Every once and awhile, I see a cool project on Pinterest. This is my version. It is a mixed media project of a cross section of a tree. Students are asked to sketch the tree ring and then paint light and bright swirls. The outside is painted brown, so, that it does not look too abstract and reminds us of a tree. Then students sketch the center of the rings and then spirals it out. Starting at the center, students write their name and the year they were born. From there, they continue to tell their story until they reach the bark. Then they finish with black ink. I don't recommend darker colors because then you can't read the black ink very well.