Gratnells tray photo frames

Showcase fantastic artwork or photographic memories with this fun #WhatsInMyTray activity that lets you turn your Gratnells trays into photoframes.

Learning outcomes

You will be able to:

• make simple yet effective displays
• draw or paint a picture

You will need (per person):

• Gratnells trays F1 (and mini trays if you have some)
• Poster paints
• Tray of water
• Tissue
• Felt pens/crayons/pencils
• Paper or card
• Cardboard strips
• Glue gun or double-sided sticky tape
• Blue-tac

What to do:

• First, add a small amount of coloured paint to a Gratnells tray and get ready for some finger painting. Fill another Gratnells tray with water for cleaning your fingers between colours.
• Create your finger paintings on the paper/card. We painted little people for World Friendship Day but this activity can be great all year round.
• While your painted pictures are drying, it’s time to create the frames. Fold strips of cardboard into triangles and fix two to the back of your Gratnells tray. Using a glue gun will provide the strongest hold, but if little hands want to get involved in this part you should use double-sided sticky tape or glue dots. All of these will hold your cardboard on your tray but are easily removable so that the trays can be reused.
• Once your painting is dry, you can add more to it with pens, pencils or crayons.
• Finally, fix your paintings into your tray with blue-tac in the centre and stand your frame on its cardboard legs. Now, stand back and admire your work!

Other things to try…

• paint the cardboard parts to the frame.

Curriculum links:

EYFS- Development Matters- Expressive arts and design- Extend children’s experience and expand their imagination through the provision of pictures, paintings, poems, music, dance and story.

EYFS- Development Matters- Expressive arts and design- Provide activities that give children the opportunity and motivation to practise manipulative skills, e.g. cooking, painting, clay and playing instruments.

EYFS- Development Matters- Expressive arts and design- Provide materials to encourage large motor movements, e.g. sprinkling, throwing or spreading paint, glue, torn paper or other materials.

Key Stage 1-National Curriculum- Art– To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.

Key Stage 2– National Curriculum D.T– select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately.

Key Stage 2- National Curriculum D.T- select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities.

Health and Safety

As with all Gratnells What’s In My Tray activities, you should carry out your own risk assessment prior to undertaking any activities with children.