Activity Ideas

Before the activity, ask the Primary children's parent or guardian where one of their ancestors came from. Encourage parents to help their child search FamilySearch to find this ancestor on their family tree and look for any memories or photos.

Host an etiquette dinner with decorations and foods from each country. For example, you can create laminated place mats for each child featuring their name and pictures related to their ancestor’s country. During the dinner, children can share memories or stories about their ancestor.

Before the activity, ask the parents or guardians of the Primary children where one of their ancestors came from. Encourage them to use FamilySearch with their child to find this ancestor on their family tree and look for any memories or photos.

Then, organize a bike parade where children can decorate their bikes using the colors of their ancestor's country flag. They can use streamers, balloons, and homemade "flag license plates" to show off their heritage.

Before the activity, set up a large family tree on a piece of cardboard and prepare sticky notes with family relationship terms (such as me, dad, mom, aunt, grandma, great-grandpa, cousin), ensuring you have enough for each child.

During the activity, explain what a family tree is and the meaning of "vicarious." Let the kids know that as they grow older, they’ll be able to do temple work for their ancestors vicariously, much like making a cupcake for someone who can't make one for themselves. Have each child select a sticky note representing a family role, make a cupcake that looks like that person, and then place it on the tree.

Hand out pedigree charts to each child and explain that it’s like a family tree. Encourage them to work with their family to complete the chart and add the information to FamilySearch.

Invite a veteran to speak about freedom and sacrifice, and share their personal stories. They might bring military memorabilia for the children to explore and show any military records they have.

At the end of the activity, explain that records are like a paper trail of someone's life, and each record tells a real-life story. Encourage the youth to search FamilySearch with their families to discover and explore the different types of records they can find.

Discuss with the children the importance of families in the Plan of Salvation. Label paper leaves with family member titles (e.g., me, dad, aunt, cousin, great-grandmother) on one side, and a song to sing on the other. Let each child take turns drawing a leaf and adding it to a family tree. Sing the song listed on the back of the leaf.

The music leader might also share family stories or show family artifacts to supplement the experience.

Show the children pictures of your family and talk about the importance of each family member. Share stories and pictures about your ancestors and their lives. You can even sing songs related to their attributes—like singing "Faith" from the Children's Songbook after discussing an ancestor's faith.

Encourage the children to ask their parents to show them family photos of their ancestors. You might also send a note to parents suggesting they use the FamilySearch website together to find and explore photos of their own ancestors.

Preparation: Tape a picture of a temple onto the front of a box. Print several family name temple cards from your FamilySearch temple file or Ordinances Ready (ask a ward temple and family history consultant for assistance if needed). Research each person on FamilySearch and write down details such as where they lived and died, their memories, and the number of siblings they had. Make a popsicle stick figure for each name card and set them up on a table with the temple box behind them.

Activity: Discuss the significance of the temple and how it helps seal families together. Let each child take turns picking a popsicle stick figure. Show the corresponding temple card and share the person's story. Place the popsicle stick figure in the temple box, explaining that people on the other side of the veil are waiting for their temple work. Sing a song between each child’s turn.

(Consider sending a note to parents explaining the activity and encouraging them to show their children their temple file on FamilySearch or how to use Ordinances Ready.)

Set up a world map or draw one on the board. Place pictures that represent different cultures next to their corresponding countries (such as traditional dances, currency, pottery, and clothing). Have the children choose pictures to discuss, singing a Primary song in between. Talk about how their ancestors might have come from different countries than where they live now.

The music leader can share stories about their own ancestry. Encourage children to ask their parents about their family history. You might also send a note to parents suggesting they explore the FamilySearch website together to learn more about their ancestors.

Divide the youth into groups and give them a challenge: using computers or cellphones, spend 5 minutes searching their family trees on FamilySearch to find as many countries their ancestors have lived in. Afterward, each group should compare their lists and pick one country to research further. They should find 5-10 interesting facts about that country to present to the whole group.

Optional: You can vote on categories like the most fun fact, the tastiest fact, or the most interesting fact.

*Before starting this activity, ensure that the youth have a FamilySearch account and have begun building their family tree.

Before the activity, show the youth black-and-white ancestral photos from the FamilySearch website. Encourage them to explore their own ancestors' photos on FamilySearch or in family photo albums at home.

For the activity, hold a photo shoot where the youth dress in clothing inspired by their ancestors (provide extra clothing for those who aren’t prepared). Encourage them to bring a family recipe as refreshments. If there’s extra time, you can play Family History Activities on the FamilySearch app, like Relatives Around Me, Famous Relatives, or Compare-a-Face.

Organize a reenactment of the immigrant experience at Ellis Island. Start the activity in a room that’s a bit cramped to mimic the discomfort of traveling. Explain that they are passengers on a ship bound for the United States and share a personal story of someone who went through Ellis Island. (Ask the youth to bring luggage for added realism before the activity.)

Provide each participant with a paper detailing the person they are representing (real or imagined) who immigrated through Ellis Island. Move the activity to the gym, where they’ll wait in line for their initial check-in. After checking in, they’ll receive a checklist of “stations” they need to visit to determine if they qualify for entry into the U.S. or if they’ll be sent back. Stations might include a vision test, memory test, and intelligence test. (Consider including elements like filling out forms similar to those used at Ellis Island and playing background crowd noises. Some participants can be in family groups where some members are quarantined or denied entry.)

After the activity, have the youth share their experiences. Encourage them to explore the Ellis Island passenger lists to see if they can find their own relatives at: Passenger Search | Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island  )

Work with the Ward Temple and Family History Consultants to help the youth print four family names for baptisms and confirmations during a youth temple day. Ask each youth to pick one name to research and gather more information about before the temple visit. After the temple day, have the youth share their experiences of performing temple ordinances for a family member they learned more about. 

To get ready for the activity, invite Ward Temple and Family History Consultants to give a short lesson on FamilySearch Memories, encouraging members to explore and uncover stories about their ancestors. Plan a ward activity or camp out where members can share these family stories with each other, perhaps during a campfire event on Pioneer Day. 

Hold a Family History Fair with various interactive booths. Some activities could include a map where participants pin the locations where their ancestors lived, a "Guess Who" game featuring childhood photos of older members for others to identify, and a refreshment table with family recipes.

Invite ward members to play Relatives Around Me.

(*Tip: Invite Ward Family History Consultants to assist with looking up information on the FamilySearch tree app and help members upload pictures to Memories on the app.)

Before the activity, ask ward members to explore the FamilySearch website to find information about their ancestors.

Organize an activity where family members work together to design a family crest using materials like cardboard, wood, markers, or paint. The finished crests can be displayed in their homes. This is also a perfect chance for those with existing family crests to showcase pictures of them. 

To prepare for the activity, invite Ward Temple and Family History Consultants to give mini-lessons, including one on Ordinances Ready, to the ward members. Have them use Ordinances Ready to print a family name card to bring to the temple. Encourage members to learn more about this ancestor by exploring their relationship and reviewing their details and memories.

Host a ward "Walk to the Temple Day," where members carry their temple cards on a walk to the temple. If a temple isn’t nearby, members can walk to a church building instead. Ensure safety is a priority during this activity. Those who can’t print a temple card can bring a printed details page of an ancestor to carry with them.