How to Build Your First Family Tree

A family tree is a chart that shows how people in your family are connected. It usually starts with you and grows upward to include parents, grandparents, and earlier generations. This page will help you make a simple first tree that you can keep adding to as you learn more.

What You Need

• Paper or a printed family tree form
• A pencil or pen
• A quiet place to work
• A parent, grandparent, or other adult you can ask for help

Step 1: Start With Yourself

Begin at the bottom or center of the page and write your own name. You can include your birthdate if your parent or guardian says it is okay. This is the starting point of your family tree.

Step 2: Add Your Parents

Draw lines from your name to two spaces above you. Write your parents' names in those spaces. If you know them, you can add birth years and places where they were born.

• Label one as your mother.
• Label the other as your father.

Step 3: Add Your Grandparents

Above each parent, add two more spaces for their parents. These people are your grandparents. Now you will have four names on this level of the tree.

• Ask how to spell each person's name.
• Write down any birth places or birth years you learn.

Step 4: Check Names and Connections

Look over your tree and make sure names are in the right places. It is better to write something carefully than to guess. If you are not sure, leave a space blank and ask a family member to help you fill it in later.

Step 5: Add More Branches When You Are Ready

Once you have yourself, your parents, and your grandparents on the tree, you can keep going.

• Add great-grandparents above your grandparents if you know them.
• Add brothers and sisters next to yourself.
• Add aunts, uncles, and cousins on separate branches if there is room.

Tips for Good Family Tree Work

• Write neatly: You will want to read these names again later.
• Ask questions: Talk with parents or grandparents about how people in the tree are related.
• Use a pencil first: You may need to erase and move things as your tree grows.
• Keep your tree safe: Store it in a folder or notebook so it does not get lost or damaged.

What You Can Do Next

Your first family tree is only the beginning. You can use it in other activities on this site and add more details as you learn.

• Turn your tree into a wall project by following the activity in Activities.
• Write about people on your tree in your family journal.
• Look for names and dates from your tree when you explore old records.
• Review Staying Safe on the Internet before sharing any information online.

Every family tree starts with a few names. As you discover more about your family, your tree will grow and your picture of the past will become clearer.