Bulletin Boards

Apple Tree Bulletin Board
Great activity for talking for young students learning about apples and harvest time.
www.theideabox.com

Bulletin Board Crazy
This site contains photographs of bulletin boards that have been created by teachers. They are referenced according to age level categories for easier searching.
http://www.teachertools.org/bulletinboards_dynam.asp

Bulletin Board Ideas
You will find a categorized, annotated list of over 1600 sites dedicated to the? enhancement of instruction and support the curriculum via the use of bulletin boards
? http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/bulletin/index.html

Bulletin Boards Across the World
http://www.gigglepotz.com/bulletin.htm

Bulletin Boards by Teaching Tips
This site includes ideas for bb backgrounds, plus slogans you might use for a variety of topics and subjects.
http://www.teachingtips.com/articles/Dbulletinboards1.html

Bulletin Boards For All Seasons
This site is for the elementary classroom.
http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/decor/bboards/index.html

I Love that Teaching Idea Bulletin Boards
Many ideas are at this site including organization of border. These ideas are mainly for K-5 classrooms.
http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/subj_bulletin_boards.htm

KinderArt Bulletin Boards
In addition to having bulletin boards the children can help create you will find coloring pages, printable letters and much more.
http://www.kinderart.com/bulletin/

Preschool Education Bulletin Boards
http://www.preschooleducation.com/board.shtml


Teacher Bulletin Board Ideas

Teachers use bulletin boards because they are an interactive, visual way to disseminate information to the class. Decorating the bulletin board for holidays and celebrations, like birthdays, is a fun way to let the students express their creative side or teach them how to complete a large art project.

Displays based on specific books or subjects add a visual link to encourage students to internalize lessons. Try some or all of these ideas in your classroom, or use them as springboards for your own imagination and creativity.  

However, teachers are not the only ones who benefit from using bulletin boards to communicate. Decorated boards and doors are found in workplace environments, churches, libraries, and senior facilities, just to mention a few examples.

January

Images of winter activities like making snowmen or riding sleds are perfect for January, but boards planned around January holidays can also be fun. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is January 17, National Popcorn Day is January 19, and Winnie the Pooh Day is January 18.

  • DTLK: Either “Our class is cool,” or the January collage provide a different twist on boards for winter.
  • Burlington-Edison High School: This library bulletin board schedule provides several ideas for Black History month boards, as well as wide range of suggestions for boards for other months.

February

Valentine’s Day is the most popular February holiday, but many teachers deviate from tradition to decorate for other holidays like Black History month or Groundhog Day.

  • ABC Teach: Use these Valentine alphabet letters and trims to create your board.
  • Scholastic: Let students make a pop-up Groundhog to extend the board theme.

March

St. Patrick’s day is a given for March themed boards, but how about doing an extra board early in the month to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 3? Other March holidays are National Anthem Day (3/3) or Good Samaritan Day (3/13). 

  • Everything Preschool: Use these clever ideas for bulletin boards for St. Patrick’s Day.
  • The Virtual Vine: In addition to ideas for a board, this is a terrific resource for lesson plans based on Dr. Seuss books.

April

Have you ever heard the saying, “April showers bring May flowers”? What better way is there to brighten April’s bulletin board than by using images of blooming flowers, umbrellas, and raindrops?

May

Bulletin boards based on May holidays like Mother’s Day or Memorial Day are classroom icons, but do not limit yourself to these traditional offerings. Cinco de Mayo, Mother Goose Day, or National Teacher’s Day are alternatives that provide teachable opportunities.

  • Mini Bulletin Boards: If time is critical, you may prefer to buy a ready-made bulletin board set, like this mini Cinco de Mayo board, rather than taking time to make one.
  • Danielle’s Place: Try this Mother’s Day board in your classroom this year.

 June

Father’s Day sometimes gets lost in the transition from spring to summer, so give the holiday an extra boost by featuring it on your June bulletin board. Other fun ideas for June are Flag Day or the first day of summer.

  • Teaching Heart: This extensive list of bulletin board ideas will keep your classroom looking up-to-date for years to come.
  • Busy Teacher’s Café: Encourage your class to read more with this inventive visual aid.


July

Summer school, Fourth of July, and picnic themes work well for mini-bulletin boards or door decorations for July.

August

Transition from summer by fast forwarding to back-to-school inspired themes this month.

  • Jan Brett: Print out Brett’s unique artwork for monthly themed boards.
  • Gryphon House: Lots of ideas and systematic directions for everyday boards.

September

Fall and harvest themes are starting to appear on doors and boards in schools nationwide.

  • Bry-Backmanor: Here is a simple but effective printable to support a fall learning theme about math.
  • Printable PreK: Try some of these free, printable borders to spice up fall boards.
  • Ellison Education: This is an unusual lesson plan based on creating a fall bulletin board.

October

October boards featuring ghosts, owls, pumpkins and other Halloween themes are always popular. However, American Craft Week and Fire Prevention Week are other good themes to explore.

November

Expand on the harvest theme by adding images of pilgrims, Native Americans, turkeys, and pumpkins to a board, or let the class help by cutting out and adding pictures of foods enjoyed at Thanksgiving dinners.

  • Ed Helper: Extend November lessons with these bulletin board ideas, worksheets, and printables.
  • Bulletin Board Idea: Here are many free bulletin board printables to use for decorating classrooms.

December

While Christmas is a traditional choice for bulletin boards, other good choices are the winter solstice on December 21 or Chanukah on December 2. Boards based on books like How the Grinch Stole Christmas are sure to be popular with most classes.

Additional Resources

Designing bulletin boards that engage students is easy when you have access to the right tools and resources. Try some or all of these resources to make creating interactive, eye-catching displays fun and educational.

  • Holiday Insights: Check this list of holidays to get unusual ideas for classroom bulletin boards.
  • Teacher Vision: Learn everything you need to know about creating bulletin boards by using these links to various websites.
  • Kim’s Korner: Get some fresh ideas by reading these useful tips about bulletin boards, borders, and backgrounds.
  • Teacher Helper: If you need help jump-starting your creativity, here are ideas and related resources for any grade level.
  • Teacher’s First: Try a “hang-up” – short, pithy sayings – to add pizzazz to boards.
  • Edavenue: Explore the possibilities of these autumn-themed boards and lesson plans for busy teachers.