Honoring Heritage: St. John’s Scholars Create Family Shields

At St. John’s, our student scholars are diving into a project that blends history, technology, and creativity—designing their own family shields. This assignment encourages students to communicate and collaborate with their families, think critically about their heritage, and creatively express their unique identities.

The project began with students researching their family history, completing a heritage brainstorm, and mapping out their family tree. With this newfound knowledge, they moved on to digitally designing a family shield in Canva. Each shield is divided into four quadrants, visually representing their ethnic background, family traditions, hobbies, and faith.

Students are then having their shields engraved onto wood using our Glowforge laser engraver.  Alongside their artwork, they have written short essays explaining the significance behind each symbol and design choice. This project not only strengthens their research and design skills but also fosters a deep appreciation for their roots.

By: Mr. Morner, 7th grade