Grade 6 Art And Craft Presentation And Exhibition – Mounting And Display Notes

Art & Craft — Presentation and Exhibition

Subtopic: Mounting and Display (for age 11)

Mounting and display means fixing your finished artwork on a strong support and showing it neatly so people can enjoy it. Good mounting makes your work look tidy and safe during a school exhibition or in the classroom.

Why mounting and display are important

• Protects your artwork from tears and dust.
• Makes the art look neat and more attractive.
• Makes it easy to hang or show in an exhibition.
• Helps people read your labels (name, title, class).

Materials you can use (easy to find in Kenya)

• Cardboard from old boxes (cut to size) — backing board.
• Coloured sugar paper or manila paper — for mounting border (mat).
• White glue (PVA), glue stick or wheat paste.
• Masking tape, sticky tape or double-sided tape.
• Scissors, ruler and pencil. Craft knife only with adult help.
• String, twine or thin wire and drawing pins/staples for hanging.
• Clear plastic cover or plastic folder to protect paper works.

Simple step-by-step mounting (for a flat drawing)

1. Choose a backing board (cardboard) slightly larger than your picture.
2. Cut a mat (sugar paper) 1–3 cm bigger all around than the picture for a neat border.
3. Put glue along the middle of the mat or on the edges of the picture — not too wet.
4. Place the picture carefully on the mat and press gently from centre to edges to remove air bubbles.
5. Stick the mat onto the backing cardboard for strength.
6. Fix a small loop of string at the top back with tape or staples for hanging.
7. Write a small label: Title — Name — Class — Year and stick it at the bottom corner.

Labels — what to write

Make a small label and stick it near the work:

• Title: (e.g., "My Village Market")
• Name: (Your full name)
• Class / Grade: (e.g., Class 5)
• Year: (e.g., 2025)

Classroom exhibition tips (easy and low cost)

• Use a large cardboard panel or classroom notice board for many works.
• Group works by theme — animals, community, nature — so visitors can follow.
• Use clear plastic pockets to protect delicate paper works from rain or dust.
• Ask older students or parents to help hang heavy pieces and cut backing boards.
• Keep glass out of children's displays. Use clear plastic instead for safety.

Care and safety

• Always ask an adult to use a craft knife or hammer for nails.
• Store works flat in a dry place to avoid damp and mould.
• Dont hang artworks in direct sunlight for many hours — colours may fade.
• Use soft cloth to clean plastic covers — do not use strong chemicals.

Quick checklist before you display

• Artwork is firmly fixed to a backing board.
• Edges are neat — no glue marks or torn paper.
• Label is clear and has Title, Name, Class, Year.
• Hanging method is safe and secure.
• A teacher or adult has checked fragile parts (glass, sharp staples).

Try this in class: Mount three small drawings on one board to make a mini-exhibition. Add a short label for each and invite friends to walk around like a real gallery!

Prepared for Kenyan primary students (age 11) — easy, safe and low-cost mounting and display ideas.