How to Make a Keepsake End of School Gift

Last Updated on April 19, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Here’s a fun end of school gift that the children can make themselves. This picture frame can hold a class photo and will be a fun keepsake for years to come!

I love giving my students an end of school gift that will remind them of their year in my class.

For many years I put together a class photo album, but I did all the work. Plus, now that I send home weekly digital photo albums, the families already have access to photos taken in the classroom. All they have to do is download the photos if they want to keep them.

I decided to have our 2 and 3 year olds paint a picture frame that we could use with a recent class photo.

My hope is that they will have access to this photo during the summer, perhaps displayed in their bedrooms, so they won’t forget their little friends when they return to school in September.

How to Make a Keepsake End of School Gift

What we used:

• 4 x 6 simple frames (similar to these)
• Acrylic paint
• Mod Podge
• Class photo

Setting up this end of school gift:

Acrylic paint is not as forgiving as tempera paint as far as washing out of clothing, so we took extra precautions. I covered our table with a sheet of paper and made sure the children wore smocks to protect their clothing.

I poured the paint into cups, added brushes, and invited the children individually to come and paint their frames. This allowed me to make sure that the paint stayed at the table and that hands were washed immediately.

I had a few colors for them to choose from. Some only wanted to use one color. Some used all.

I let them dry thoroughly and then took the frames outside to give them a coat of Mod Podge. I love using the gloss finish as it gives a nice shine.

I then let them dry. Mod Podge dries rather quickly, thankfully.

Then, we took a class picture. We had professional class pictures taken in the fall, but they have grown so much since then! I wanted something very recent.

I went to Costco and had them turned into 4 x 6 prints, since that was the size of the frame’s opening.

And then, I wrapped them in colorful tissue paper. (This one is my favorite – and we’ve used it for so many different activities and I still have lots left.)

I cannot believe we only have one school day left.

Seriously, didn’t I just walk into my brand new classroom yesterday?