Shoot and Show!
Use a smartphone or simple camera to shoot photos or short videos, edit them, and create a mini slideshow gallery to share with others.
About this activity
Use a smartphone or simple camera to shoot photos or short videos, edit them, and create a mini slideshow gallery to share with others.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick a fun theme for your mini gallery like “silly toys” “mini nature” or “magic tricks.”
- 2
Step 2
Gather 5 to 12 props that match your theme and put them in one spot.
- 3
Step 3
Make a simple backdrop by hanging a plain sheet or taping poster paper to a wall.
- 4
Step 4
Build a steady camera base by stacking books or using a small tripod on a table.
- 5
Step 5
Place your smartphone or camera on the base and point it at the backdrop.
- 6
Step 6
Turn on the lamp or flashlight and aim it to light your scene evenly.
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Step 7
Arrange your props in the first pose or scene on the backdrop.
- 8
Step 8
Take several photos or a short video clip of that setup.
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Step 9
Rearrange the props into a new pose and take more photos or clips until you have 8 to 12 good shots.
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Step 10
Look through all your photos and videos and pick your favourite 8 to 12 to use.
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Step 11
Open a photo or video editing app and import the favourites you chose.
- 12
Step 12
Trim or crop each photo or clip so the main subject fills the frame.
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Step 13
Add short titles or captions and choose a simple transition between each slide.
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Step 14
Add background music at a low volume so it doesn’t drown out any sound you want to keep.
- 15
Step 15
Ask an adult to help you upload and share your finished slideshow on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you do the Shoot and Show! activity?
Plan a short theme or story, then use a smartphone or simple camera to take photos and brief videos. Guide kids on framing, lighting, and simple movements (pan, close-up). Review clips together, pick favorites, and use an easy editing app to trim, add transitions, titles, and background music. Arrange items into a short slideshow or video, export, and preview as a family before sharing with chosen friends or relatives.
What materials do I need for Shoot and Show!?
You need a smartphone or basic camera, a charger or extra battery, and a stable surface or small tripod. Install a simple editing app (many free options exist), and have headphones, props, and a notebook for shot ideas. Optional items: a second device for backup, a USB cable or cloud account to transfer files, and child-safe editing controls or parental accounts for app setup and sharing.
What ages is the Shoot and Show! activity suitable for?
This activity suits kids roughly ages 5–14. Ages 5–7 enjoy shooting with close supervision and help navigating the device and apps. Ages 8–11 can plan shots, use basic editing with guidance. Ages 12–14 can take on more complex filming and editing independently. Always supervise young children around devices, set time limits, and adjust tasks to each child’s attention span and fine motor skills.
What safety and privacy tips should we follow for Shoot and Show!?
Always get permission before filming people and avoid showing full names, addresses, or recognizable school areas. Teach children not to share location data and to check content with a parent before posting. Supervise outings near roads, secure devices to avoid drops, and use age-appropriate apps with privacy settings. Discuss respectful content, avoid copyrighted music unless cleared, and limit sharing to trusted family or private groups.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a plain sheet, poster paper, small tripod, or lamp?
If you don’t have a plain sheet, poster paper, small tripod, or lamp you can tape a plain pillowcase or large piece of cardboard to the wall for the backdrop, stack magazines or a cereal box as the camera base instead of books or a tripod, and use window light or your phone’s built-in flashlight for lighting.
My photos are shaky or too dark—what should I check or fix during the shoot?
If shots are shaky or dark, stabilize the camera by rebuilding the book or magazine stack and adding a small weight on the phone, re-aim the lamp or flashlight to light the scene evenly, and preview framing so you need less trimming or cropping in the editing app.
How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older kids?
For younger kids, use only 5 large, easy-to-handle props and have an adult help set the camera base, lighting, and upload, while older kids can use 8–12 props, try multiple angles, add transitions and low-volume music in the editing app, and handle the DIY.org upload themselves.
How can we make the slideshow more creative or unique before uploading to DIY.org?
To personalize the gallery, decorate the backdrop with colored poster paper or fairy lights, add short voice captions or sound effects and themed titles in the editing app, and experiment with a stop-motion sequence made from many tiny prop rearrangements.