Download the first few pages at ZapTheGrandmaGap.com
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
New for You: "My Ancestor" Activity Books for Kids
I've been a little quiet here for a while because I've been furiously busy working on a new project that will help you further engage the youth in your life with their family history. I'm so excited to finally announce it to the world--and especially show it off here. Here is the press release... More detailed posts to follow over the next couple of days.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Janet Hovorka, janethovorka@gmail.com
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.
With the My British Ancestor Activity Book youth can:
• Discover online and offline resources for finding more information about their British roots
• Compare British Schools to today’s schools
• Solve puzzles about different British homes
• Complete a crossword puzzle about British words their ancestors used
• Learn about and participate in a British holiday
• Plan a proper British family history tea party
• Play British games their ancestors may have played
• And explore many other activities
With the My German Ancestor Activity Book youth can:
• Record how they are related to their German ancestor
• Try some German recipes
• Read a German Fairy Tale their ancestors might have known.
• Color and cut out German paper dolls to tell the stories of their ancestors
• Collect documents about your German ancestor’s life
• Make a Schultute School Bag like their ancestors may have received for school.
• Explore some of the qualities they share with their German Ancestor
• And explore many other activities
With the My Civil War Ancestor Activity Book youth can:
• 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 their ancestors were involved
• Write a eulogy for their Civil War ancestor
• And explore many other activities
With the My Swedish Ancestor Activity Book youth can:
• Place their Swedish ancestor in the context of broader Swedish history
• Complete a crossword puzzle about Swedish words their ancestors used
• Learn about and create items for a Swedish holiday
• Color and cut out Swedish paper dolls to tell the stories of their ancestors
• Write a letter to their Swedish ancestor
• Design and color a drawing of a Dala horse such as their ancestor might have played with.
• Involve your whole family in the fun of learning about their 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 and step by step instructions drawn from Janet’s own experiences with her teenage children. Over the last 10 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 preorder at zapthegrandmagap.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Janet Hovorka, janethovorka@gmail.com
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 their British roots
• Compare British Schools to today’s schools
• Solve puzzles about different British homes
• Complete a crossword puzzle about British words their ancestors used
• Learn about and participate in a British holiday
• Plan a proper British family history tea party
• Play British games their ancestors may have played
• And explore many other activities
With the My German Ancestor Activity Book youth can:
• Record how they are related to their German ancestor
• Try some German recipes
• Read a German Fairy Tale their ancestors might have known.
• Color and cut out German paper dolls to tell the stories of their ancestors
• Collect documents about your German ancestor’s life
• Make a Schultute School Bag like their ancestors may have received for school.
• Explore some of the qualities they share with their German Ancestor
• And explore many other activities
• 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 their ancestors were involved
• Write a eulogy for their Civil War ancestor
• And explore many other activities
• Place their Swedish ancestor in the context of broader Swedish history
• Complete a crossword puzzle about Swedish words their ancestors used
• Learn about and create items for a Swedish holiday
• Color and cut out Swedish paper dolls to tell the stories of their ancestors
• Write a letter to their Swedish ancestor
• Design and color a drawing of a Dala horse such as their ancestor might have played with.
• Involve your whole family in the fun of learning about their 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 and step by step instructions drawn from Janet’s own experiences with her teenage children. Over the last 10 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 preorder at zapthegrandmagap.com.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Involving my children with family history in my past life
I guess the guest blogger is my previous self today.
Even before I decided to start writing a book on how to connect your family with their family history, I experimented with what would work with my own kids. I blogged about that frequently on my regular blog at the time. The Chart Chick Blog. If you are reading this blog, you might want to check out the links on the left about our adventures as I was applying many of the principles in the book on my own children. We all learned lots.
Take a look at these subject headings:
Let me know what you think. As I've launched the new books, The Chart Chick has become more about my own research, and our charting company while my aha moments with my kids have been moved to here. But I love comments on both blogs. Let me know how it is working in your family.
Even before I decided to start writing a book on how to connect your family with their family history, I experimented with what would work with my own kids. I blogged about that frequently on my regular blog at the time. The Chart Chick Blog. If you are reading this blog, you might want to check out the links on the left about our adventures as I was applying many of the principles in the book on my own children. We all learned lots.
Take a look at these subject headings:
Let me know what you think. As I've launched the new books, The Chart Chick has become more about my own research, and our charting company while my aha moments with my kids have been moved to here. But I love comments on both blogs. Let me know how it is working in your family.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Book Reviews
We've updated the reviews page on ZapTheGrandmaGap.com. Check out all the reviews that have come up about the book! https://zapthegrandmagap.com/reviews.html. A few reviews have been added to Amazon.com as well but none have been registered at Barnes and Noble.com. If you have seen any other reviews that I've missed, or if you would like to add one at either of these sites, we'd love to have your input. Thanks so much!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Heaven bless those shaking leaves.
Here's a quick success in our family that might translate to your family.
Earlier this summer, I uploaded the genealogy computer file my grandmother left me to Ancestry.com. I had been hesitant to do that before because it doesn't include sources and I really don't have direct knowledge of the research. But my son has played with it a little in how it relates to some of the databases out there.
On Ancestry he has been able to go in and connect my grandmother's research with the documents to back it up. I seeded it with several pictures so that he could see who he was dealing with. Ancestry has made it so easy for beginners, they put shaking leaves on each person that lead to documents that Ancestry thinks might relate to that person. It is so easy to check out the documents and then quickly link the ones that relate to your family. My son was drawn right in.
Right off the top, he was able to pull up things I didn't know about my own grandparents. I haven't ever really gone in and looked for records on my own grandparents because I was blessed to be able to know all of them well--my first grandparent to pass away didn't leave us until I was 16. On Ancestry, he quickly found draft cards and army documents, the census records and several other things that were exciting to see. And with a simple click of the button, they were added to our online tree. It was quite addictive.
I think Ancestry has really created a space where the advanced genealogist can play in the same sandbox as the beginner because it is so focused on the documents. And that is a great thing for families. Take a look at Ancestry.com. It might work for your family too. Let me know how it goes.
Earlier this summer, I uploaded the genealogy computer file my grandmother left me to Ancestry.com. I had been hesitant to do that before because it doesn't include sources and I really don't have direct knowledge of the research. But my son has played with it a little in how it relates to some of the databases out there.
On Ancestry he has been able to go in and connect my grandmother's research with the documents to back it up. I seeded it with several pictures so that he could see who he was dealing with. Ancestry has made it so easy for beginners, they put shaking leaves on each person that lead to documents that Ancestry thinks might relate to that person. It is so easy to check out the documents and then quickly link the ones that relate to your family. My son was drawn right in.
Right off the top, he was able to pull up things I didn't know about my own grandparents. I haven't ever really gone in and looked for records on my own grandparents because I was blessed to be able to know all of them well--my first grandparent to pass away didn't leave us until I was 16. On Ancestry, he quickly found draft cards and army documents, the census records and several other things that were exciting to see. And with a simple click of the button, they were added to our online tree. It was quite addictive.
I think Ancestry has really created a space where the advanced genealogist can play in the same sandbox as the beginner because it is so focused on the documents. And that is a great thing for families. Take a look at Ancestry.com. It might work for your family too. Let me know how it goes.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Taking my daughter on a family history trip
There is nothing like travel to engage your family with their family history. It can be near or far. A couple of weeks ago I got to take my daughter to the Southern California Genealogy Society Conference. We had a great time on the trip, but we also got to do a little family history. My mother grew up in Southern California and my Grandparents and Great Grandmother spent most of their lives there. So we decided to stop by some of the old places.
We stopped by the beach.
Mom and her sister on the left in the late 40s, Dad and I in the center in the 70s, My daughter on the right
We rode the carousel at the Santa Monica Pier.
Mom and her sister on the left in the 50s, My daughter and I on the right
We stopped by the temple where Mom and Dad were married.
Mom and Dad June 2, 1967, My daughter on the right
And we stopped by the house where my Mom grew up.
Mom and her sister on the left in the 50s, Grandpa and I in the center in the 70s, My daughter on the rightI was glad to see my Grandparent's house was being well taken care of now. It didn't look so good when it was for sale last year when we stopped by with my son. Next time we go to California, I'm going to see if I can recreate some of the old photos. We did this for my parents for Mother's Day and Father's Day. I've never laughed so hard in my life. My sister put them together into a video for each of them. It was a fun project that might work in your family too. Watch out though.. I've never felt so old in my life either. Time flies when you are having fun.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Another Exciting Magazine Article--Reunions Magazine
Zap The Grandma Gap has been reviewed in another magazine article. Issue 24 Number 1 of Reunions Magazine has a great article about the book on page 17. You can access the issue here: http://issuu.com/reunionsmag/docs/reunionsaso2013v24n1.
Here is the screen shot:
Thanks to Edith Wagner and her team for helping us get the word out about our resources. And thanks for letting us use the article here. You should check out all the great resources they have for creating family reunions at reunionsmag.com--something near and dear to the heart of anyone who is trying to engage their family with their family history.
Here is the screen shot:
Thanks to Edith Wagner and her team for helping us get the word out about our resources. And thanks for letting us use the article here. You should check out all the great resources they have for creating family reunions at reunionsmag.com--something near and dear to the heart of anyone who is trying to engage their family with their family history.
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