Fabulous fancy frames
You’ll need
- A4 card
- Coloured pens or pencils
- Craft materials (for example, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, stickers)
- String
- Glue sticks
- Photos
Before you begin
- Before you meet, ask everyone to bring some photos they’ve taken that make them feel happy. They might be of friends and family, pets, holidays, or special places.
- It’s best if people don’t bring the only copy of the photograph. If they’re really special, suggest that people take a photo of the photo, and use that instead.
- The people leading the activity should bring in some spare photos, in case anyone doesn’t have one.
- Hang the string across the meeting place, ready to display the finished framed photos.
Make the frames
- Everyone should take a piece of card and put their photo in the middle. They should move it around until they’re happy with where it is.
- Everyone should draw around their photo with a pencil, and then put the photo to one side.
- Everyone should decorate the border of the frame with pens, stamps, stickers, and other photos they’ve taken. They should try to make sure every bit is bright and colourful, but leave the middle rectangle blank (this will be covered by the photo).
- Everyone should glue their photo onto the rectangle space in the middle of the frame.
Display the photos
- While the glue dries, everyone should decorate a wooden clothes peg.
- Everyone should use the clothes peg to hang their framed photo on the washing line for everyone to admire. The taller people might need to help anyone who can’t reach.
Reflection
This activity helped you to think about what makes you happy—and hopefully it helped you to feel happy, too. Look at all of the framed photos—apart from your own, which is your favourite? Which one makes you feel happiest, and why (try to think about more than just how neat it is, or who made it)? Some people may like to share their answers with everyone else.
This activity was also a chance to communicate. How did you show people what’s important to you (and what makes you happy) without using words? Do the frames help the photos stand out? What do the frames tell people about the photos in them? Share your ideas with other people, and see what people think about your frame—remember to keep your answers kind, and think about other people’s feelings.
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
- Scissors
Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
- Glue and solvents
Always supervise young people appropriately when they’re using glue and solvent products. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by glue or solvent use and make adjustments as needed.
Some people may want to bring in some things to stick on their frame to help tell the story of what’s happening. People could bring tickets from the day out in the photo, or dried flowers to decorate a photo of nature.
Why not invite parents and carers in to view the gallery? You could even serve them refreshments.
Help people with gluing and cutting if they need help.
The people leading the game should bring in some spare photos for anyone who doesn’t have one for any reason.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
You could theme your photo (and frame). Why not use it to celebrate a special occasion (such as Mother’s Day) or use it to introduce or reflect on badges such as the Animal Friend Activity Badge or Hobbies Activity Badge?