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Why It’s Time to Rethink Family Tree Assignments

They may be more harmful than you realize.

Most of us remember plodding through family tree assignments at some point during our school years. Perhaps you created a handprint tree in preschool or filled out your madre and padre on a worksheet for Spanish class. It’s a common activity for a topic that’s important in schools—family. But in 2020, our students are coming from increasingly diverse families, and these types of activities can feel unsettling and exclusionary.

It’s time we moved past the family trees and looked for more inclusive options. Here are several reasons why it’s time to rethink the family tree assignment:

All families are different.

We all know that families consist of something more than diverse than a mom, dad, and 2.5 children. So why do our family trees still reflect that structure? Schools should not require students to complete an activity that fails to represent LGBTQ-headed, multigenerational, step, adoptive, and foster families.

Families are important to children. When they don’t see their own family reflected in the curriculum, they feel left out. And a student who doesn’t feel welcome at school might fail to learn. 

Not everyone has access to family information.

Family tree assignments often require students to research their family history, and that’s just not possible for everyone. Children in adoptive and foster families may not have baby pictures or be able to draw a coat of arms with a flag of where their ancestors came from. And it’s not just about the inability to complete the assignment, which is stressful enough. The greater harm is the complicated emotions that can come up for students when we remind them of what they don’t know.

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Family tree assignments are not trauma-informed.

We must consider that not all students come from loving home environments. Many of our students have experienced abuse and neglect. Family tree activities can trigger anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in students with adverse childhood experiences. Revelation of their private lives can also make them vulnerable to bullying and isolation. Our students’ physical and mental well-being should always come first.

Let’s move to more inclusive projects.

All this is not to say that we shouldn’t be talking about families in school. We can and should. We just have to be more mindful of what kinds of activities we plan. Try “Circles of Caring Community” , a lesson from Welcoming Schools that focuses on all the caring adults in students’ lives. “Autobio” and “Where I’m From” poems are also nice ways for students to share about themselves and the important people in their lives outside the confines of a traditional family tree assignment.

What alternate ideas do you have to family trees? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, why we should make all school events inclusive.

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Free Family Tree Lesson Plans for Kids and Teens

Last Updated February 8, 2020

by Kate Jackson

Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, a classroom teacher or the designated genealogy educator at a library or church – finding the best way to share the basics (and fun!) of family history with kids and teens can be tough. Luckily, a family tree lesson plan, or one that focuses on ancestry research, can make your job much easier.  These super helpful teaching tools make it so you don’t have to create every element of your instruction from scratch.

If you’ve already dug into Pinterest in search of the perfect family history lesson plan, but you’re still in need of something more, we’ve rounded up some of the best sources of free, in-depth resources for students from Pre-K all the way through high school. Looking for adult genealogy education? Check out our online courses . 

Every resource on this list is completely free to use. Also, as you discover these resources, be on the lookout for bonus materials – many of these family tree focused lesson plans feature additional teaching resources like printable worksheets, educational game ideas, supportive activities, and family history coloring pages.

Where to Find Free Family Tree Lesson Plans for Kids and Teens

Here are 4 free family tree lesson plans to get you started right away:.

• Make a Family Tree from Education.com
• Digging at the Roots of Your Family Tree from PBS Learning Media
• Understanding My Family’s History from Teaching Tolerance
• Who’s Who in My Family from Family Locket

If you are looking to build out a family tree with your students, the four free lesson plans above will get you started right away. You can also find free printable family trees , perfect for kids, here . For resources focused on a wide range of family history research topics see the detailed list below.

8 Additional Sources of In-Depth Family History Lesson Plans:

1. edsitement.

This partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for the Humanities is brimming with educational materials for any educator interested in teaching the humanities in their home or classroom. 

From family tree lesson plans to student resources to interactive features – EDSITEment! goes in-depth into a very wide variety of topics, including family history. Search all the lesson plans here or check out our top picks, for grades K-5, below:

• Where I Come From
• What is History? Timelines and Oral Histories
• My Piece of History
• How Did Surnames Come to Be? Lesson 1 , Lesson 2 , Lesson 3 and Lesson 4

2. The Learning Network

This educational resource from the New York Times publishes over a thousand teaching materials every year. 

In addition to many lessons regarding current events, geography, and an expansive writing curriculum, this useful site also features several lesson plans for teaching elements of family history research.

Educators can use up to 5 lesson plans per school year for free. Find these genealogy lesson plans, geared toward middle schoolers and up, below:

• Cemeteries Are Historical, Not Solely Grave
• All in the Family

3. DOCSTeach

This online tool from the U.S. National Archives is centered around teaching with documents. A resource for students and teachers, DOCSTeach features lessons and activities that can teach the budding family historian how to use primary source documents in their genealogy research and beyond, an important part of building a family tree.

In addition to a wide array of lesson plans and activities relating to this critical element of family history research, educators can also customize their own activities using this tool. Get started using DOCSTeach here or go straight to some of their genealogy-related lesson plans below:

• Evaluating a Needlework Sampler as Historical Evidence
• The Impact of the Immigration Act of 1924

4. National First Ladies’ Library

The National First Ladies Library is an organization focused on preserving and promoting the accomplishments of the First Ladies of the U.S. 

Among many other interesting resources, this site offers dozens of free history lesson plans for educators to use – including a lesson that aims to get middle school students interested in family tree research as it relates to U.S. and world history. Check it out below:

• Genealogy: Coming to America 

Michael John Neill, of the genealogy research site RootDig, has put together a great lesson plan for introducing the elementary student to census research, family group sheets, and more. You can find it below:

• The Third Grader’s 1850 Census

6. Growing Little Leaves

Focused on the youngest family historians – from toddler to elementary – Growing Little Leaves shows us that even the smallest ones can participate in family history.

In addition to a bounty of ancestry-focused lesson plans and activities, this site features fun add-ons like coloring pages, printables, games, crafts and tons more. Check out all they have to offer below:

• Kid-Friendly Genealogy Activities, Projects, and Crafts
• Free Family History Lesson Plans and Resources

7. Library of Congress

It comes as no surprise that the Library of Congress, with all it has to offer the family history researcher, would have a few gems in store for those looking to educate younger generations about genealogy research.

You can browse all Library of Congress lesson plans, each of which use primary sources from the LOC, here . We’ve included our favorites below:

• Family Customs Past and Present: Exploring Cultural Rituals
• Primary Sources and Personal Artifacts

8. Family Locket

The Family Locket’s focus is on helping family historians become better researchers as well as including kids in the adventure of family history research. 

Much of their educational content for kids is focused on the youngest of family historians but their expansive resource library features materials for teaching family history to kids and teens alike. 

From printables to crafts to free family tree lesson plans and more – the resource library is not to be missed. Find it, as well as preschool plans, below:

• Preschool Family History Storytime
• Family History Ideas for Children and Teens

Need a little something more? Learn where to find hundreds of free genealogy printables, including ones for kids, right here.

Hoping to continue your own education in family history research to help your students? Consider taking a genealogy research course from Family History Daily. 

Best of luck and happy teaching!

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Image: Children in classroom, between 1919 and 1929, American Red Cross. Library of Congress.

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Modern and Inclusive Family Tree Project Ideas

The family tree project is something that’s been around for years. It has become a right of passage for most students in North America. For many, this is a chance to showcase their family, research their ancestors, and share where they come from. However, the family tree project can be triggering for students who do not have a traditional family. They may have a history of trauma, adoption, loss or death. Or they may have same sex parents or divorce with remarriage and new family members. As times and family units have changed, plus our understanding of childhood trauma, so must the family tree project change and become more inclusive. Let’s explore some inclusive alternatives to the family tree project .

Modern Family Tree Project Ideas

What you will discover in this article!

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First up, I want to say I totally understand the appeal a Family Tree Project can have. In fact, I LOVE the idea of genealogy, ancestry and tracing my family tree. Researching long lost relatives, exploring my family heritage, and learning my own history. I get that appeal. But I do have to strongly disagree that it should be a school project with rigid rules and constraints. IT should not be a project that excludes those that don’t fit in the traditional family “box” or have a family stories that are complex. The negative impacts on our children’s mental health are too great. And the educational goals of the Family Tree Project as a learning activity can be achieved through other means.

Lack of Trauma Informed Thinking

While doing research for this article I was incredibly frustrated by the lack of empathy, compassion and understanding presented by many resources on this topic. Perhaps because trauma informed education is such a strong focus for me, I wrongly assume all educators have at least a passing understanding of trauma and children’s mental health.

The idea that any teacher would force a student to do a project that could be incredibly damaging, trigger anxiety and PTSD, cause stress and fights in the home, and most of all force children to relive traumatic experiences in front of their peers and classmates, is sickening to me.

It is understandable that this project does provide an educational experience, but there is something that needs to be understood. Children that are struggling with mental health issues will struggle to learn. We need to put mental health first, school second . By avoiding projects that are particularly triggering for many vulnerable children, you will be setting children up for a stronger, more effective learning experience.

Which at the end of the day is what everyone wants. We simply want our children healthy and educated.

Trauma Through Generations

One aspect I think many miss in the discussion of the family tree project in classrooms is that research has shown that severe trauma alters the genetics of a person and they pass on that trauma to future generations.

It’s the study of epigenetics and you can read more about it here .

Understanding intergenerational trauma and how trauma can be passed down from grandparents to grand children, only highlights the importance of modernizing the traditional family tree project.

Understanding The Goal of the Family Tree Project

No child should ever be forced to do a traditional Family Tree Project for the classroom. Especially those that have nontraditional backgrounds or have experienced ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) . The goals of the assignment can be easily achieved using a number of different projects. All while supporting our most vulnerable students.

When deciding on a more suitable learning project to replace the family tree, the first thing a teacher needs to consider is the goal of the project. In most cases the goal is to teach kids a bit about history and research techniques.

It may also be a project intended to teach children more about themselves and their personal family history. Perhaps also how their own history ties into greater historical events and teachings. Personal connections can help children have a greater passion for a subject. For example, knowing Great-Grandfather fought in World War II, may make it much more interesting to learn about the war.

In some instances, the family tree is part of learning about immigration or family studies. It may also be used as a launching point for lessons in genetics and heredity.

Before you move forward with a family tree project in your classroom, examine the goals of your project, then see if you can come up with a more inclusive option for students. Something that will foster a sense of pride and self confidence and self love for the students themselves and their families. No matter how those family tree branches curve and twist.

Here are a few ideas for inclusive family tree projects.

Inclusive Family Tree Project Ideas

With all of this in mind, we used some creativity and came up with these unique family tree projects. All of these will still encourage children to break out the craft materials and create a great DIY project, while still respecting that for many kids, our chosen family is our true family.

Allow your students to create their own very important people tree. Have your students write the names of the important individuals in their lives on the branches and positive characteristics about them on the attached leaves. Sometimes students who have traumatic childhood experiences may struggle to think of positive adults in their lives. Encourage them to include anyone that matters to them, including friends, teachers, coaches, and people they admire.

Celebrity Family

In some foreign language classes, the family tree assignment has been a way to learn the names of family members in the studied language. This can also be used for English as a Second Language Learners. However, when coupled with a family tree, which requires students to share the names of their own family members, this assignment can be difficult and often heartbreaking for children dealing with trauma. Vocabulary and language can still be taught by using celebrities or a television show family. I have seen some adorable family trees with Mickey and Minnie Mouse (and other Disney characters as siblings and children) as well as other celebrity families.

Celebrity families can be a fantastic alternative to the traditional family tree project. It may not have the personal connection, but many students become very passionate about popular figures.

Autobiography Poem

Instead of focusing on the extended family, have your students share their own autobiographical poems. Each line should start with “I” and they may include where they are from, their family members (if they would like), adjectives to describe themselves, things they love to do, things they fear, and things they hope for. These poems are incredible ways for your students to express themselves. Often, older children who are dealing with trauma can find an outlet in writing, particularly about themselves.

Inspired by History Fictional Story

Ask students to write a short story about someone important to them. It could be an ancestor that lived through a major historical event, or it may be a modern family member that has a particular impact on the student. It doesn’t even need to be a biological family member. The story does not need to be 100% fact. Encourage students to do their research so their stories are based in fact, but allow them the flexibility to be creative in their story telling so they can create a compelling story. Even if it glosses over any problematic or stressful situations.

Classroom Community Garden

Your class may be the closest thing to a true family that some of your students have. School may be the place they feel the safest. Celebrate that with a community garden. Allow each student to create a flower or element of the garden that represents themselves. Have them write a brief message describing what they contribute to make your classroom garden grow and flourish. Post your community garden on a classroom bulletin board or wall. Your classroom family garden can be nurtured all year long.

A family tree project may seem like a rite of passage in school, but for many students it causes anxiety and pain. For students with adverse childhood experiences or nontraditional families, a family tree is more than just listing members of your family. We need to modernize the family tree project and make it a positive, affirming rite of passage for all children.

The goal is to create a project that allows children to explore themselves and their lives, in a safe way that doesn’t isolate them, but instead allows them to celebrate their unique life circumstances and those that are special to them. The family tree project can also be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate diversity, inclusion and the family unit.

These inclusive alternatives to the family tree project are important ways to keep all students in mind, whether they come from families dealing with divorce, death, adoption, foster care, or other situations. Try some of these alternate projects in your classroom.

MORE EDUCATION AND LEARNING

10 Ways to Rethink the Family Tree Project – And Be More Inclusive to All Students!

by Laura Hudgens

The family tree project that many of us remember doing as kids can be a fun way for students to learn research skills. It can also spark a child’s interest in their personal history or provide a creative way for students to share information and stories about their family with classmates. Unfortunately, for students who are adopted, in foster care, or who come from non-traditional homes, the family tree assignment can be uncomfortable. 

If you are looking for ways for your students to learn and share about the people they love, check out these alternatives to family tree projects.

Focus on traditions, not genetics.

By looking at family traditions, students can share what is unique or interesting about their household—no matter what their family situation is like. Students can also look outside their own experience and learn about other people’s family traditions.

1. Write about or give a presentation on one of your family traditions or pastimes.

It can be something as elaborate as a Bar Mitzvah or a confirmation or as simple as Sunday morning pancakes or Friday night movie night. Whatever it is, it will give students a chance to reflect on what their family holds dear and why.

2. Research family traditions from around the world .

Ask students to write about a tradition they would like to start in their own family and why.

Interview someone (anyone!) about family life.

By giving them the option of interviewing family members or non-relatives about family life, students can gain insight into other people’s experiences.

3. Interview someone about their family history.

This person doesn’t have to be related to the student. After all, learning things about other people’s families is fun too.

4. Interview several different types of family members from any family.

Students can talk to mothers, fathers, older siblings, younger siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Encourage students to ask questions about each family member’s role, their responsibilities, or their favorite and least favorite things about that role.

Look at history.

Giving a family-themed lesson a historical spin is an excellent way to bring history to life.

5. Choose significant events in history and research connections to family members or family friends who were alive then.

My mother’s Great Aunt Zelda was alive during the Great Depression. Our next-door neighbor’s great great grandmother was a suffragette. This is a great way to give major historical events some context.

6. Research the family history of someone famous.

Knowing the background of historical figures can sometimes make them seem more real and more relatable. Additionally, finding out a famous person came from humble or troubled circumstances inspires students to rise above their own challenges.

Record family data, rather than family history.

Combine data analysis and family research in a way that is less personal and exclusive than a family tree assignment but still allows students to learn things about the people they live with.

7. Gather random facts about the members of your household and record the data.

Have students survey family or household members about things like whether or not they like pineapple on pizza, if they prefer cats or dogs, or if they eat the cake first or the frosting. They can then record these statistics– 75 percent of my family members prefer dogs over cats or 5 out of 6 people in my household do not like pineapple on pizza.

8. Create a test for skills that are not necessarily genetic and record the results.

Have students ask members of their family or household to do things like answer riddles , shoot baskets, or recite tongue twisters and keep track of which family members possess which skills. They can even document which family members can roll their tongue since that actually has nothing to do with genetics . But if students are really interested in genetics (or superpowers), have them explore these fascinating gene mutations.

Get creative!

Allow students to come up with fun and interesting ways to look at families and family life.

9. Make up a family tree.

Begin with a single fictitious person or couple and let students give them a family history full of fascinating, funny, or sinister relatives.

10. Create alien family traditions.

Allow students to imagine life in a family from a planet and galaxy of their own creation. What holidays do they celebrate and how? How do they celebrate births and commemorate deaths? What rituals do they observe as a part of family life?

Just as there is no one-size-fits-all family. There is no one-size-fits-all assignment when it comes to learning and sharing about family life. The family tree assignment can be fun and fascinating for many students, but providing alternatives respects the feelings and circumstances of all learners.

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Teaching Students About the Age of Millennials: A New Approach to Education

Teaching students about yerba mate: a cultural and educational experience, teaching students about deliverance cast education, teaching students about malcolm butler: inspiring lessons for the classroom, teaching students about andrew thomas: a fresh approach to learning about a brilliant mind, teaching students about tommy ford: an insight into his life and career, teaching students about the lord of the rings: the fellowship of the ring, teaching students about joe rogan young: inspiring the next generation, teaching students about ma rainey: the mother of the blues, teaching students about bayer leverkusen: an introduction to the world of german football, time to rethink family tree assignments.

Most of us recall dreading family tree homework sometime in our academic careers. Maybe you made a handprint tree when you were a preschooler or wrote down your parents on an assignment for Spanish class. It’s a typical task for a crucial school subject, family. However, in 2020, our kids will come from a broader range of households, making these kinds of activities uncomfortable and exclusive.

It’s time to look beyond family trees and consider more varied choices. There are several reasons why the family tree assignment has to be reconsidered:

Every Family is Unique.

Everybody knows families are more than just a mother, a father, and 2.5 kids. Why then do our family trees still show that pattern? Schools shouldn’t make kids complete a project that excludes step, adoptive, and foster families, LGBTQ families, and multigenerational families.

Children value their families. They feel excluded if they don’t find the representation of their own family in the curriculum. Additionally, a pupil who doesn’t feel at home at school may struggle academically.

Access to Family Information is Not Universal.

Family history research is frequently required of students for family tree projects, but not everyone can do it. Kids in adoptive and foster families may not have infant photographs or know how to sketch a coat of arms with a flag representing their ancestral country. And it goes beyond the assignment’s failure, which is already stressful enough. The more nuanced emotions kids may have due to being reminded of what they don’t know, the greater the harm.

Family Tree Assignments Do Not Include Trauma.

We must remember that not every student comes from a happy household. Numerous of our pupils have endured abuse and neglect. Activities centered around family trees can make children with horrific childhood experiences anxious and develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Exposure to their personal life might also leave children open to bullying and exclusion. The health and welfare of our pupils should always come first.

Move On to More Inclusive Initiatives.

This does not imply that we shouldn’t discuss families in the classroom. We should and can. Simply said, we need to be more careful about the things we plan. Try the Welcoming Schools lesson “Circles of Caring Community,” which highlights all the benevolent people in kids’ life. Other wonderful alternatives for students to talk about themselves and the significant individuals in their lives outside of a conventional family tree assignment include “autobio” and “Where I’m From” poems.

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Family Tree Worksheets

Customize family tree templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

Why Family Tree Worksheets are a Useful Tool for the Classroom

Family trees can be a powerful tool for learning about familial history, relationships, and heritage, and our family tree creator can help bring them to life. Whether you're a teacher looking for a creative way to engage your students or a parent wanting to teach your children about their background, family tree example worksheets and templates can be an excellent resource. These activities offer a great opportunity to learn about histories and connections while also developing important skills such as research, organization, and critical thinking. With a variety of creative templates, worksheets, and online resources available, teachers and parents can easily incorporate this activity into their lesson plans to enrich the learning experience for children of all ages. With Storyboard That, it is easy to make a family tree template for any age group!

How to Structure Family Tree Classroom Activities

There are various ways to design custom templates. The design of the template may depend on factors such as the purpose of the activity, the age and skill level of the students, and the specific software or tools being used to create the template. Some templates may include a simple tree with spaces for names and dates, while others may have more elaborate designs with space for photos or illustrations of family members.

There are several creative ways to present family tree activities on templates and worksheets, such as:

• Use Different Shapes: Instead of the traditional tree shape, try using different shapes such as a house or a heart to represent the family tree.
• Use Colors: Try using different colors to represent different generations or branches. This can make the family tree charts visually appealing and a lot easier to understand.
• Add Pictures: Add pictures to the names and relations of family members to make it more engaging and personalized.
• Include Symbols: Use symbols such as hearts, stars, or arrows to represent relationships and connections between members.
• Use Timelines: Create a timeline-style family tree to show the progression of generations and key events in the family's history.
• Create a Collage: Have kids create a collage-style family tree by cutting out pictures and words from magazines and newspapers.
• Make it Interactive: Use online tools or software to create an interactive family tree that allows students to click on family members and learn more about them.

Overall, the key is to make the activity creative and engaging for students, while still conveying important information about history and relationships.

Family Tree Activity Ideas by Subject

• History and Genealogy: Family tree worksheets can be used to teach children about their history and genealogy, helping them understand their roots and their own background.
• Language Arts: These worksheets can also be used to teach vocabulary related to family members, relationships, and family history. Students can also write narratives about their relatives or use the family tree as a basis for creating characters in their writing.
• Social Studies: Family tree worksheets can be used to teach different structures and cultural traditions related to family.
• Science: The worksheets are used to teach students about genetics and inheritance, helping them understand how traits are passed down through generations.
• Visual Arts: Worksheets can be used as a basis for creating art projects, such as creating a collage of photos or drawing a portrait of a relative.

Family Tree Activity Ideas by Grade Level

Elementary school.

Create a Family Tree Collage: Provide your class with a blank family tree template and have them cut out and paste pictures of relatives onto the tree.

Family Interviews: Assign students to interview family members about their history and create a family tree worksheet based on the information they gather. This activity will not only teach them about relationships but also improve their interviewing skills.

Family Tree Game: Create a game where kids have to match relatives with their correct positions on a family tree. This activity will help them understand the different relationships within a group.

Middle School

Comparative Family Trees: Provide the class with a template and have them complete "make your own family trees" activities as well as the family tree of a historical figure or character from literature. They can compare and contrast the different structures and relationships.

Ancestry Research: Assign students to research their ancestry and create a family tree worksheet based on their findings. This activity will not only teach them about their own history but also improve their research skills.

Family Tree Art: Have children create an artistic representation of their family tree using symbols and imagery to represent relatives and relationships.

High School

Genogram Analysis: Introduce students to the concept of genograms and have them create a family tree worksheet using this method. They can analyze the different relationships and patterns of behavior.

Family History Project: Assign your class to research and create a detailed history project, including a family tree worksheet, historical context, and personal narratives. This activity will teach them about research skills, writing skills, and their personal history.

Cultural Family Trees: Have students research different cultures and create family tree worksheets based on the different family structures and relationships within those cultures. This activity will teach them about cultural diversity and the importance of family in different cultures.

Additional Family Tree Design Templates By Subject

Social Studies/History: Have students research their history and create a family tree. Encourage them to interview relatives and gather information about their ancestors. Discuss how family history can help us understand our own place in history. Use family tree activities as a way to teach about cultural traditions and how families pass them down through generations.

Science: Use family tree worksheets to teach about genetics and inheritance. Have kids fill in information about relative's traits and track how they are passed down through the generations.

Language Arts: Use family tree templates to teach about character development in literature. Have students create family trees for fictional characters and analyze how their relationships affect the plot.

Math: Use family tree worksheets to teach about data analysis and graphing. Have students collect data on the number of siblings, grandparents, or other relatives of their classmates and create a graph to display the data. Use family tree activities as a way to teach about probability and statistics, as students calculate the likelihood of certain genetic traits being passed down through generations.

Art: Use family tree templates to teach about visual storytelling. Have kids create a family tree that includes images of each family member and tells a story about their history.

Technology: Use a free family tree maker online or family tree generator tools to teach about digital tools and organization. Have students create digital family trees and use technology to organize and display the information.

Using Family Tree Templates in Foreign Language Lessons

By incorporating family tree worksheets into foreign language lessons, students can practice language skills while also learning about family structures and traditions in different cultures. Here are some suggestions on how to structure foreign language lessons using family tree worksheets:

• Conversation Practice: Have students use the family tree worksheet as a guide for practicing conversations in the foreign language. For example, have them ask and answer questions about their relatives using the appropriate vocabulary.
• Cultural Comparisons: Use the family tree worksheet as a way to compare and contrast family structures and traditions in different cultures. Have students research and fill in the worksheet with information about a family from another country, and then compare it to their own family tree.
• Writing Practice: Use the worksheet as a way to practice writing in the foreign language. Have students write a paragraph or essay about their family members, using the family tree as a guide.
• Creative Projects: Have students create a visual representation of their family tree, using pictures or symbols to represent each family member. This can be done using art supplies or computer software.

Creative Designs for Family Tree Activity Templates

• Create a family tree timeline. Instead of a traditional tree, create a timeline that shows the different generations of a family and their major life events, such as births, marriages, and deaths.
• Have kids create a "mini-biography" of a relative. In addition to the family tree, have students create a mini-biography of a family member, including their name, birthdate, occupation, and any interesting facts about them.
• Create a cookbook. Ask students to gather family recipes from their relatives and create a cookbook. Include photos and stories about the members who contributed each recipe.

How to Make a Family Tree Worksheet

Choose one of the premade family tree templates.

We have color, black and white, portrait, or landscape templates. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific questions and images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your worksheet, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Even More Storyboard That Resources and Free Printables

• Biography Poster Templates
• Timeline Poster Templates
• Biographies: Family Life
• History Project Ideas

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions about Family Tree Worksheets

What are some features to consider when creating a family tree worksheet template.

When you create family tree free worksheet templates, it's important to consider the size of the family, the number of generations, the types of relationships, and the design of the template. The template should be easy to read and follow, and it should have space for students to fill in their family information.

What should teachers avoid when assigning family tree activities in the classroom?

When assigning family tree activities in the classroom, teachers should avoid making assumptions about students' family structures or making the activity mandatory for all students. Teachers should be sensitive to the fact that some students may not have traditional family structures or may not feel comfortable discussing their family history. Additionally, teachers should avoid asking students to share personal or sensitive information about their families unless they have obtained parental consent.

What are some different ways to design family tree templates?

There are various ways to design family tree templates. The design of the template may depend on factors such as the purpose of the activity, the age and skill level of the students, and the specific software or tools being used to create the template. Some templates may include a simple tree with spaces for names and dates, while others may have more elaborate designs with space for photos or illustrations of family members. It is important for teachers to consider the needs of their students and the learning objectives of the activity when designing family tree templates.

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Family Tree Lesson Plans

 Getty / Diane Collins and Jordan Hollender

• Genealogy Fun
• Vital Records Around the World
• American History
• African American History
• African History
• Ancient History and Culture
• Asian History
• European History
• Latin American History
• Medieval & Renaissance History
• Military History
• The 20th Century
• Women's History
• Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
• B.A., Carnegie Mellon University

Family tree lesson plans help teachers and students bring history to life, through the important steps and principles of family history research. These genealogy lesson plans help teachers and students trace their family tree, understand immigrant origins , explore history in the cemetery, discover world geography and investigate genetics.

Find and create interactive learning activities for your students with primary source documents that promote historical thinking skills. The website provides ready-to-use tools for teaching with documents in the classroom, as well as thousands of primary source documents selected from the National Archives to help you tailor the lesson to your students.

Little House in the Census & Other Lesson Plans from the National Archives

The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration offers dozens of lesson plans from all eras of U.S. history, complete with documents. One popular example is the Little House in the Census lesson plan, with pages from the 1880 and 1900 census schedules, teaching activities, and links related to the family of author Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Ancestors Teachers Guide

This free guide was developed in conjunction with the

Ancestors television series from PBS to help teachers and students in grades 7-12 actively discover their ancestors. It introduces important steps and principles of genealogy research and provides family history assignments. television series from PBS to help teachers and students in grades 7-12 actively discover their ancestors. It introduces important steps and principles of genealogy research and provides family history assignments.

History Hunters Cemetery Tour

This elementary lesson plan makes an interesting field trip to the local cemetery or is easily adaptable to a regular classroom setting when exploring topics in state and local history. From the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Design Your Own Coat of Arms Lesson Plan

This lesson plan, most easily adapted to an Art or Social Studies curriculum, introduces students to the history of a Coat of Arms and some traditional heraldic designs, by encouraging them to design their own Coat of Arms and then interpret each other's designs.

All in the Family: Discover Relatives & Genetic Connections

In this lesson from the New York Times , students develop family genealogy charts in search of noticeable genetic relationships between relatives. , students develop family genealogy charts in search of noticeable genetic relationships between relatives.

Climbing the Family Tree: A Jewish Genealogy Lesson Plan

This lesson plan/lecture outline by Yigal Rechtman introduces Jewish genealogy myths and methods for reconstructing an ancestor's life, with accompanying teachers' notes. The scope includes both genealogy in the United States, as well as Jewish genealogy in Eastern Europe.

Cemeteries are Historical, Not Solely Grave

The New York Times shares a Social Studies or Language Arts lesson examining graveyards as historical sites for students in grades 6-12. shares a Social Studies or Language Arts lesson examining graveyards as historical sites for students in grades 6-12.

Listening to History

This lesson plan from Edsitement is designed to help students explore oral history by conducting interviews with family members. Recommended for students in grades 6-8.

Coming to America - Immigration Builds a Nation

Discover the United States all over again as you introduce your students to the two major waves of immigration that brought 34 million people to our nation's shores and spurred the greatest period of national change and growth. Part of a series of lesson plans from EducationWorld.

Planning a School or Community Archives

Practical suggestions from The Montana Heritage Project on establishing and maintaining a school or community archives or historical collection. An excellent school or district-wide project.

History in the Heartland: Lesson Plans

Classroom activities from History in the Heartland, a project of Ohio State University and the Ohio Historical Society, offers dozens of lesson plans and primary source document activities based on Ohio Social Studies Academic Content Standards. Several are related to genealogy and immigration.

Genealogy: Coming to America

This free lesson plan, just one of many created by FirstLadies.org, focuses on Ida McKinley's great grandparents who emigrated from England, Scotland and Germany prior to the opening of Ellis Island. In this lesson, students will learn about the history of their family as it relates to the history of the United States and the world.

The Third Grader's 1850 Census

This suggested project by Michael John Neill uses a family group chart to explore the census and to interpret old handwriting. The exercise leads to map reading and ends with more genealogy exercises for children.

This is Your Life

In this set of three activities, students in grades 7-12 create family trees, interview a family member, and share childhood treasures.

The Valley of the Shadow

The Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War by historian Edward L. Ayers of the University of Virginia allows students to compare and contrast a Northern town with a Southern one before, during, and after the Civil War.

What is History? Timelines & Oral History

To understand that history is made up of many people’s stories of the past, students interview family members about the same event and compare the different versions, construct a personal history timeline and connect it to larger historical events, and synthesize eyewitness testimony from different sources to create their own “official” account. Grades K-2.

Where I Come From

Students take research into their heritage a step beyond the construction of a family tree in this Edsitement lesson, traveling through cyberspace to find out what's happening in their ancestral homelands today. Grades 3-5.

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services – Lesson Plans & Activities

USCIS offers lesson plans with instructions and teaching strategies for the novice and seasoned ESL instructors preparing students for U.S. citizenship, including interactive games and activities.

Tracing Immigrant Ancestors

This assignment is designed to teach students the concept of immigration and how to connect events in history with the movement of their ancestors, as well as develop a better understanding of the United States as a melting pot. Appropriate for grades 5-11.

UK National Archives - Resources for Teachers

Designed for teachers, this online resource is designed to tie in with the History National Curriculum from Key Stages 2 to 5 and contains a varied range of sources, lessons, and tutorials from the holdings of the Public Records Office in the UK.

My Piece of History

Students examine pictures of household objects from the late 20th century, gather historical information about them from older family members, and then create an in-class exhibit of historical objects from their own homes. Grades K-2.

Library and Archives Canada - For Teachers

Lesson plans, teacher resources and more from Library & Archives Canada to help students appreciate their own personal past by identifying significant people, places and events.

• 10 Educational Opportunities for Genealogists
• 10 Steps for Finding Your Family Tree Online
• How to Begin Tracing Your Family Tree
• Free Family Tree Charts
• Researching Famous (or Infamous) Ancestors
• Daily Planning Questions: Tools for the Secondary Classroom
• MADRID Surname Meaning and Family History
• 10 Top Genealogy Questions and Answers
• Celebrate Family History Month and Explore Your Lineage
• 19 Places to Research Your Family Tree for Free
• Mexico Genealogy 101
• Hunting for Witches in the Family Tree
• Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestor
• The Surname Baker: Its Meaning and Origin
• Top 10 Genealogy Mistakes to Avoid
• Numbering Your Family Tree

9 Tips for Putting Together Your Family Tree

Whether your child was given the infamous “family tree assignment” in grade school, or you decided to map it out with great grandma Dorothy to help her pass a rainy afternoon, there is no better time than the present to preserve your ancestors’ stories and your own. Collecting and organizing the details of your family tree can seem like a not-so-simple task, so we’ve compiled everything you need to get your family tree together in a jiffy.

Plus, once you’ve gathered the details, we’ll show you how to turn your family tree into an heirloom quality Family History Poster in just a few clicks with MyCanvas.com.

Step 1. Start with what you know You’ll need to have a large sheet of paper or a document on your computer to build out your family tree starting from you. It can be tempting to want to chase down every branch of the family tree right away, but this will be a multi-day or even month project so pace yourself. Work backward from yourself and make a list of everyone you know including important dates, like birthdates, marriage dates, and dates of death where applicable.

Step 2. Double-check social media This is a great resource to check the correct spellings of names, birthdates, dates of marriages, and don’t forget to check their family relationships for any shared relatives you may have missed.

Step 3. Find obituaries online If you have their name, birth date, and the city they were residing in when they passed, you can often find obituaries online. These are a great resource as they often list the names of their parents and other relatives. Be sure to also note the schools they attended. Don’t forget to save the photo from the obituary as well. If you are starting a digital folder of family pictures, be sure to change the file name to include the family member’s name.

Step 4. Search county and state records Find your County Recorder website and see if they have any online resources for genealogy and family searches. Many counties have these available online or will have information about how to contact the office. For specific office information for each state, check out this website: Archives.Gov

Step 5. Get your hands on high school yearbooks If you know the years they attended and what schools they went to, you can find some hidden gems of photos in your relatives’ yearbooks! If great uncle Lou was local you can usually find copies of local high school yearbooks at the library. Make sure to have grandma’s maiden name so you can find her in the index. Ancestry.com has a vast collection of digitized yearbooks that you can access when you sign-up.

Step 6. Request military records If any of your relatives served in the military, you are able to request a copy of their service record. If your relative separated from the military over 62 years ago (prior to 1960) then their military records are considered public record and anyone can request a copy by going to https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records . You’ll want to collect the following information in advance in order to find their record: the veteran’s complete name used while in service, service number, Social Security number, branch of service, and dates of service.

Step 7. Talk to your mom, dad, and grandparents Don’t forget to give them a big hug when you see them and share the latest photos of your children or granddog. Use this chat to help fill in gaps on the family tree and double-check the information you already have. Don’t forget to use the memo app in your phone, or a digital recorder to record your conversation, so you’ll have an audio-record of all their great stories!

Step 8. Ask relatives for photos You never know which relatives have possession of old photographs and pieces of family history. Often times relatives are passed down these keepsakes, and you might not know who has what. If you ask family members to take a clear photo of the photographs using their phone or digital camera, you’ll have a digital copy for yourself and be able to use it in your future family history project on MyCanvas.

Step 9. Use Ancestry.com to fill in the gaps Ancestry.com searches billions of records to help you discover your family story all in one place. It will find additional information on the family members you’ve already mapped out and uncover new relatives you may have missed! When you are ready to create a keepsake of your family tree, Ancestry.com fully integrates with MyCanvas to import your family members’ photos and data automatically.

Once you have collected all the information for your family tree, consider turning all that information into a keepsake that you can display on your wall. Creating a family tree is a great way for you and your children to see where they have come from and to preserve your family’s legacy. The stories from past generations help us gain courage from those that bravely faced hardships and overcame them. What better way to connect with those stories from the past than to bring them into the present by turning family history into an art piece on MyCanvas .

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Why It’s Time to Rethink Family Tree Assignments

• Social Studies Education

Every student has memories of creating a family tree project in their school years. While the intention is to encourage students to explore their ancestry and learn about their heritage, these assignments may inadvertently create challenges and discomfort for some students. It’s time to rethink the traditional family tree assignment – a shift that focuses on inclusivity and adaptability for all family backgrounds.

1. Non-traditional Families Are Increasing:

In today’s world, families come in all shapes and sizes, including single-parent households, adoptive families, blended families, and those who are raised by relatives other than their biological parents. The classic nuclear family is no longer the norm. Family tree assignments designed around the assumption of a singular “standard” family can make students from non-traditional households feel excluded or stigmatized.

2. Recognizing Privacy Concerns:

Family matters might involve sensitive information that children or teenagers might not be comfortable sharing in a public setting. Whether it’s dealing with divorce, adoption, or estrangement, forcing students to provide specifics about family relationships may lead to increased stress levels and anxiety.

3. Embracing Cultural Differences:

Assignments centered around biological lineage might not work for all cultural backgrounds or traditions. Some cultures prioritize extended family connections or community-based familial structures over biological ancestry. By rethinking the family tree assignment as more inclusive, we foster a greater appreciation of cultural diversity among students.

4. Acknowledging Adoptees and Foster Children:

For those who have been adopted or are part of the foster care system, the traditional family tree project could highlight gaps in their knowledge about their birth parents or biological family history. This has the potential to amplify feelings of sadness, confusion, or anger – especially if they don’t have access to details about their background.

5. Encouraging Creativity and Variety:

Rather than sticking to an outdated template based on assumptions, educators should embrace more flexible, customizable approaches. This might involve asking students to create a creative project that represents their own personal understanding and experience of “family.” In this way, students will be encouraged to think about the people who have played significant roles in their lives, regardless of whether they share a biological connection.

In conclusion, rethinking the traditional family tree assignment is a necessary step to ensure that all students feel included and respected. By acknowledging the diversity of family structures and offering more inclusive alternatives,educators can create a positive learning environment where everyone’s story is valued and heard.

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In the Classroom: Family Tree Assignments

Genealogists have long defined familial relations along bloodlines or marriage. But as the composition of families changes, so too has the notion of who gets a branch on the family tree. Some families now organize their family tree into two separate histories: genetic and emotional. Some schools, where charting family history has traditionally been a classroom project, are now skipping the exercise altogether.

Yes!  The above is from “ Who’s on the Family Tree?  Now It’s Complicated ” in today’s New York Times.  And may I say that the ditching of family history assignments in schools is long overdue.  I’ve always railed against them because they assume an awful lot and marginalize students who may not have traditional family backgrounds, may not know their family history, etc etc etc.  I believe that the family tree assignment came about for a good reason — to bring personal history into the classroom rather than it always being about great men and such. However, it also came about with assumptions about the children in the classroom.  I remember arguing with colleagues who would tell me how children and families were so honored and happy after such an assignment.  All very well, I’d reply, but what about those children who were unable to do it for one reason or another?  They’d be given something else, I was told.  Making them, I’d say, all the more marginalized.

I’ve long been wondering if the changing notions of family are also causing more care with this assignment and was gratified to get the sense from this article that it is being reconsidered.  Good, good, good.

Bottom line: we teachers need to always be very, very, very sensitive to how we invite our students to bring their personal lives into the classroom.  Our reality may be very far from theirs.

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10 responses to “ In the Classroom: Family Tree Assignments ”

100% agree on sensitivity when inviting students’ lives into the classroom. I think a lot of times we can find ways to serve this purpose by inviting more options in rather than by leaving projects out. Just as a small example — the “family tree” assignment can be widened into a choice of visual representations of family history — or a family timeline with a lesson on selecting scale to show five years, or fifty years, or five hundred, as desired.

We can honor children’s different experiences by letting them choose what and how to share, without any sense of stigma or shame or exclusion — we don’t necessarily have to eliminate sharing altogether.

Great to see you here and thanks for weighing in on this. But I’ve got to wonder — I think any sort of family history activity can be difficult for some families. Not all are comfortable bringing their past to school be it five years or fifty. Mine wouldn’t have been, I know that (which is why I’m so sensitive to this issue, no doubt).

I prefer something broader where family history is simply one of many options. Our immigrant oral history project is for the kids to interview any one, sometimes it is a family member and sometimes not.

3 loud cheers for your “bottom line,” Monica.

TOTALLY agree. Families with adopted kids who are still figuring out relationships with birth parents, kids with same-sex parents (every kid-version of a family tree chart I’ve ever seen has had a space for “mother’s side” and “father’s side”), kids being raised by grandparents…for all of them, family history can be FRAUGHT. And if even one kid feels marginalized, why do the assignment when there are so many other options? (I like the interview idea!)

Oh yes, yes, yes. I grew up with a single mother, and while I could fill in a lot of family tree stuff, I remember that once I was given an assignment to interview everyone in my family about their dental habits. I came back with two interviews–myself and my mother–and proceeded to get yelled at by all the kids on my team because I hadn’t provided enough data points for our assignment. “Why didn’t you just ask your dad ?” I can still hear one girl saying, 25 years later.

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I agree! As an ESL teacher, I learned the hard way that my immigrant students rarely even knew their grandparents’ names! These kids had been apart from their extended family for most of their lives and had little connection to them or to their family history. It’s really sad to witness, but unfortunately, that’s how life is for them. I had better luck looking at familial relationships in stories we read! Thanks for this post.

Family tree assignments (esp those that go any deeper than grandparents) priviliges those families that have that information — so you’re good if you have a family member into this, or if you come from a family where there was both literacy (written records) and preservation of records (which implies ability to keep and preserve same, as well as being the member of that generation who got to keep those records.)

And yes, I’ve seen the “I can trace my family back x generations and you can’t,” played out, so it’s not just hypothetical that it impacts what is happening in the classroom/group.

So, yeah — not a fan.

I am torn , my daughter has been givenn a family tree assignment. For us to complete it it leaves us deeply emotional in regard to our loss on both sides of the family. We are more than prepared to talk about the lived ones we have lost, but it also so raw and something I don’t feel should be shared in the classroom at the age of 10 x

Michelle, I’m so sorry. Any chance you could send this link to her teacher?

These trees haunt me years on. At the time, I knew I had grandparents. Other students “proudly” traced lineages to the 1500s and 1200s, and teachers insinuated I hadn’t “tried.” It was awful & if they’ve finally done away with it it’s none too soon.

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Build a Family Tree - Template

Updated:  25 Oct 2021

A versatile resource to use when exploring family history with your students.

Non-Editable:  PDF

Pages:  1 Page

• Curriculum Curriculum:  NC

Years:  1 - 2

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When it comes to developing historical understanding, family history is the logical place to start for younger students. This frequently involves exploring who the people in their family are and how they are related to each of these people.

Why the structured family tree worksheets of old are no longer appropriate

Many family tree worksheets exclude students who may not have a ‘traditional’ family structure. Seeing particular labels on a family tree, such as ‘mother’, ‘father’ or ‘sibling’, can trigger a range of emotional responses in students for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

• the loss of a close family member
• same-sex parents
• adoption or foster-care
• divorce and/or remarriage
• other forms of childhood trauma.

For this reason, it may be wise to adopt a more open-ended approach to family history , letting the students take the lead when it comes to sharing their family structure with others.

When it comes to family trees, versatility is the key!

As has been previously mentioned, the family structures in your class are most likely to be as diverse and your little learners themselves! This resource allows students to build a family tree that best reflects their own family situation.

The resource includes:

• My Family Tree template (it is recommended that this be enlarged to A3 size)
• family member labels (to be added at the student’s discretion)

The option is available for students to add lines connecting the members of their family to show the relationships between them; however, this is not compulsory.

Make family history a family project!

It can often be confusing for little ones to understand the complex relationships involved in family structures. Why not send this activity home as a project for your students to complete over a period of time with the assistance of their parents and/or carers.

You might also like to use these great resources to accompany your class’s learning about families.

teaching resource

All about my family mini booklet.

A template for students to complete all about their family.

Who Lives at My Place? – Template

A 'lift the flaps' template where students display the family members that live in their home.

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Looking for fun ways to engage kids in finding family history? We have downloadable family trees and activity sheets for kids of all ages.

Family Tree Charts and Activity Sheets for Kids

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Other Activities

Create a family food tree, materials needed:.

• A few pieces of sturdy paper or cardboard 
• Markers, crayons, colored pencils - whatever colors you want to use
• Pair of scissors 
• Pictures from old magazines or catalogs, or pictures you find online
• Tape or glue stick
• And of course, creativity and imagination!

Start your Investigation: Ask as many members of your family as you can these questions. Suggestions for people to ask include: parents, guardians, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.

• What is one of your favorite foods you eat with your family?
• Why is it your favorite? Did someone special make it for you, or is it a family recipe, or is there another reason?

  Note Your Findings:  Write (or draw) each food people tell you. Compare their answers. Did some family members say the same things, or are they all different? How do their favorite foods compare to yours?   Search for Pictures: Find pictures online or in old magazines of the foods people mentioned. How many of them can you find?   Create Your Food Family Tree: Once you find matching food pictures, cut them out. Draw a tree base and put the pictures on. Decorate the tree or the area around it any way you want to. What should a background of your family tree look like?   Share Your Work:  Make sure to take a picture of your food family tree when it is finished. Share it with the family members you talked to!   Questions to Think About: How important is food in our family history? What can our favorite foods help tell us about our family and culture?  

Congratulations - you now have your food family tree!

  Sizing it Up [For Older Kids]: Older kids can write a story, poem, or a report of their findings and what foods are important in their family history.

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Family Tree Project: Teaching Students About their History & Heritage

As we approach Thanksgiving, it is common to discuss the first settlers, Native Americans, and the history of America. Since the first settlers, the United States has been a multi-cultural nation. What a great time to discuss, explore, and research the ethnicities and cultures that makes us unique.

As part of studying the different cultures of America, encourage students to investigate their own heritage. Where did their ancestors come from? To which ethnic groups did their ancestors belong? Set up a “Heritage” corner in your classroom. Have students bring recipes, stories, photographs, etc. that relate to their family’s heritage to share with their classmates.

As you know, making learning personal, keeps students interested! Use these resources and interview questions to help students build their family tree and map their family’s story. They will be working on geography, history, and research skills, all while learning about themselves.

Helpful Resources There are a number of resources that will be helpful to you. Below are two excellent publications for you use. The first is the official Ellis Island Handbook which addresses specific ethnic groups and offers suggestions for tracing lineages, such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Jewish Americans. It includes a history and meaning of the names as well as a step-by-step process to tracing one’s heritage.

Do People Grow in Family Trees?: Genealogy for Kids & Other Beginners . The official Ellis Island Handbook by Ira Wolfman

Roots for Kids, A Genealogy Guide for Young People by Susan Provost Beller

Getting Students Started Help students get started learning and researching their roots by having them interview their parents and grandparents. Have students write a letter to distant relatives. Or they can record their interviews with family members who they live near.

Interview Questions: – Where and when were you born? – Where were your parents born? When? – What do you remember about your childhood? – What things did you and your family do? – Do you know any stories about other members of your family that are interesting? – What was the biggest historical event that happened when you were a child? How did it effect you?

Family Tree Have students make a family tree. How far back can they go? You will need a large piece of paper. Follow these steps { free download }. For each person write: name, date or year born, and where.

1. Start with your name and information; put your name in the middle. 2. Then add your brothers and sisters next to your name. 3. Above you, add your parents. 4. Above each of your parents, add their parents (your grandparents). 5. Then add your great grandparents. 6. Continue adding to your family tree as you find out more about your ancestors.

Map Your Heritage

Use this hands-on geography activity to show students’ their family’s journey. They will use the information they learned from their interviews and family tree to help them see exactly where their family came from. Have students start on the map with their oldest ancestor on their family tree. Where was he/she born? Have students mark that location by drawing a star or placing a pin in the spot. Where was the next person born?  …and so on. A line should begin to be formed leading to where the student was born. Some students will need a map of the world, while other students will need a map United States or their specific state.

Even More Depending on your students’ grade and interest level, this activity can be stretched and expanded into many different educational activities–as you know, making learning personal, keeps students interested! – History Report – students can draw connections between their family and historical events. – Research Heritage – research, write, and present – Create a Timeline – show major historical events and how they correlate to different family members – Creative Writing – write a letter to or from an ancestor

Parts of this activity are adapted from Remedia’s Native Americans Unit : Embracing and understanding cultural differences. From information about America’s regional Indian tribes, to the languages, symbols, and legends of the Native American culture, this book’s cross-curriculum activities will teach students about this country’s “First Americans.”

Activities include reading, comprehension, language arts, math, social studies, critical thinking, following directions, and listening skills.

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End-of-year post card writing assessment, treasure hunt: map activity & science experiment, cast your vote an election activity for the whole class, most popular, 10 fast finisher activities, how to use your struggling readers’ interests to teach reading, encouraging grit & perseverance in your students, recent posts, navigating reading challenges: strategies for effective middle school reading intervention, 15 tips for creating a collaborative classroom this school year, the science of reading curriculum, explained, how to improve reading efficiency during summer break, 5 effective strategies to boost reading proficiency in students post-pandemic, other educational websites.

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At Remedia, we know that “one size does not fit all.” Our mission is to provide materials to teachers, speech pathologists, curriculum specialists, and even parents who educate students with special needs and learning differences, as well as students struggling in regular education and intervention settings.

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Genealogy Lesson Plans for K-12: Ideas for Researching Genealogy, Recommended Books, and Assignments

• Lynn-nore Chittom
• Categories : Fun activities & crafts for grade school
• Tags : Teaching grades pre k to 5

Lesson Plan Overview/Rationale

These genealogy lesson plans should help students understand the terminology, concepts and significance of learning about family history. It should provide them with a working knowledge of the vocabulary related to genealogical studies and some exposure to the forms and charts used when doing family history research. If family interviews are required, students will also learn the personal significance and relational nature of genealogy.

Students completing this genealogy lesson should be able to do the following:

• Discuss genealogy using the vocabulary terms they have learned.
• Explain and demonstrate the purpose of a family tree chart.
• Explain and demonstrate the usefulness of doing family interviews.

Students and teachers wishing to do further research on their family trees may want to check out some of these useful websites:

• The USGen Web Project
• Ancestry.com
• FamilySearch

Prior Knowledge/Vocabulary

Teaching students the vocabulary related to genealogy provides educators with a simple measurable element for assessment purposes. If you are teaching in the lower elementary grades, you may want to skip this part of the lesson or make it very basic and simple. Older students should be able to understand concepts such as generations, descendants, and ancestors.

Provide students with these terms and definitions or have them look up definitions in a dictionary. Students should be tested over this material as part of the assessment process.

• Genealogy: 1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree. 2. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree. 3. The study or investigation of ancestry and family histories.
• Ancestor: A person from whom one is descended, especially if more remote than a grandparent.
• Descendant: A person whose descent can be traced to a particular individual or couple.
• Generation: All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor.
• Family Tree : 1. A genealogical diagram of a family’s ancestry. 2. The ancestors and descendants of a family considered as a group.

Procedure - Family Tree Assignment

Once the vocabulary has been established, you should go into further detail about family trees.

For younger students, you might want to begin by reading a book, such as The Kids’ Family Tree Book , by Caroline Leavitt.

For older students, the discussion can begin by filling out a family tree together as a class. Draw an outline of a family tree on the chalkboard or wipe-off board and demonstrate to the students how to fill in the lines with knowledge they possess about their families. For example, as you fill in each line, you might say, “This line should have your name on it.” or “This line should have your mother’s name on it.” or “This line should have your mother’s mother’s name on it.” You may want to use your own family in this example and explain to the children how each person on the family tree is related to you.

After discussing how a family tree diagram is completed, it is time to give the students a chance to fill one out for their own family line.

Give each student a family tree diagram to complete. Click here for Ancestor charts courtesy of Rootsweb.com that you can print or students can use a ruler and a large sheet of paper to build their own. Younger students should use a simple tree structure which includes only the names of extended family members, while older students should include information such as birth dates, wedding dates, and death dates. These diagrams should be similar to the links provided here.

Remember to emphasize that genealogy is about biological relationships and that step-parents and step-siblings should not be included. Some students may have difficulties completing their family tree diagrams due to complicated family relationships. Be sure to handle this with sensitivity, or let them enter those people marked as “steps.” This assignment should be graded according to the students’ willingness to participate in the assignment, not by the number of lines filled.

Procedure – Family Interviews Assignment

After students have learned about genealogical terms and family trees, students should learn how to interview family members to gather family stories.

To introduce this topic, share with the class an example of a family genealogy book and describe how the book shows a family’s history. In many families, the mother or grandmother has completed a book about the family. You may want to ask your students ahead of time if their families have such books and allow them to bring in their books as additional examples.

Choose a story from a genealogy book such as The Family Book by Todd Parr and read it to your class. You can also choose to

share a story from your own family history. Use your examples to demonstrate the value of family interviews.

Another option is to ask the students something important they would want their grandchildren to know about them and then have them consider that their grandparents may have those types of stories in their lives, too.

Give each student a list of possible family interview questions. The following questions could be used or you could generate a list with the class.

FAMILY INTERVIEWS

• What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
• What were your parents like? (This is a great question, especially if these individuals have already passed away.)
• Do you recall any memorable family vacations?
• How did you and Grandpa (or Grandma, or Dad, etc.) meet? Further questions may be helpful as they may trigger great stories, such as do you recall a best date or what movies did you go see or what kind of car did Grandpa drive?
• Did you have any family pets that you recall?
• Where did you live throughout your childhood?
• Do you still keep in touch with any of your friends? If so, who and why?
• Did you live through any big historical event(s)? If so, what do you recall from those days?

Encourage students to consider videotaping their family interviews for posterity or for extra credit.

That Family Tree Assignment by Laurie Levy 200 (289 Stories)

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August 12, 2019 / Stories

Photo by Abir Anwar via Flickr Creative Commons

These days, one size rarely fits all.

I wrote this for Midcentury Modern Magazine via Medium, January 10, 2018. It’s a different take on genealogy and family trees.

Over winter break, I spent several hours with my eleven-year-old granddaughter being interviewed about the family history on her mother’s side of the family. She also interviewed her aunt on her father’s side. What she learned fascinated her and made her even more curious about her heritage. But then the anvil fell. Her answers on the worksheet were somehow “wrong.”

I love genealogy but am questioning the wisdom of assigning kids to create a traditional family tree. When this same grandchild was in first grade, a teacher gave the class an “all about me” worksheet that began with a line for the child to print her full name. My granddaughter happens to have three middle names. No, she’s not royalty. Rather, she has Jewish and Korean middle names and a belatedly-added name after her Nana died. The teacher told her only one middle name was allowed. Rather than deny a part of her heritage, she wrote only her first and last name and tore up the paper when she brought it home.

When I think about all of my grandkids, I have to question the wisdom of that family tree assignment which most children confront in school. Three of my grandchildren have Jewish-Korean heritage. Because the family tree of one side dates back many centuries but their father was the one who immigrated here with his sister and parents, their answers typically don’t fit neatly on the worksheet. My family tree, which my father used to call a shrub, is a more typical immigration story — but doesn’t go back further than the mid-19th century.

Two of my grandchildren are African American and joined our family through adoption. How will they fill out that worksheet when they are old enough to be given this assignment? Their parents have very limited information about the heritage of their birth families. Will they be satisfied to share the history of their parents’ family trees? What do the great-great grandparents who immigrated here from the shtetls of Europe have to do with who they are?

Then there is the issue of divorce. I have three grandchildren who would be unable to provide much about their birth father’s side of the tree as he is no longer in the picture. My daughter can share a handful of names but no real stories. Can they claim their stepfather’s heritage? What about my other three grandchildren, their step-siblings. How many trees would these children have to create as they also have step-siblings from their mother’s remarriage?

If I were a teacher these days, I would tread very lightly with that family tree assignment. There are all kinds of ways to create families these days, so the conventional concept of two opposite gendered biological parents is often not the reality for many kids. Perhaps a better way to have children share their heritage is to let them tell their own stories in whatever way makes sense to them. Asking an older relative to share an interesting story seems like a reasonable assignment, but maybe not to a child in foster care who has no one to ask. I certainly would never pass out a one-size fits-all worksheet to children and expect their answers to fit neatly into the boxes.

I invite you to read my book  Terribly Strange and Wonderfully Real  and join my  Facebook community.

If I were a teacher these days, I would tread very lightly with that family tree assignment.

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7 Responses to That Family Tree Assignment

Important read for all teachers, Laurie. Hoping they get this message somehow.

Thanks, Marcia. For what it was worth, I did let Maya’s teacher know that her assignment was biased.

I was able to get Maya’s religious school principal t admit this wasn’t a great assignment for kids these days. But I also wouldn’t be shocked if they were still doing it.

This is so thoughtful and well said, Laurie. Children’s heritage is more complex than ever, and it is tough to respect all types of families. My niece, who is half Jewish and half Peruvian, interviewed my mother and got a lot of information, but alas, the only living relatives on her mom’s side are in Peru. At least she got to go there as a teenager and meet a couple of her cousins, which was more valuable than any family tree.

Glad your niece had the opportunity to make a connection and meet her Peruvian cousins. As families become more diverse, we need to be more sensitive to children’s feelings about who they are and where they belong. We need to value and embrace diversity, something that our current political climate makes difficult.

Wow, Laurie, you raise such important issues that I never thought about before. Some seem easily remedied – saying that a child can only include one middle name is so absurd that I can’t believe a teacher would stick to that. But others, like the kids who are adopted or in foster care, make this family tree assignment very difficult. I like your idea of letting them tell their story in whatever way makes sense to them.

I’m curious about what response you got, if any, when you published this in Midcentury Modern.

Suzy, I don’t remember getting a much response from Medium/MidCentury Modern, but I did get comments when I posted it on my Facebook page, Still Advocating. Lots of kids from families of all types struggle with this assignment. As I told Marian, making children do traditional family trees is not a good way to celebrate and embrace diversity. After I posted about genealogy and how interesting it was to reconstruct my husband’s missing branch, I thought about this less wonderful aspect of making children do this assignment.

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Circles of Love Project (Alternative Project for Family Tree Assignments)

What educators are saying

Description.

As a foster parent and educator, I am always thinking about ways to help teachers help children who have been through trauma. One project that foster (and adoptive) parents fear is the dreaded “family tree” assignment. Kids who don’t currently live with their biological families, kids who don’t know anything about their birth families, and kids who are in limbo waiting for an identified adoptive family are among the kids who might be triggered by family tree assignments. Students struggle with who to include in their family tree, and it can bring up memories of trauma that can cause hard behaviors in the classroom and at home.

I kept thinking about this problem over and over again, and decided that I wanted to give teachers a suggested alternative for students. Whether you completely replace the family tree project with this project, or you offer this as an alternative to students so they can decide to do something different, I hope that you find that the “circles of love” project will help your students to think about who is in their life and how they are loved, valued, and appreciated, even if they aren’t in a typical family situation!

How does it work?

Instead of thinking about the branches of their family tree, students can think about their “circles of love”—groups of people or individuals in their lives that love and care for them. This can be biological family, foster family, adoptive family, friends, mentors, friends, teachers. People who make a difference in your students’ lives by loving them!

Students can choose who to include and who to exclude from their circles, not feeling pressure to include “family” that they might not feel they should include, and having the freedom to include people who might not be “family,” but who are important to them.

What's included?

• A short story called "circles of love" that teaches kids what the circles of love are all about and who might be in someone's circle of love.
• A letter to caregivers explaining the project and asking for their involvement.
• A guide for teachers with suggestions for implementation.
• A few worksheets for students.

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Copyright Terms: This resource must not be uploaded to the internet, copied, or distributed in any form, including placement on network drives unless the folder or website is password protected and can only be accessed by the teacher and his or her students.

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