Roots Project Report

Roots Project: Making Connections Through Roots

The Roots Project was completed by the students in May 2014. Below are materials and documents created for this project that we are sharing to make it possible for this program to replicated by other libraries and heritage organizations.

Washington State Libraries First Tuesdays Webinar describing the Roots Project

Mentor Recruiting Forms

• Mentor Application (PDF)
• Mentor Background Check Form (PDF)
• Mentor Introduction Overview (PDF)
• Mentor Labor & Industries Form (PDF)
• Mentor Objectives Schedules (PDF)
• Mentor Rights and Responsibilities form (PDF)
• Mentor Rights and Responsibilities volunteer version (PDF)

Calendars of meetings, events and classes

• Roots Project Calendar 2013-2014 (PDF)
• Living History Programs Calendar 2013-2014 (PDF)

Curriculum Materials

A binder was compiled for each student and mentor that contained 

• Binder Table of Contents (PDF)
• Course Summary (PDF)
• Lessons 1 - 20 (PDF) - Classes & Curriculum for 2013 - 2014
• Standard genealogy forms were used from Familysearch.org, Family Tree Magazine, and Ancestry.com [Adoptive Family Pedigree Chart, Family Group Sheet, Pedigree Charts, Relationship Chart, Research Calendar, Research Log, Research Journal, Source Summary, Step Family Pedigree Chart, etc]
• N.A R.A. Genealogy Toolkit
• Quicksheet For Citing Resources
• Genealogy software used by the students was the free version of LegacyFamilyTree

Teacher/Librarian Assignments and Permission Slips

• Flyer for Parent Meeting (PDF)
• Teacher Lesson Outline (PDF)
• Autobiography Notes (PDF)
• Roots Sample Field Trip Permission Slip (PDF)
• Biography assignment January 16 (PDF)

Publicity and Posters

• Abigail Adams (PDF) - Revolutionary Woman Program
• African American Genealogy Research (PDF) Workshop
• Civil War Living History (PDF) Program by the Washington Civil War Assn.
• Digitizing your Family History (PDF) Program
• Learning at the Library (PDF) Mentor series
• LivingVoices.org (PDF) - multimedia performance "Northwest Passages"
• Orientation Flyer (PDF)
• Roots Poster (PDF)

Evaluations

• Mentors Project Evaluation Summary (PDF)
• Students Project Evaluation Summary (PDF)
• Roots Impact Student Statements (PDF)

Budget (PDF)

Burlington Public Library
820 E. Washington Avenue
Burlington, WA 98233
For more information, Contact Us

For research resources to support this project, see our biography and genealogy page. Funding for this project is provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Grant

Thanks to a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Burlington Library Foundation is launching a year-long inter-generational program in partnership with the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society. The "Making Connections through Roots Project" is designed to educate teens and community genealogists on basic library research skills. Read the press release (PDF).