The Family Oral History Project
Conduct structured interviews with older family members to document personal histories, memories, and wisdom. This activity turns family stories into a valuable, preserved archive.
- Takes
- 1–2 hr
- Your setup
- 30 min prep
- Ages
- Ages 12 and up
- Mess
- No mess
- Cost
- $
- Where
- Indoors
How to do it
- 1Designate roles (interviewer, transcriber, technical assistant).
- 2Collaboratively develop 15-20 meaningful questions about milestones, challenges, and lessons learned.
- 3Schedule a quiet time for the interview.
- 4Record the session clearly and take notes.
- 5Afterward, work together to transcribe, edit, or digitize the stories for future access.
What they're practising
- Interpersonal communication
- Historical preservation
- Empathy development
- Active listening