School Project: Autobiography
How to Help a Child Write a Family Tree and Memoir for School
A guide for parents on how to help their child write an autobiography or do a family tree project for school.
Most parents will at some time have an exercise book slapped in front of them by a perplexed looking child who has just been given the school assignment to create an autobiography or family tree. A family tree is quite easy but to add an autobiography to it will often be a little more difficult. Here are some ideas to help based on the two most likely school subjects which often set an autobiography project.
History Class
To decide how to write the autobiography the biggest guide is the subject it is set for. When set as a history project the emphasis will usually be around dates. Try to include the following ideas:
- A chronological account of when and where family members were born and died. If for an older child make the family tree a bit more complex by adding in occupations, dates of marriage and one interesting fact per person. Try to go a few generations back. Represent the family tree in the typical flow chart style. If for a younger child the usual list of siblings, parents and grandparents will suffice. Perhaps with the addition of the child's pet or favourite toy. For the younger child a picture of a tree with branches or roots used as adjoining lines is usually a favourite.
- The rest of the project should then be in a story or essay style. For the older child stick with an essay format. For the younger child maybe try a “Once upon a time...” style.
- As this is for a history class try to include historical facts, especially for the older child. If a grandparent or parent fought in a war or battle mention this with a brief explanation of the political climate or cause of the war. If a parent was a hippy in their youth include a couple of sentences on what hippy's were and the music and fashion of the time.
- Add a few fun facts such as the first member of the family to get a telephone or television.
- As a large part of history class emphasises research, primary and secondary sources of evidence try to add a final page on sources used (but keep it at the appropriate level for the child) e.g. “For this project I looked at birth and death certificates and some newspaper clippings.”
- As the subject is history the emphasis should be on the past so for the older child put a lot in about previous generations all leading up to the final section about the child. For the younger child create most of the autobiography around them with the other relatives as just elements in their own story. After all what young child doesn't think they are the centre of the universe?
English Class
The emphasis in an English class set project will be on story telling rather than historical fact. The above tips can still be used however some of the below will help to direct the project in the correct way
- Try to have a beginning e.g. “Once upon a time/ My name is/ I was born on/ It was a rainy day the day my grandfather was born/ My grandmother was born in the last months of World War II....”
- Have a middle covering all of the family things and the life of the child
- Have an ending which ties all of the family together and is based primarily on the child e.g. “I am now 6 years old and live with my mother and father and my little brother. We see my grandmother every Sunday. I have a tree house in my Uncle's garden and after I have spent the day playing in it my Aunt always takes me out for my favourite chocolate ice cream.”
- In the case of an older child the ending can be more insightful e.g. “As I write this and am looking forward to playing football with my dad this evening I can't help but wonder if that is what he did with his dad (my grandpa) when he was young” or “My favourite subject at school is now Social Studies and thanks to my great grandmother and the other suffragettes perhaps one day I will be able to be the President.
What Extras To Add
To make it an interesting project try to add some extras such as;
- Photos
- Newspaper clippings
- Birthday cards
- First drawing
- First bootees
