while another says 1975. That doesn’t mean one is “wrong” right away—it means you need more evidence.

The solution:

• Compare multiple sources.

• Confirm details with family members.

• Keep track of what you find.

Good genealogists don’t just collect information—they verify it.

Step 7: Stay Organized (Future You Will Be Grateful)

As you research, keep everything organized.

• Label notes with names, dates, and locations.

• Record where you found each piece of information.

• Keep track of what you’ve already searched (even if you found nothing).

This saves time and prevents having to repeat the same work later.

Step 8: Talk to the Experts (Also Known as Your Family)

One of the most valuable sources of information is sitting right in front of you: your family.

Interviews can reveal:

• Stories that were never written down

• Details behind photos and documents

• Personal experiences that records can’t capture

Tips for a strong interview.

• Prepare questions ahead of time.

• Be respectful—some topics may be sensitive.

• Let the person tell their story, even if it goes off-topic.

• Use photos or objects to trigger memories.

Even a short conversation can uncover details you would never find in a document.

What You’re Really Doing

At this point, you’re not just “researching.”

You’re:

• Building a timeline.

• Connecting generations.

• Solving small mysteries.

• Preserving stories that might otherwise disappear.

That’s real-world investigation.

Now that you know how to research your family history—from choosing a focus to verifying sources—it’s time to try it yourself.

Next, you’ll practice identifying strong sources, asking useful questions, and starting your own research process.