D.I.Y.: Make Your Own White Board

Contributor: Loryn Aman

Description: A Do-It-Yourself project using picture frames to create a whiteboard.

Supplies:

Equipment: Tables and chairs for the teens to work at.

Number of People: Depending on your budget, anywhere from $15-30.

Target Audience: Tweens and High Schoolers (I had only 2 boys out of 18 participants so it may appeal more to girls more than boys)

Cost: $130 (including snacks)

Frames: $15-30 (depending on how many participants)
Dry Erase Pens: $50 (depending on how may participants, I used The Library store to purchase ours because we get a discount)
Velcro Strips: $20 for a big roll (cut into small strips and save the extra for another project!). I purchased mine at Michaels and had a coupon to get it for 40% off!
Glitter: $12.99 for a set of 12 colors from Lakeshore Learning
Paper: $20-30 (I provided mostly plain colored printer paper that my library keeps a supply of and picked out a rainbow of light colors because if the paper is too dark you cannot see the writing).
Glue: $15 for 15 small bottles of Lakeshore Learning’s “Best-Buy School Glue”

Prep Time: About 2-3 hours to go and buy the supplies, collect discards magazines, and set up the room on program day.

Program Time: 60 minutes

Instructions:

Place a picture frame at each seat as well as glue and scissors for the table to share. Set up a table with all the craft supplies (magazines, glitter, the background colored paper, etc.). I kept my glitter at one table and had everyone use it there to minimize the clean-up.
Explain to the teens that they are going to pick out a piece of background paper and they can decorate it however they want. Give them tips about how it is best to use light colored images and paper because when you write on the board it is hard to see over dark images.
Once you have given some instructions, you can let the teens loose and have them start decorating! Having tweens and teens at this event will minimize you needing to help one-on-one. The only time I really needed to step in and help was with lifting the metal pieces on the back of the picture frame. With the dollar tree frames you have to be careful because they tend to break off.
Make sure to leave some time for the glue and glitter to dry before putting their creation into the picture frame. Handout one Dry Erase pen and one Velcro set to each participant and have them put the Velcro down where they want on the glass of their Dry Erase board, stick the other side to the pen and you’re done!

Websites: San Leandro Public Library’s D.I.Y. Event Photos