Create a Fun Family Tree

Most schools require a family tree project at some point during the early grades. If you find tracking your genealogy on a paper tree as boring as most parents, you might want to consider some new ideas to spice the family history up a little! This article will tell you how to make a dull school project into something unique and enjoyable to do with your kids.

The usual method of plotting a family history is to draw up a simple tree with a branch for each person. Why not twist that around and make a "real" tree to display your family history? Chances are, you won't be able to find a tree branch that has the exact number of offshoots that you need, so you'll have to make your own. Paper Mache is perfect for this task, or you might want to go more crafty and use pipe cleaners or other bendable items to form the tree.

Once you have your tree ready to go, you will need to print and laminate small photos of each member of the family, with their name below and any other information required by the school project. Poke a little hole in the top center of the photo and loop a thread through it, tying it off to form a loop that can then be hung over the appropriate branch. Voila! A real family tree!

Another method of creating a genealogy chart without resorting to quite so much work is to write the name and personal info of each ancestor on a piece of colored card and decorate each one with stickers, drawings and photos or words cut out of magazines. These can then be placed in order (flow-chart style) on a large piece of cardstock and the connections made with sparkly yarn or threads. Go a bit wild with your decorating and have some fun!

Finally, you might consider doing an "organic" family tree. You will need a large, shallow pan or box to start with, some smooth rocks and sand. Print photos of the family members out on thin paper and cut them out. Now glue them to the rocks, using a paintbrush to brush glue over top so the photo conforms to the actual shape of the rock. This is a very unique technique that looks great when the glue dries clear. Use a gold or silver pen to write the details of the person below the picture and then use a few drops of glue to stick each rock to the bottom of the pan or box, grouping them the same way you would with a paper family tree.

Once the rocks have dried in place, pour about half an inch of sand into the box, so it covers the entire bottom and forms around the rocks. You can use straight sticks to mark the connections between family members. Use your imagination to create variations of this theme for an even more original version of your family tree!

Family tree projects can be dull if you follow the same old method of doing them. But why stop there? Why not create a unique project that everyone will remember for years to come? It is well worth the effort to have a project that both you and your child are proud of.