Create your very own bedtime story book out of stories from YOUR family! Collect stories that will inspire you and make you laugh, cry, remember and connect. Every family has stories that are important and meaningful and this is a perfect way to preserve them and ensure they continue to be shared for generations.
Here are some suggestions to get your started:
Get to know your ancestors with a variety of life stories that help you get to know their personality.
A compilation of childhood stories from grandma or grandpa’s life, to help kids relate to their grandparents in a new way.
Advice that was shared by ancestors, grandparents, or even, include living relatives. Include quotes and famous one-liners from those individuals.
A brave story from all the women or men in your family tree. To show your daughters and sons all the brave family who came before them.
Stories of bravery, faith, perseverance, and strength.
One story from each member of the family tree.
A compilation of the funniest and craziest stories your family tells over and over.
*All activities with a * require a FamilySearch account to participate in that activity.
If you don’t have one please set one up with a tree or find another activity for that day.
Be sure to take the pre experiment survey before you start and come back and complete the post experiment survey when you are done.
Spend a day exploring family stories. We all have stories, today spend some time gathering stories that you have by searching family albums, books, and trees. Bookmark the stories that stand out.
Tip: Check out FamilySearch and Ancestry for some new stories you may not know about.
Make a list of which types of stories you’d like to highlight in your Story Book. Make a list of ancestors and living relatives whose stories you’d like included in the book and a list of relatives who may know stories about these ancestors. Read through our list of story prompts to help you think. (see idea list at the top of the page)
Bonus: We’re CONNECTING with COUSINS today! Visit Relative Finder today and join the group “Connections-Experiment” to see how many of your cousins are participants in the experiment! (You will need a free FamilySearch account for this to work)
How will you collect stories from relatives? Emails, calls, interviews, create a family FaceBook group and post prompts from our list daily etc…. Initiate that contact today and be sure to give a deadline later this week.
Take the time today to write down a few of your own memories and stories that fit in with your storybook topics.
Continue collecting stories from your relatives or continue writing your own stories today. Be sure to read the stories as they come in, so you’re familiar with the stories you have.
Decide if you want your storybook organized by person, by theme or just as a fun random assortment of stories. Give your storybook a title, brainstorm fun titles to the stories, and chapters, if applicable.
Create a system for keeping your story and any other photos, heirlooms, or other assets you’ll collect to go along with that story. Organize the stories you’ve typed, and the stories you’ve collected into your system. Be sure to continue to add stories and other story assets as you gather them.
Tip: A great way to do this is to use folder files on your computer. Have a folder for each story. Organize those folders into a master folder for your storybook, then sub-folders for chapters and themes according to your storybook outline.
Now that you’re familiar with all of your stories, make a list of assets you’d like to include in your storybook.
Here is a list of ideas:
Day 9: Initiate Gathering Assets
Reach out to family members who might have assets or be willing to help you create the assets for the storybook (i.e. drawings). Let them know you’ll need it by the end of this week.
As you start receiving stories from your relatives, type them up into a document so you can copy and paste into your story later. Include who shared this story with you. Be sure to have a member of your family proofread before your final draft.
If you are still waiting on stories from relatives, follow up with them. If you have another story to write, do that today. If you’re short a few stories, explore your family tree to see if you can find some additional stories.
Tip: FamilySearch users can use the All the Stories App to help find good short stories on their tree.
There are many options for printing and publishing your storybook, we’ve collected a few of our favorites here.
Select the theme, template, fonts, layouts and other style features that you’ll use throughout the book, you’ll use this as your “style guide”. Build your book cover and title page, using this the style guide and make any adjustments as you work. Using this style guide, layout the storybook by creating a page or pages for each story that will be included in the book.
Select the theme, template, fonts, layouts and other style features that you’ll use throughout the book, you’ll use this as your “style guide”. Build your book cover and title page, using this the style guide and make any adjustments as you work. Using this style guide, layout the storybook by creating a page or pages for each story that will be included in the book.
Copy and paste your stories into your book template, insert assets and make adjustments to fit the story onto your pages. Crop, arrange, resize, reorder, and reorganize to maximize your storybook space.
Copy and paste your stories into your book template, insert assets and make adjustments to fit the story onto your pages. Crop, arrange, resize, reorder, and reorganize to maximize your storybook space.
Copy and paste your stories into your book template, insert assets and make adjustments to fit the story onto your pages. Crop, arrange, resize, reorder, and reorganize to maximize your storybook space.
This is the day to gather any last minute stories or assets that need to be added to the storybook.
Be sure to add any last minute finishing touches including, spine title, page numbers, author & editor information, copyright information, a dedication page, preface, table of contents, timeline, etc…. Ask a family member to proofread and look for any elements that might be out of place.
How many copies of the book do you want? Who might benefit from receiving this gift? Be sure to order enough for everyone, including yourself.
Tip: If you share what you’re doing with some of your family, they might be willing to help pay for the costs.
You did it! You just spent the last 21 days connecting with family and friends! You connected with the past, present and the future. Congratulations!
Take your post-experiment survey and final weekly experiment check-in to document how you have grown. Even if you didn’t complete all 21 days, you still committed to making connections, so please still fill out the survey. We value your input. Thank you!
Share what you learned with us: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok!
Easy images to share and invite others to join you:
© Family Connections Experiment
We've concluded our experiment!
We want to keep our resources available as long as possible, and will continue to do so while the funds last. Our products and digital downloads will also remain available through the end of the year, these funds will be used to support the website, so be sure to grab them soon.
Complement your 21day experiment with Your DNA Guide—the Book. It takes you step-by-step through the various ways of using DNA to answer questions about your origins.
Celebrate your heritage by making a pie chart showing where your family is from. You can use the results of DNA testing or FamilySearch’s Where Am I From activity.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
You can enter information for up to 8 countries. If you have less than that, that’s okay too. Just enter what you have.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Joining us from RootsTech Connect? Press play!
(Be sure to visit our shop and use the 20% off code ROOTSTECH)
Check our relativefinder.org and see if you’re related to any famous people. If you join our group (Connections-Experiment) you might some cousins among our other participants. Grab a picture of you and your relative and you can make a meme to celebrate the relationship.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Visit this FamilySearch page to see important dates in the lives our your ancestors. Make a note of the person’s name, a birthday or anniversary and their relationship to you. Then make a meme to celebrate the special day.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
In honor of the Chinese New Year, find out which animal is associated with the year you were born in. We’ll create a meme for you with the animal and some characteristics associated with that animal.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Do you have a cherished heirloom? You can create a meme to celebrate the item and the story behind it. You just need a picture and then you can follow our easy steps.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Take a walk down memory lane by creating a meme from a photo of your childhood home. You could also commemorate other locations that are special to you.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
It can be as simple as, “My Childhood Home” or you can include dates or any other description you would like.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Create your own shareable graphic to celebrate the milestones in your relationship with your significant other.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Recreate an old photo and then create your own meme to show it off.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #21dayexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Do you have an item that has special family meaning? Creating a meme to celebrate it is easy. Just take a picture and follow these steps.
**Please remember this is a family friendly project and we request that all content produced using this tool be appropriate for all audiences.
Don’t love your meme? You can make any changes you want and then click Create Meme again to see your new meme. Once it’s perfect, you can download and share.
We’d love to see your creations so please share on social media and tag us using #connectionsexperiment.
**21 Day Family Connections Experiment is not responsible or liable for any content that is produced using this tool.
Receive daily emails with your daily plan prompts and information about other events and connection opportunities.
CLICK HERE and enter your email address to be added to this email list.
LEARNING AND CONNECTING EVENTS
Receive a text before events.
TEXT the message @FCE-Events to the number 81010. *If you have trouble, try texting @FCE-Events to (224) 324-3285.
Download the Connections Experiment App from the
Google Play store for easy access to daily plan prompts.
We’re gearing up for our next experiment starting October 1, 2020 for Family History month!
We would love to have you join us! Simply sign up below and we’ll send you a reminder when the initial survey and plans are up!
We can’t wait to participate in another experiment with you!
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