#PhotoFestival21 - Day 9 : School
Create a mini photo story of your school day using a camera or phone. Take, select, and arrange five pictures into a printed collage.
About this activity
Create a mini photo story of your school day using a camera or phone. Take, select, and arrange five pictures into a printed collage.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Think of five moments from your school day that you want to tell with pictures.
- 2
Step 2
Write a one-word caption next to each moment on a small list.
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Step 3
During your school day take photos that show each of your five moments.
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Step 4
After school open your photo gallery and look through the pictures you took.
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Step 5
Choose the best photo for each of your five moments.
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Step 6
Edit each chosen photo to crop or adjust brightness so it looks great.
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Step 7
Print the five edited photos onto printer paper.
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Step 8
Lay your poster board flat and place the five printed photos on it to try different layouts.
- 9
Step 9
Trim any extra white edges from the photos with scissors.
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Step 10
Glue the photos onto the poster board in your chosen layout.
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Step 11
Write the one-word captions and a title under each photo using coloring materials.
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Step 12
Add drawings or decorations around the photos to finish your collage.
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Step 13
Share your finished collage on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I create a mini photo story of my school day?
To create a mini photo story of your school day, plan five key moments (arrival, class, play, lunch, goodbye). Use a phone or camera to take clear shots from different angles—wide, close-up, detail. Pick the best five images that show a beginning, middle, and end. Use a simple photo-editing app to crop and adjust brightness. Arrange photos into a printed collage with captions or dates, then mount or display the finished piece.
What materials do I need to make a school day photo collage?
You’ll need a camera or smartphone with a charged battery, optional tripod, and a simple notebook to plan shots. For editing and layout, use a photo app or computer software. For printing, have a home printer or access to a print shop, photo paper, scissors, glue or tape, and cardstock for mounting. Optional extras include stickers, markers for captions, and a laminator to protect the finished collage.
What ages is this mini photo story activity suitable for?
This mini photo story suits children roughly 5–15 years, with adult support for younger kids. Ages 5–7 will need help planning shots, handling devices, and printing. Ages 8–11 can take pictures with supervision and try simple editing. Teens (12–15+) can plan, shoot, edit, and assemble independently. Always consider individual skill levels, and follow school rules and parental guidance for safety and permissions.
What safety and privacy tips should I follow when photographing at school?
Always get permission from teachers and parents before photographing classmates or inside classrooms. Avoid capturing personal information like name tags, addresses, or screens. Keep an adult present for younger children while shooting and printing. When sharing online, blur faces or share only approved images, set posts to private, and tag only with consent. Follow your school’s media policy to remain respectful and protect privacy.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a printer or poster board?
If you don't have a printer, display the five edited photos on a phone or tablet during the layout step or print them at a library, and if you don't have poster board use a large sheet of cardboard or several taped-together printer papers to glue the photos onto.
What should we do if photos turn out blurry or the glue wrinkles the paper?
If a photo is blurry, retake that moment during the school day or choose a clearer picture from your gallery, and if the glue wrinkles the paper try a glue stick or double-sided tape and smooth each photo from the center outward when attaching to the poster board.
How can this activity be adapted for younger children or older kids?
For younger children, choose three big, simple moments, have a parent take and pre-print the photos and let the child glue and write large one-word captions, while older kids can capture more moments, do finer edits (crop/brightness), add typed captions or a short paragraph, and experiment with more complex layouts.
How can we enhance or personalize the finished collage before sharing on DIY.org?
After gluing and writing the one-word captions, personalize the collage by trimming photos into shapes, adding drawings, stickers, washi tape borders or dates, and writing a short explanation on the back to make it uniquely yours before photographing it to share on DIY.org.