Family Tree

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| 26 Ratings

Ages 6 and Up

Duration: Under One Hour

A wonderful research project to do for Grandparents Day. The children go to family members, especially Grandma and Grandpa for information on their heritage. Then they construct a family tree using NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE boxes to represent each relative.

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WHAT YOU NEED

1 - 40 inch by 30 inch sheet of white poster board
2 sheets of green craft foam
1 sheet of red craft foam
1 bag of brown pipe cleaners
Craft glue gun
Black marker pen
Construction paper
Safety scissors
Craft knife
Empty NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE boxes (one for each family member represented)

HOW TO DO IT

Set aside a time to talk to your child about when and where you were born.
If their grandparents live close by, help them set up a time for an interview.
If they are in another city, suggest a phone call or send a note with the questions that the grandparent can respond to.
Make a list of important questions for each grandparent to answer. For example:
- Where were you born?
- When were you born?
- Where were your parents born?
- When were they born?
With this information the child can build a simple family tree.
Print out the Family Tree diagram and each template. Template1. Template2. Template3.
Cut leaves (about 40) and grass from the green craft foam.
Cut the Family Tree apple from the red craft foam.
Cut the tree trunk from the brown craft foam.
Make a list of all of the relatives to be included on the tree.
Assign one empty NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE box to each relative.
(PARENTS ONLY) Use a craft knife to cut out one of the narrow, vertical sides of the juice box.
Pick one juice flavor for the mother's side of the family and another juice flavor for the father's side of the family.
Match your construction paper to each of these flavor colors.
Using the front of the juice box as a pattern, cut construction paper rectangles for each side of the family.
Write the name of the grandparent on each rectangle horizontally and glue to the front of the box making sure that the narrow open side of the box is at the top.
If you have small pictures of each of the family members, glue them onto the corner of the rectangles.
This forms a small container that can be filled with additional pictures or other bits of information about each grandparent.
Place the poster board horizontally on a work surface.
Glue the tree trunk and grass to the bottom of the board.
Position each side of the family on the poster board starting with your child and any siblings on the trunk. Then divide each side of the family.
Start with Mom and Dad, then separate the family tree by positioning Mom's side of the family on one side and Dad's on the other (see diagram).
Place the red craft foam apple in the middle, just above the tree trunk.
Write your family name on the apple.
Once you are happy with your placement, glue the boxes to the board.
Now glue brown pipe cleaners to the board as a guide through each branch of the family tree.
Glue the green craft foam leaves to fill out the branches.
Set your Family Tree out for your grandparents to admire!

TIPS

Take a picture of your child next to the Family Tree and send it as a Grandparents Day treat of those that can't see it in person!

FOLLOW UP FUN

Encourage your children to find out more about their heritage. They can look up their family names in the library or on the internet and learn more about the countries that their grandparents and great grandparents came from.

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