A family tree for a school project
Short answerA school family tree usually covers three generations: the child, their parents and siblings, and their grandparents. Gather names, birth years and a photo for each person, choose a simple chart, and let the child interview a grandparent for one story. Include step, adoptive and foster family in whatever way the child recognizes as their family.
Steps
Check what the teacher wants
Read the assignment for the number of generations, what to write for each person and whether photos or a story are expected.
Make a list of people
Start with the child, then parents and siblings, then grandparents. Add aunts, uncles and cousins only if the assignment asks.
Collect facts and photos
For each person: name, birth year, birthplace and one photo. A fun fact such as a job or hobby makes it personal.
Interview a grandparent
Let the child ask two or three questions, such as where they grew up and what school was like, and write one short story.
Draw or print the tree
Use a simple chart with the child at the bottom or in the middle. A printed template keeps the boxes tidy.
Every kind of family belongs
Many children live with a stepparent, have half-siblings, were adopted, live with grandparents or are in foster care. A good school tree lets them show the family they actually have. Ways to do it kindly:
- Use a shape that isn’t strictly two parents, such as a “people I live with” circle or a tree with more than two branches above the child.
- Draw birth, adoptive, step and foster links with different line styles, or don’t distinguish them at all if the child prefers.
- Leave a box blank, or write “unknown”, rather than guessing. No child should have to explain gaps to the class.
Our blended family guide and blended family template show ways to draw it.
Ideas that make it stand out
- Put a photo in every box.
- Add a map with a pin for where each grandparent was born.
- Write one sentence about each person: their job, hobby or favorite food.
- Include a short recorded story from a grandparent if the class can play it.
- Show how relatives are linked with words like “aunt”, “first cousin” and “great-grandmother”; see the relationship explainers.
By age
| Age | Good scope |
|---|---|
| 5 to 7 | The child, parents, siblings and grandparents, with photos and first names. |
| 8 to 11 | Three generations with full names, birth years and places, plus one family story. |
| 12 and up | Four generations, a map of where people lived, and one record found online, such as a census entry. |
Doing this in Family Trees
A parent can build the tree in the Family Trees web app with a free account, add a photo for each person, then print it. Printing a poster is part of Plus; on the Free plan, use a printable kids template and copy the names across. Step, adoptive and foster parents are recorded as such, and the tree draws them all.
Questions
How many generations should a school family tree have?
Most schools ask for three: the child, their parents and siblings, and their grandparents. Older students may be asked for four generations, adding great-grandparents.
What should my child do if they don’t know a parent or grandparent?
Leave the box blank or write “unknown”. A family tree should show what is known, and no child should have to explain gaps. Teachers generally expect families to look different.
How do you show a stepparent on a school family tree?
Draw the stepparent next to the parent they are partnered with and link them to the child with a different line, such as a dashed one, or the same line if the child prefers. Include them in the way the child sees their family.
Questions? Email support@familytreesapp.com and a person will reply.