Picture Perfect Frame

Make a picture perfect picture frame for your favorite photograph!

Skill Level: Easy to Moderate

Time Needed: 45 minutes

Age(s): 5 to 12

Appropriate For: Birthday

Supplies Needed:

Project Rating:

Choose a photograph to frame. Measure your photograph with a ruler. Add 2" to the width and the height of the photograph. These will be the dimensions for your picture frame.
Measure a piece of foam board with a ruler. Use a pencil to mark the dimensions for the picture frame. Carefully cut out the foam board along the pencil marks.
Trace the outline of your photograph in the center of the foam board.
Decorate the edges of the picture frame using paint. Let the paint dry completely.
Arrange pieces of pasta, sequin, beads, or puzzle pieces along the edges of the frame. Glue them into place. Let the glue dry completely.
Use a glue stick to attach the photograph to the center of the frame.
Hang up your photograph in a special place!

Teaching Tips:

Have students do all of the measuring for this activity. First, have students measure their picture frames in inches. Then, have students measure their picture frames in centimeters. Discuss the difference between the two measurements. Encourage students to measure other items in the classroom. Ask them to estimate the measurement of an item, and then measure it to find out if they were correct.
Have students write about the photographs they chose to include in their picture frames. First, have students brainstorm a list of descriptive words to convey what is happening in the picture. Then, have students write a paragraph using the descriptive words.
Encourage students to write a caption to go along with the photograph in their picture frame. The caption should describe what is happening in the photograph in one or two sentences. Have students glue the caption to the bottom edge of their picture frame.