We are in the doldrums of winter, which means it is the perfect time for a snowman craft! And, like so many other crafts, believe it or not, it IS possbile to create a snowman with a genealogy focus.
My kids made two snowmen; one to represent their matrilineal ancestors and one to represent their patrilineal ancestors. Hey, we used those words, too! I simply explained that the word matrilineal indicated their string of mothers in the family tree and patrilineal their line of fathers. Once the kids could visualize it on the snowman, I think they better understood what I meant.
We started out with some white poster board, but plain white computer paper would work just as well. If, like me, your free-hand circles are awful, you will need some objects to trace. I used three different sizes of Pyrex bowl lids.
My kids made two snowmen; one to represent their matrilineal ancestors and one to represent their patrilineal ancestors. Hey, we used those words, too! I simply explained that the word matrilineal indicated their string of mothers in the family tree and patrilineal their line of fathers. Once the kids could visualize it on the snowman, I think they better understood what I meant.
We started out with some white poster board, but plain white computer paper would work just as well. If, like me, your free-hand circles are awful, you will need some objects to trace. I used three different sizes of Pyrex bowl lids.
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We glued the circles together to make a snowman. Then, I printed out family head shot photos from our computer - my kids' mother (me), maternal grandmother, and their maternal grandmother's mother - to represent their matrilineal line. Likewise, I printed out photos of their father, paternal grandfather, and paternal grandfather's father to represent their patrilineal line. We cut out the photos and glued them onto the snowmen.
I wrote the names of each person under their photo and labeled how they were related to my son and daughter. The kids colored a little bow for the matrilineal snowman and a top hat for the patrilineal snowman.
We only did three generations, but you could easily go another generation or two back by making the snowman a little taller.
I wrote the names of each person under their photo and labeled how they were related to my son and daughter. The kids colored a little bow for the matrilineal snowman and a top hat for the patrilineal snowman.
We only did three generations, but you could easily go another generation or two back by making the snowman a little taller.
If you don't feel like tracing and cutting, I've got printables for you! Click on each picture below and you'll be directed to a PDF which you can download and print for your personal use.
Click for PDF of Maternal Line Snowman
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Click for PDF of Paternal Line Snowman
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©2015 Emily Kowalski Schroeder. For personal use only. May not be reproduced or redistributed without written consent of owner.
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