Carol has some truly valuable cautions in managing a family history project. Nevertheless, children are very resilient and a family history project might provide opportunities to step out of the immediate family troubles and see other aspects of the family. Every child has some interesting ancestor that allows him or her to feel pride and personal contact with his or her own history. They can find out that they come from survivors who had misery and triumphs just like the family they see and hear every day. If they have a parent who is a poor model, maybe they can find a grandparent who is a better one and change beliefs about themselves. If the other students tease about their family, maybe they can find material that helps them to stand up to the criticism, especially if a family history project helps them to actually talk to extended family, learn their stories and find new allies. They will probably be relieved to discover that they do have someone to be proud of and that everyone else has "undesirable" relatives just like they do. ---- Margaret Downs Glendinning [log in to unmask] CHAMBERLIN DELANO MOORE STREET SKINNER:MA/VT/CN>NY>MI 1580-NOW FISHER: VA>PA>OH>MI 1790-1960 DOWNS STAAS:NY 1690-now