Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards are one of my very favorite things to write about. I am a fairly creative person and I have had more fun creating big displays to capture my student’s attention. In the past I have used spray paint, and blow up animals to create massive displays…some of my best displays were those where I used recycled items around the house.
In order to create a display, you first need to come up with a theme for the bulletin board. I usually come up with an idea BEFORE I go hunting down materials. I would think of my bulletin boards as my canvas. I would use all sorts of textures and colors to obtain an affect.
I mentioned above that I used spray paint. I love spray paint, almost as much as I love duct tape. 🙂 Spray paint works really well on fabric as well as cardboard. The trick to using it is to paint your pieces outside. Other materials I have used for the backdrop are: wallpaper samples, fabric remnants, wrapping paper, butcher paper rubber stamped, felt, spray painted cardboard.
Keep in mind that the bulletin board is going to capture alot of attention. If you want it to be the focal point of the particular area in your classroom, the bolder and brighter colors you use the better. If you are lucky enough to have more than one bulletin board in your room, you can coordinate them or make each board unique and fun.
I’m notorious for making huge displays that go along with the bulletin board. For example one class I taught we used the Under Water theme. I hung pieces of green and blue streamers from the ceiling, along with cut outs of all sorts of sea animals. I took big blow up whales (yes, I blew them up myself) and suspended them from the ceiling as well. When the students came into the room it had a feel of being under the ocean. The kids and parents just loved it.
This is your chance to be as creative and as expressive as you want to be. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on decorations. Recycle and share items with other teachers. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with. Below are a few links with some ideas for bulletin boards.
Have a happy day!
