Create an end-of-the-year school picture keepsake using a student survey. It’s super easy and makes for a fun photo shoot! All you need is a camera and a little knowledge of PowerPoint!
As the school year ends, one of the most cherished traditions is capturing end-of-the-year school photos. These snapshots are more than just pictures; they are a delightful way to encapsulate the past year’s growth, memories, and milestones.
Whether kindergarteners’ shy smiles or fifth graders’ confident grins, each photograph tells a unique story. End of school year photos are fun and fabulous as graduation keepsakes, providing students, parents, and teachers with tangible memories to reflect on for years.
In this post, we’ll explore why these photos are such a treasured part of the school experience and how they celebrate the journey of learning and growing together.
Table of contents
How to Create a Student’s School Picture Keepsake
Take the Picture
First, take your students outside of the classroom on a nice day and find a place with a large wall on the school building. Ask your students to stand against the wall and take pictures with them posing. Take the shots so the children are on to the right or left of the frame. I always take two different poses or shots just in case one does not turn out and you have a backup.
Students can stand and smile, pose in a classic position, hold a backpack, or make a funny face. Choose a wall that doesn’t have too many distractions because you will be adding text in the blank space on the side.
You may also want to consider which fonts and colors to use so that choosing a background doesn’t clash with your vision!
Other options include hanging up a cute backdrop! You can find various options online and even at your local superstore or craft store. There are many generic printouts and neutral ideas.
Complete an End of the Year Survey
Give your students a copy of the End of the Year Survey and have them fill it out with their favorite things. Kids will get to write down their favorite food, songs, toys, books, subjects in school, and more. Once they are finished, place them somewhere safe. You will need these forms to complete the project.
The survey sheets below are available for PreK to fourth grade and are included in a FREEBIE below. They are just one of many End of the Year Activities kids will love.
Format the Photos
Upload your photos onto your computer and open an editing program, like PowerPoint. Insert a photo and add a text box. Type the information you want from the completed survey. I used a few of my favorite KG fonts (Red Hands and Wake Me Up) and the rainbow colors to customize the text. Duplicate the slide, change the photo, and adjust the text for each student.
If you keep them all in the same PowerPoint file, you will be able to select “print all” and finalize them at the same time. Make sure your color printer is full of color ink and working correctly.
Print Your Products
When you have completed all the photo editing, I suggest printing on white card stock in color or photo paper for durability. Then, laminate the final product for parents to keep forever!
Include these photos with your end-of-the-year gifts or time capsules for students. It makes an excellent keepsake for any grade level!
Free End-of-the-Year Survey
If you want a copy of the end-of-year survey, grab the FREEBIE by clicking the image below! Even if you don’t use the survey with the picture, it makes an adorable end-of-year activity to see how students change over 180 days.
I hope you enjoy making these simple, fun end-of-year photo keepsakes for your students. They and their parents will thank you. You will also love the End of the Year Memory Book!
More End-of-the-Year Activities
PIN for Later
What a fun idea, Elyse! I think I could actually manage that in the end of year madness:)
You mentioned 2 fonts in this post. Are they yours? Can you share how I might purchase them? Thank you,
Leslie
The two fonts I used and free for personal use from Kimberley Geswin on TpT. They are KG Red Hands and KG Wake Me Up.