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Family tree project for kids
A family tree is one of the most common school projects, from preschool “all about me” posters to middle-school history assignments. This guide is for parents, teachers and students: how to do it step by step, what to ask relatives, ideas for each age, and what to do when a family doesn't fit a standard chart.
Step-by-step: making the tree
- Read the assignment together. Check how many generations are needed, whether photos or dates are required, the due date, and whether it should be hand-drawn, printed or presented.
- Start with the child. They go at the bottom (or centre). Then add parents or the grown-ups they live with, then grandparents.
- Make a list before drawing. Write every name on scrap paper first. It is much easier to fix mistakes on a list than on a finished poster.
- Ask relatives. A phone or video call with a grandparent is often the best part of the project. Use the questions below.
- Collect photos. Print small copies or draw portraits — never glue down an original old photo.
- Make the chart. Use a printable family tree template, draw your own, or build it on screen with the free family tree maker and print it.
- Add one interesting fact for each person: where they were born, a job, a hobby, a favourite food. These make a presentation memorable.
Interview questions for kids
Children can ask these themselves — on the phone, in person or by message. Pick five or six rather than all of them.
About the family
- What is your full name? Were you named after anyone?
- When and where were you born?
- What were your mum's and dad's names? Did you have brothers and sisters?
- Where did our family come from? Did anyone move from another town or country?
About growing up
- What was school like when you were my age?
- What games did you play? What was your favourite toy?
- What jobs did you have?
- What is something that has changed a lot since you were a child?
About traditions
- What holidays or celebrations were important in your family?
- Is there a family recipe, song or saying?
- Do you have a photo or object you could show me?
Ideas by age
Ages 3–6
Preschool & kindergarten
- Handprint or paper-plate tree with photos of the people they live with
- Just two generations: “me” and “my family”
- Pets count — young children often include them
- Talk about names: who has the same name or birthday?
Ages 6–11
Primary / elementary
- Three generations with names and birth years
- One fact or drawing per person
- Interview one grandparent or older relative
- Mark places on a map: where was everyone born?
Ages 11–14
Middle school
- Four generations, including aunts, uncles and cousins
- Link the family to history: what was happening when grandparents were born?
- Learn the right words: great-aunt, second cousin, once removed
- Cite sources: who told you each fact?
When a family doesn't fit the chart
Standard templates assume two parents, four grandparents and known birth families. Many children live in other situations — adoption, foster care, step- and blended families, single-parent or same-sex-parent families, a parent who has died, or relatives they have never met. A family tree project should never force a child to explain private circumstances to the class.
Options that work for every child:
- Show the family the child lives with. A tree can start from whoever is raising them.
- Include more than one family. Adopted or fostered children can show both birth and adoptive family if they wish — or only one. Step-families can sit side by side.
- “Important people” chart. The child in the middle, surrounded by people who matter to them: family, carers, friends, teachers.
- Family forest or orchard. Several small trees together — useful for blended families and two-household children.
- A family heritage or traditions poster about food, languages, celebrations or places, instead of names and dates.
- Remember people who have died. They belong on the tree; dates or a small symbol are optional.
Parents: it is completely reasonable to ask the teacher for an alternative format. Teachers generally welcome the conversation, especially before the project is due.
Our online family tree maker handles these situations: a child can have one or two parents, several partners can be added to a parent, and you choose which couple each child belongs to, so half-siblings and step-families are drawn correctly.
Craft and presentation ideas
- Paper tree: a brown paper trunk with leaves cut from green card, one leaf per person.
- Handprint tree: the trunk is the child's forearm and hand; family members go on the fingers and leaves.
- Photo mobile: a coat hanger or stick with photos hung on string by generation.
- Family tree booklet: one page per person with a photo, facts and an interview quote.
- Digital chart: build it in the family tree maker, add photos, then print it or download an image for a slideshow.
- Map project: pins or stickers on a world or country map showing where each person was born.
Notes for teachers
- Offer at least one alternative to the two-parent tree in the assignment sheet itself, so no child has to ask.
- Let students decide what to share aloud; grade the process (asking questions, presenting) rather than how “complete” a tree is.
- Give one to two weeks — older relatives may live far away.
- The family tree with siblings template prints on one page and suits most classroom assignments.
Frequently asked questions
How many generations should a child's family tree have?
Three generations — the child, parents and grandparents — is the usual school expectation and is manageable at any age. Older students can add great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
What if my child is adopted or lives in a blended family?
Children can show the family they live with, include both birth and adoptive families, or make an “important people” chart instead of a strict tree. Most teachers accept these alternatives; it is fine to ask for one. See when a family doesn't fit the chart.
What if we don't know some names?
Leave the box blank, write a question mark, or use a description such as “Grandma's mother”. A school family tree is about learning, not complete research.
Can my child make the family tree online?
Yes. The free family tree maker works in a browser without an account, lets children add photos, and prints the finished chart on one page. Nothing is uploaded — the tree stays on your device.
How long does a family tree project take?
Allow about a week: a few days to ask relatives questions and find photos, then an afternoon or two to make the chart. Starting early gives time to hear back from grandparents.
Make the chart in minutes — add photos, then print it for school.
Open the family tree maker Printable templates