Zap The Grandma Gap and its companion workbook are wonderful resources for families trying to connect the generations through family history projects. I have reviewed the book here and on the In-Depth Genealogist. Plus a review of the workbook will be released later this month on the In-Depth Genealogist blog. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Look out for reviews of the new books in the next few months too. This series sounds like it is going to be amazing books as well.
New Activity Book Series Brings Youthful Fun To Family
History
Cedar
Hills, UT – November 6th, 2013 –
Studies
have shown that greater knowledge about family history especially strengthens
and empowers youth by creating self-esteem, resilience and a greater sense of
control over their lives. Learning about the family’s past also
strengthens the relationships between living family members by creating a
shared experience and core identity that no one else in the world can
duplicate.
To
help families achieve these great benefits authors Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade
have developed a new series of “Zap The Grandma Gap--My Ancestor” activity
books. The first four books, My British Ancestor, My Civil War
Ancestor, My Swedish Ancestor and My German Ancestor are 52
page activity books designed for 6-14 year olds with puzzles, activities, games
and recipes combined with questions and learning opportunities about specific
ancestors and the culture that surrounded them. Timelines, paper dolls,
coloring pages, maps, fairy tales, music, dot to dots and crossword puzzles
combine to give youth the full picture of what their ancestors’ lives were
like. When pre-ordered now, the books will arrive in time to prompt
questions around the Thanksgiving table. Or they can become the perfect
Christmas gift for children and grandchildren that will create stronger bonds
in modern families by encouraging the whole family to learn about their ancestors
together. Sample pages from the books can be viewed on the website and
blog at ZapTheGrandmaGap.com where they join other online and print resources
to help families connect to each other by connecting to their past.
- Discover online and offline resources for finding more information
about your British roots
- Compare British Schools to today’s schools
- Solve puzzles about different British homes
- Complete a crossword puzzle about British words your ancestors used
- Learn about and participate in a British holiday
- Plan a proper British family history tea party
- Play British games your ancestors may have played
- And explore many other activities
- Record how you are related to your German ancestor
- Try some German recipes
- Read a German Fairy Tale your ancestors might have known.
- Color and cut out German paper dolls to tell the stories of your
ancestors
- Collect documents about your German ancestor’s life
- Make a Schultute School Bag like your ancestors may have received
for school.
- Explore some of the qualities you share with your German Ancestor
- And explore many other activities
- Discover online and offline resources for finding more information
about your Civil War ancestors
- Follow a dot to dot about an important Civil War landmark
- Try some of the food eaten by the Civil War soldiers
- Learn some Civil War songs and bugle calls
- Create a military band with homemade instruments
- Record the battles in which your ancestors were involved
- Write a eulogy for your Civil War ancestor
- And explore many other activities
- Place your Swedish ancestor in the context of broader Swedish
history
- Complete a crossword puzzle about Swedish words your ancestors used
- Learn about and create items for a Swedish holiday
- Color and cut out Swedish paper dolls to tell the stories of your
ancestors
- Write a letter to your Swedish ancestor
- Design and color a drawing of a Dala horse such as your ancestor
might have played with
- Involve your whole family in the fun of learning about your Swedish
ancestors
- And explore many other activities
The
“My Ancestor” activity books are designed to give kids ownership of their own
family history. “These books help young kids take the lead in learning
about their family history for themselves,” says Hovorka. “As they accomplish
the activities together with the help of their parents and grandparents, they
strengthen modern family bonds while they are strengthening their identity with
the past.” Parents and grandparents who teach children who they are and
where they came from give youth a secure identity from which to draw courage as
they encounter the challenges in their lives.
The
authors, sisters Janet Hovorka and Amy Slade grew up in a family history
oriented home, but didn’t realize how much they were learning about their
family history until later in life. Throughout Janet’s 12 years as
a popular genealogy speaker, co-owner of a family history company, genealogy
instructor at SLCC, and as past president of the Utah Genealogical Association,
she has witnessed over and over again how family history can heal the
relationships in a family. Her books Zap The Grandma Gap: Connect To
Your Family By Connecting Them To Their Family History, and Zap The
Grandma Gap Power Up Workbook have helped families connect with their roots
through the real life examples drawn from Janet’s own experiences with her
teenage children. Over the last 8 years, Amy has traveled studying
folklore, dance and food and culture around the world and recently received her
Masters Degree in Folklore from George Mason University. Together, they
are living proof that exploring your family history helps strengthen
relationships with living family members.
My
German Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888-548-5-7), My Swedish Ancestor (ISBN
978-09888-548-4-0) My Civil War Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888548-3-3) and My
British Ancestor (ISBN 978-09888-548-2-6), (Family ChartMasters Press,
$9.95, 52 pages, 8.5x11, paperback) are available for pre-order at zapthegrandmagap.com.
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