U.S. Virgin Islands Teacher Workshop

Genealogy in the Classroom: Bringing History to Life with Family History

U.S. Virgin Islands Classroom Teachers (All Islands)

Social Studies Teachers, English Language Arts Teachers, and School Librarians
Grades: 4-12

UVI Research and Technology Park (RT Park), St. Croix

Saturday, April 18, 2026

All Participants Receive a $500 Stipend

Application Deadline: March 6, 2026
 

Genealogy is a powerful lens for teaching history, culture, and geography. Go beyond family trees and help students develop critical research and thinking skills as they explore their roots and make personal connections to history.

Join us to receive training and resources needed to implement our Family History Curriculum. Receive free lesson plans, teaching strategies, case studies, and more.

More About the Workshop

Our teacher professional development includes a full-day in-person workshop, personalized follow-up training, and monthly group meetings.

Teachers will receive lessons and strategies from our Family History Curriculum. It is aligned with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards and can be adapted to local standards.

Our workshops empower teachers to integrate genealogy into their curriculum in a way that is respectful to the sensitive nature of family history. Lessons can be tailored to individual students, including their age, grade, cultural heritage, and unique background.
 

We Encourage You to Apply with a Partner Teacher from Your School

Cost

• Free + $500 stipend

Who Should Apply

• U.S. Virgin Islands classroom teachers (all islands)
• Social Studies/History teachers
• English Language Arts teachers
• School Librarians

Grades

• 4-12 

Workshop

Participate in a full-day in-person workshop. Receive inquiry-based lessons, inclusive teaching strategies, case studies of historic figures, and firsthand knowledge from professional genealogists.

• Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (AST)
• Location: UVI Research & Technology Park (RT Park), 64 West Palm Drive, Kingshill, VI 00850

Follow-up Coaching

Following the workshop, receive optional follow-up training via Zoom to create a personalized plan to incorporate genealogy into your classroom.

• Date: At your convenience
• Time: At your convenience
• Location: Zoom

Monthly Group Meetings

Join optional monthly group meetings throughout the 2026-2027 school year to exchange ideas and gain insight from fellow educators.

• Dates: 2026–2027 school year
• Time: Monthly
• Location: Zoom

Benefits for Teachers

• $500 Stipend for Travel and Materials needed to implement genealogy lessons with students
• Inquiry-Based Lessons and Inclusive Teaching Strategies from our Family History Curriculum
• Firsthand Knowledge from Professional Genealogists and strategies to replicate authentic research methodologies in the classroom
• One-on-One Virtual Follow-Up Training to brainstorm a personalized plan to create lessons and projects for students
• Peer-to-peer interaction to exchange ideas and gain insight from fellow educators
• Professional Development contact hours
• School Membership to AmericanAncestors.org
• Individual Membership to AmericanAncestors.org
• Individual Membership to Caribbean Genealogy Library

Benefits for Students

• Develop historical thinking skills and learn how to plan and carry out research
• Make personal connections to history and discover their roots
• Be at the center of historical-inquiry and shape their own learning
• Explore real-world careers and authentic research practices used by professional genealogists
• Experience the psychological and emotional benefits of family history research

Learn How to Implement Inquiry-Based Lesson Plans

The Family History Curriculum has everything you need to support students as they carry out research, evaluate sources, and draw conclusions supported by evidence. Lessons incorporate primary sources from the Library of Congress, along with case studies of historical figures. Lessons address common misconceptions that students have about genealogy, and they empower students to create historical narratives for themselves.

Questions? Contact Dustin Axe, School Programs & Curriculum Manager at Dustin.Axe@americanancestors.org.

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI).

This teacher workshop has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. National Endowment for the Humanities: www.neh.gov

About American Ancestors

American Ancestors is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage, and culture based in Boston, Massachusetts, that has been setting the gold standard for family history research since its founding in 1845.

Today, American Ancestors serves more than 400,000 members and online subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of family history resources, scholarship, educational programming, and events. In April 2025, American Ancestors launched the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joys of family history.