How to Make a Family Tree on Poster Board

Nothing in this world is more sacred than our ties to our family. Learning your ancestry is a way to reconnect with your family’s history and distant relatives. A family tree can help in this regard, showing you exactly who’s who in the family and helping you understand your genealogy. Family trees aren’t only meant for the family, either--they're also a nice venue in which to present your family ties to others.

Sketch a rough design of a tree on a sheet of paper. This is to help you visualize how you would like the final product to look on your poster board. Work from the base of the tree up to the leaves and out to the branches where the photos will lie. Note how many of your family members you will be including in your tree design.

Trace the design from the sheet of paper onto the poster board using a pencil so you can erase any mistakes. Once you have the design done in pencil, trace over it with colored pencils or markers. The color of your family tree is entirely up to you, though spring and fall colors are the most popular.

Position photos in their location according to the layout you drew on the sheet of paper. The degree to which the photos are spread out is up to you. After you have them in their exact place, use sticky tac on the back of the photos to attach them. The sticky tac allows for easy removal of photos instead of ruining them with tape or glue.

Cut the yarn into lengths that will connect family members to each other. Next, use the glue to adhere the yarn to the poster board. Finally, write your name and date on the back of the poster board.