Finding Your Roots Curriculum

The Finding Your Roots curriculum was developed based on research into the use of a personalized “genetics and genealogy” approach to enhance interest in STEM subjects and careers at the K-12 and undergraduate levels. Studies in this area are focused on the development of informal and formal curricula that are testing the hypothesis that student interest in science can be spurred by study of their own genetic ancestry and genealogy.  These studies make use of the intellectual framework developed by Harvard collaborator Henry Louis Gates, Jr., in his work and programs on African Americans in the U.S., hence the use of his project title, “Finding Your Roots.”

Drs. Jablonski and Gates gathered a group of committed historians, artists, biologists, geneticists, anthropologists, genealogists, and educators to imagine a curriculum that would invite students to consider who they are genetically, genealogically/socioculturally, and intentionally.

This curriculum, originally created by Elizabeth Wright, is grounded in Next Generation Science Standards and designed to be malleable, inviting teachers to leverage their strengths and their student’s interests. Ideally, its implementation would include faculty from Health & Physical Education, Social Studies and History, English and Language Arts, Mathematics, and the Arts, but it’s not necessary.

At present, our research studies comprise development of summer camps, primarily for underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged learners of middle school age (currently led by Heather Toomey Zimmerman at Penn State University), and of personalized genetics and genealogy modules within undergraduate biology classes, primarily at historically black colleges and universities (currently led by Aditi Pai at Spelman College). (Read more about the original research plan.)

The curriculum is available for download at fyrclassroom.org

The Emmy-award winning web series Finding Your Roots: The Seedlings, along with teacher guides and tutorials on genealogical research are also available.

 

 

 

Finding Your Roots in the News

 

Selected Publications

Zimmerman, H. T., Weible, J. L., Wright, E. A., Vanderhoof, C., & Jablonski, N. G. (2022). Using youths’ personal DNA data in science camps: Fostering genetics learning and socio-emotional attitudes toward science with design-based research. Science Education, Early View. doi:10.1002/sce.21709

Wright, E. A., Wagner, J. K., Shriver, M. D., Fernandez, J. R., & Jablonski, N. G. (2019). Practical and ethical considerations of using personal DNA tests with middle-school-aged learners. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 104(2), 197-202. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.01.001

Jablonski, N. G., Wright, E. A., Pai, A., & Ogbunu, C. B. (2018). Understanding your roots: STEM diversity and an evidence-based curriculum. Paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.

Wright, E. A. (2018). Preliminary outcomes and future prospects of “genetics and genealogy” for learners. Paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2018 Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.