It has been awhile since I posted a hands-on family tree craft, but I've got something new this fall season. Fall is a great time to go for family walks and hikes, and, this time of year, kids are all about exploring the leaves that have fallen on the ground. I thought incorporating actual fallen leaves into a family tree project would be a great idea!
First, take your child(ren) outside in an area where there are lots of trees - and the more variety of trees the better! (Perhaps a trip to the cemetery is in order...hint, hint.) Then, collect leaves! You're going to want leaves that aren't yet too dry; leaves with a little more moisture still in them will lay flat better when you get to the gluing stage.
Next, get a larger sheet of construction paper or even a posterboard. I used a piece of brown construction paper and cut out a simple tree trunk shape. Remove the stems from the leaves. Use a gluestick to glue the leaves onto the top of the tree trunk any way you want. These steps are so simple that even a preschooler can do it!
Next, I printed out little family photos and we glued them right on top of the leaves. We included immediate family plus grandparents and aunts and uncles, but you could also just do the maternal or paternal side or direct ancestors. It's really up to you and your kids!
First, take your child(ren) outside in an area where there are lots of trees - and the more variety of trees the better! (Perhaps a trip to the cemetery is in order...hint, hint.) Then, collect leaves! You're going to want leaves that aren't yet too dry; leaves with a little more moisture still in them will lay flat better when you get to the gluing stage.
Next, get a larger sheet of construction paper or even a posterboard. I used a piece of brown construction paper and cut out a simple tree trunk shape. Remove the stems from the leaves. Use a gluestick to glue the leaves onto the top of the tree trunk any way you want. These steps are so simple that even a preschooler can do it!
Next, I printed out little family photos and we glued them right on top of the leaves. We included immediate family plus grandparents and aunts and uncles, but you could also just do the maternal or paternal side or direct ancestors. It's really up to you and your kids!
Next, I printed out little family photos and we glued them right on top of the leaves. We included immediate family plus grandparents and aunts and uncles, but you could also just the maternal side or paternal side or direct ancestors or first cousins, etc. It's really up to you and your kids! Happy Fall!
Evie Finds Her Family Tree by Ashley B. Ransburg is a wonderful children's picture book that uses real images of colorful leaves to celebrate the uniqueness of each family member in a family 'tree.' Read my review of this book at this link.
©2019 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
©2019 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
