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Craft
60 minutes (over 2 sessions)
Individual work with peer sharing
Family Tree Collage
Week 2 Activity - Detailed Instructions
Learning Objectives
- Students will identify family members and their relationships
- Students will create a visual representation of their family structure
- Students will develop fine motor skills through cutting and gluing
Materials Needed
- Large brown construction paper (for tree trunk)
- Green construction paper (for leaves)
- Family photos or drawings
- Glue sticks
- Child-safe scissors
- Crayons and markers
- Small paper circles for family member names
Preparation Steps
- 1Send home a note requesting family photos or asking families to help children draw family members
- 2Pre-cut tree trunk shapes for younger students if needed
- 3Set up workstations with all materials
- 4Prepare examples showing different family structures
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Begin by discussing different types of families and how all families are special
2
Show students how to arrange their tree trunk and branches on paper
3
Help students glue down their tree structure
4
Have students place family photos or drawings on the branches
5
Add leaves around family members
6
Help students write or dictate family member names and relationships
7
Allow time for students to share their family trees with partners
Assessment
- Observe students' understanding of family relationships
- Note fine motor skill development in cutting and gluing
- Listen to students' descriptions of their family members
- Document the variety of family structures represented
Teaching Tips
- Be sensitive to different family structures and living situations
- Include pets as family members if children want to
- Help students who may not have photos by drawing family members together
- Display all family trees to celebrate the diversity of families
Extension Activities
Additional ways to extend and enrich this learning experience
- 1Create a class book featuring all family trees
- 2Invite family members to visit and share family traditions
- 3Compare family trees to real trees in nature
- 4Research family heritage and cultural backgrounds