Bulletin boards are quite popular in a school setting. We can find them in corridors, hallways, classrooms, and other areas of school. So basically, any place where students take a prime seat, bulletin boards can also be seen.
A bulletin board is nothing but a display board typically used to share information. However, in a school setting, bulletin boards can be informational, inspirational, or interactive.
Teachers love creating aesthetic bulletin boards that not only brighten up a dull-looking wall but are useful too. But one can easily run out of ideas when you have several bulletin boards to prepare. In this post, you will find a variety of bulletin board ideas to help you find the best ones for your classroom.
Interesting bulletin board ideas to make your classroom shine!
I. Subject Specific
Bulletin boards are primarily used to share information. However, they have multiple uses in an educational setting. Teachers can use them to share subject-specific information to enhance the learning experience of their students. Some interesting ideas for subject-related bulletin boards are as follows:
1. Math Real-life Examples
The first idea in subject-specific bulletin boards revolves around math. As most kids wonder why they even need to learn the subject, give them some solid reasons by displaying some real-life examples on how math is useful in day-to-day life. It could be real-life examples of decagon or examples of integers in real life. Decorate the bulletin board by displaying the topic in large fonts and surround it with related examples like technology, shopping, sports, and science.
2. Science Talk
This bulletin board idea named “Science Talk” is great to get kids thinking. It contains prompts to encourage kids to think critically about a science topic or a science experiment that kids might have done or observed in class. These simple prompts when used during STEM activities can direct thought processes toward specific aspects of the study to give or find answers to questions students might not think otherwise.
3. Alphabets
Get your little learners on the Alphabet Train to take them on a journey where all letters are waiting to be explored! This bulletin board idea is an interesting way to teach letter recognition and is perfect for early education classrooms where kids learn their ABCs. Besides adding to the classroom décor, it will help reinforce learning and serve as a quick reference point whenever your students need a little help recollecting the letters.
4. Reading
Want to promote a love for reading in your students? Then don’t miss putting up a bulletin board that highlights the importance of reading. Find a quote that emphasizes reading or make your own to display on the bulletin board. A short and sweet sentence, as shown in the image, can send a powerful message to your students and inspire them to read books and other print material regularly.
5. Grammar
Grammar can be tricky for first-time learners. Support their learning while adding a colorful decorative piece to your classroom in the form of a grammar-inspired bulletin board. Add short descriptions of different elements of grammar, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc., along with a few examples. Use a different color for each concept to create a vibrant and accessible guide to help your students ace the subject.
II. Theme Specific
Theme-specific bulletin boards are great for decorating your classroom space for special events happening every year. These can set the mood for seasonal changes, holidays, and celebrations that students are excited about. Here are some quick theme-based ideas for bulletin boards:
1. Thanksgiving
Design a Thanksgiving special bulletin board to celebrate the day with your students. Use elements like flowers, pumpkins, and a turkey in fall colors like brown, orange, and deep green to decorate the bulletin board. Add in a special Thanksgiving message for your students, and you’re done! Or, have your students write the things they are thankful for on paper hearts and stick them all over the bulletin board to add a personal touch.
2. Halloween
Kids love Halloween! So, surprise your students with a Halloween-inspired bulletin board. You can place it in your classroom or the hallway that leads to it. Use classic Halloween elements like paper ghosts, spider webs, and carved pumpkin lantern cutouts for decoration. Incorporate colors like yellow, black, and orange and display a cool quote to get your students all set and excited for the celebrations.
3. Christmas
How can we forget Christmas when talking about themes for bulletin boards? This one’s a must-have in every classroom every year! Kids love it when their bulletin board in filled with Christmasy stuff reminding them of upcoming holidays. Some stars, ornaments, gingerbread, and reindeer cutouts are enough to do the trick. But the idea of displaying a countdown to Christmas on one corner of the board can make things even more exciting for the kids.
4. Back-to-school
A new year at school can be intimidating for many students. Ease their fears and apprehensions by welcoming your students with an inspiring back-to-school message on a bulletin board. Try using funky cursive fonts for the message to give it a unique look, but keep motivating words like “fearless” in simple fonts to create an impact on student minds. Clipart printouts of items like bags, notebooks, crayons, and pencils make nice additions too!
5. Spring
Spring symbolizes new beginnings. It offers warm weather and greenery, which means more outdoor activities and play for the kids. Plus, celebrations like Easter make it even more special. So, commemorate the start of this season by adding a spring-themed bulletin board to your classroom. Fresh hues like yellow, teal, pink, and blue, along with flowers, butterflies, and bunnies, will suffice to turn your bulletin board spring-ready!
III. Motivational & Positive
Bulletin boards can also be used to promote positivity in school and inspire students to do their best. A few examples of how you can create motivational and positive bulletin boards to uplift the learning environment of your students are shared below.
1. Be Kind
A little kindness can go a long way and make this world a better place. Encourage your students to be kind to one another by putting up a kindness bulletin board. There are some wonderful quotes on kindness out there. Find one that you think your students will relate to the most and display it on a bulletin board. Keep it subtle or add pops of color using paper fans and other decorative items to turn it into a masterpiece for your classroom.
2. Sparkling Achievements
All the achievers of your class must receive an accolade and a special mention for their achievements. Make this possible by creating a bulletin board highlighting the young achievers of the group. Mention the school year, the title in cute fonts, and the names of the students along with their accomplishments in bold. Seeing their names on the achiever’s bulletin board will boost their confidence and self-esteem and motivate others to do their best to get their names on the special board in the future.
3. It is Okay
Help your students feel at ease by telling them it’s okay! This bulletin board idea can shatter inhibitions and allow students to open up without feeling guilty. All you need to do is use bright-colored paper to print things that kids find awkward and pin them on the bulletin board. Things like “it’s okay to ask for help,” “ it’s okay to think differently,” and “it’s okay to apologize” can do wonders to change the mindset of your students and create an inclusive environment for everyone.
4. Growth Mindset
Having a growth mindset is vital if you want to excel in life. And a bulletin board stating this fact can teach its importance to students. To get going with this idea, list the things that often hold kids behind. Statements like “This is too hard” or “I can’t do this” often stop kids from trying and exploring their true potential. Bring a change in their mindset by giving them growth-driving alternatives like “This may take some time and effort” or “Let me use another strategy.” Make the board visually appealing so kids know where to look when things get difficult.
5. Motivational Bulletin Board
Motivational bulletin boards do exactly what they’re meant to do—motivate the students! If you’re falling short of ideas, remember, that you don’t need to brainstorm too much when creating bulletin boards that motivate and inspire. An encouraging and uplifting quote or an inspiring statement in bright colors and matching clipart designs is usually enough. Also, try adding a contrasting border (paper or fabric) to make it look nice and put together.
IV. Student Birthday
Don’t ever miss a student’s birthday by creating a beautiful bulletin board that showcases your students’ birthdays. We understand that remembering birthdays when you have twenty kids in your class is not always possible. So, here are some birthday bulletin board ideas to help you make one for your classroom. A board like this will spruce up the bare walls of your classroom and remind you to celebrate every student of yours throughout the school year.
V. Best Work
Appreciate your students’ hard work by showcasing their assignments on a thoughtfully designed bulletin board titled “Amazing Work” or “Wow Work.” You might want to make this board a large one to accommodate separate sections for each student’s work. Choose a theme of your choice. For example, rainbows above every student’s work or words like “Amazing work coming soon,” as shown in the images below. Whatever you decide, be consistent throughout so every child’s section looks equally wonderful.
VI. . Class Calendar & Schedule
The final set of bulletin board ideas includes using them to display the daily schedule and calendar, which students can refer to at any time during school hours. We have picked a few ideas to show you how it can be done. Check them below!
1. Today’s Schedule
The next bulletin board idea is quite a useful one for both teachers and students. Because having a visual schedule in class can provide a clear representation of scheduled activities, students are more aware of what to expect next.
To create a cute bulletin board like this one, paste time and corresponding activities in bright and coordinated colors so kids can see them easily. You may also use the extra space to highlight classroom jobs and the names of students who are assigned to do them.
2. Calendar
Say no to table calendars and make a bulletin board calendar for your class this school year. Sure, you will have to modify the calendar every month, but having a large calendar can help your students learn how to read one and improve their calendar skills.
To prepare a board like the one shown in the picture, print numbers 1-31 on paper with interesting prints. And get the months and days of the week printed on a plain, colorful paper. Use an eye-catching background with a simple border before you put up the calendar on it. Add other items like tassel garlands or cute cutouts to enhance it further.
Final thoughts
Creating interesting and attention-grabbing bulletin boards can be so much fun! Teachers can unleash their creativity to make something their students will love. However, after making a perfect bulletin board, make sure you place it on a well-lit wall where students can see it easily. The last thing you would want is to have the display board hanging in that corner of the classroom where no one bothers to look.
And lastly, keep modifying your bulletin board with new information as and when you need it. And if the colors fade or you notice the board falling apart, know that it is time for a quick update to your once-pristine bulletin board.
I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.