Make a family tree
Create a family tree poster with names, photos, birth years, and relationship lines to explore family connections, stories, and history together.
Step-by-step guide to make a family tree poster
Family tree for kids project/How to make your own simple family tree/How to draw family tree/DIY Fam
Step 1
Gather all the materials on a clear table so you have everything ready.
Step 2
Decide where your picture and name will go on the poster as the starting point of your family tree.
Step 3
Place the photos and labels on the poster without gluing to try different layouts and find what looks best.
Step 4
Write each person’s name and birth year on a small label or sticky note for every photo.
Step 5
Glue your photo and its label onto the chosen spot on the poster.
Step 6
Glue your parents’ photos and labels above your photo following the layout you tested.
Step 7
Use a pencil and ruler to draw straight lines connecting you to your parents.
Step 8
Glue your grandparents’ photos and labels above your parents to keep each generation in a row.
Step 9
Glue siblings cousins or other relatives beside the correct parent or child so relationships are clear.
Step 10
Draw lines with the pencil and ruler to connect each person to their parent or partner.
Step 11
Decorate each photo area with colored frames stickers or small drawings using your coloring materials.
Step 12
Write one short story memory or a fun fact about each person next to their photo on a sticky note or label.
Step 13
Add a big title such as “Our Family Tree” and the date at the top of the poster.
Step 14
Check all photos labels and lines then tape any loose edges so everything is secure.
Step 15
Share a photo of your finished family tree poster on DIY.org so others can see your family story.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have poster board or printed photos?
Use a large piece of cardboard, butcher paper, or a taped-together sheet of printer paper for the poster and substitute drawings, printed names on index cards, or magazine cutouts for photos and labels to glue in place.
How do we stop photos or labels from moving before glue dries or if the layout doesn't fit the poster?
Place photos and labels without glue first to test spacing, mark positions lightly with pencil and ruler, then use small pieces of tape to hold items while the glue dries or adjust before final gluing.
How can we adapt this family tree activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have an adult arrange and glue photos and let them decorate with stickers and coloring materials, while older kids can carefully write birth years and short memories on sticky notes and use a ruler to draw neat connecting lines.
What are some fun ways to make the family tree more special or longer-lasting?
Personalize the poster by replacing pencil lines with colored yarn or string to show connections, add colored frames or drawings around each photo, then laminate or tape edges securely before photographing it to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make a family tree poster
Family tree School Project/How to make your own simple family tree/How to draw family tree/DIY Famil
4 Videos
Family tree School Project/How to make your own simple family tree/How to draw family tree/DIY Famil
Family tree School Project/How to make your own simple family tree/How to draw family tree/DIY Famil
Family Tree Drawing for Kids 🌳 | Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners
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Facts about family history and genealogy
🧾 Census, church, and civil records are genealogy gold—many countries began civil registration in the 1800s, so older research often uses parish registers.
📸 Daguerreotypes and tintypes were common in the mid-1800s, so a tiny metal photo in an album might be your family's oldest picture.
🧬 DNA tests can reveal unexpected cousins and ancestral regions, sometimes rewriting family stories and connections.
🌳 Each person has 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents — after 10 generations you could have 1,024 ancestors (though some lines may repeat).
🗺️ Many surnames come from places, jobs, or nicknames—'Smith' originally indicated someone who worked with metal.
How do I make a family tree poster with names, photos, and birth years?
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