Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Dear parents,
Your student is invited to embark on an authentic inquiry-based research journey in their
Language Arts classes. This Family History Detectives collaborative project was designed by
Mrs. Laura Richardson (your students ELA teacher) and Ms. Kristen Ziller (DRMS Library Media
Specialist). Students will explore family history resources to answer the essential question:
How do primary & secondary historical documents help to explain a person’s life story?
Students will select one ancestor from their family tree who will become the focus of their
research. They will write a Focus Question that relates specifically to that individual and explore
family history resources to gather evidence to support and answer that question. Students will
engage in higher-level research and critical thinking skills as they self-select the resources they
need to help them answer their Focus Question. (Note: Teacher reserves the right to alter focus
questions based on resource accessibility and allotted time for this project.)
Here is a sampling of what students will experience during this inquiry project:
 reflect on 21st century sources of information and compare to 19th and 20th century
primary and secondary documents
 conduct an oral history interview with a member of their family and gather information
about members of your family tree
 engage in a classroom paedia discussion regarding ‘uncomfortable discoveries’ in
history research (i.e. divorce, early death, imprisonment, etc.)
 explore various types of primary and secondary sources via a gallery walk in the media
center
 reflect on their project with classmates and family members during an end-of-project
celebration on Friday, February 27th, 2015 during your child’s ELA class (details will be
forthcoming)
In lieu of this research opportunity, your student will still follow the 8th grade ELA Common Core
Curriculum. This learning will take place on non-research days over the course of the next
month and will contain potential homework opportunities. We look forward to watching your
student grow as a researcher and make connections within their own family tree as they embark
on this inquiry experience. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Laura Richardson (lrichardson@wcpss.net)
Kristen Ziller (kziller@wcpss.net)
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Please check the appropriate box(es) & return this bottom portion to Mrs. Richardson by Mon., Feb. 9th
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
YES! I want my student to participate in this research project, which will be an ELA Test Grade
 Yes, I give permission for my child’s name and/or face to be included online, in the
newspaper, or in other external publications.
 No, I do not give permission for my child’s name and/or face to be included online, in
the newspaper, or in other external publications.
No, I do not want my student participating in this research project and want my student to
receive an alternative research project covering the same skills/ standards, which will still be an
ELA Test Grade.
Your student’s name: ________________________________________________________
Parent signature: ____________________________________________________________
Dinner Table Discussion Starters
Students: Ask both of your parents the following questions. Please select at least ten of the
questions from this list. Record responses in any format you choose (hand-written, typed,
recording on phone or audio device, etc.) This serves as a way of getting to know more
about your family before your official History Detectives project begins. You can ask them
these questions at the dinner table, in the car on the way to practice, when you’re waiting
for something, etc.
1. What is your full name? Why did your parents choose this name? What were your
nicknames growing up?
2. Where did you grow up?
3. Who is the oldest relative you can remember? What can you tell me about him/her?
4. Describe the house/apartment you grew up in. What was your bedroom like?
5. What is your favorite memory from your childhood?
6. Describe the personalities of your parents and grandparents.
7. What were your favorite sports? Hobbies?
8. What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
9. How is the world different today than it was when you were a child?
10. How were holidays celebrated in your family? Did you have any special traditions?
11. What did your family enjoy doing together?
12. How did you meet mom? Dad?
13. What made you decide to live in Raleigh?
14. Do you know what our family heritage is? English? German? South American?
African?
15. Do you know if any of our ancestors came through Ellis Island? When?
16. Do you have any old documents or items that belonged to our ancestors that I could
look at? Family Bible? Old photographs?