Time For “S’more” Learning!

• Background: Cover the top two-thirds of the bulletin board with light blue bulletin board paper and the bottom third with green bulletin board paper. Use scissors to trim the top edge of the green paper to create a ‘grassy horizon’.
• Title: “Room 203 is Ready For “S’MORE” Fun & Learning!”, “Time For “S’more” Learning!”, etc.
• Border: Camping or nature themed trimmers.
• Decoration: 1) The Camp Site. The cutouts in the mock-up above come from Carson Dellosa’s camping bulletin board set, but you could also find other clipart images online and use your classroom projector system to enlarge and trace the shapes onto bulletin board paper. If you’re looking for a little extra something, you might consider creating a three-dimensional campfire – creating the rock ring from brown paper lunch sacks stuffed with recycled paper, the campfire logs from recycled paper towel rolls painted brown, and the flames from red, yellow, and orange cellophane or tissue paper. 2) The S’mores. The above mock-up makes use of free clipart from ClipsAhoy. Print the image (or another of your choice) onto white card stock and cut them out, then laminate the cutouts and print student names on the s’more shapes. Of course, the camping bulletin board set also comes with s’more cutouts that you can use or you could create more three-dimensional props – i.e. cut ‘graham cracker squares’ from recycled cardboard, make ‘chocolate squares’ also cut from cardboard and painted dark brown, and use cotton balls as marshmallows.

Here are a few ideas…

• Fill the board with tool cutouts {as shown above}, using each shape to highlight a different skill your kiddos will build in the coming year, the qualities of great learners, the subjects/specials your kiddos will encounter, etc.
• Nix the tool idea and have a fun first day of school photo shoot! Provide students with a Lowe’s vest or apron, some safety goggles, and a tape measure {or other prop!} and snap a picture of each new student. Arrange the photos on the board – perhaps adding fun borders to the photos {i.e. nuts and bolts, l-square rulers, levels, etc.} – and add a name plate underneath. Again, the name plates could be small tool box, apron, screwdriver, etc. cutouts!
• A simpler route – create Lowe’s vest cutouts, one for each student, and use a white paint pen to print their names on the cutouts.

Build & Grow in Kindergarten!

• Background: White bulletin board paper.
• Title: “__________ [Teacher's last name]! Build & Grow in __________ [Kindergarten, Room 203, etc]!” – The Lowe’s logo and children’s program slogan were the inspiration for the title. We suggest using maroon and dark blue bulletin board paper to create the traditional gable background of the logo. While the mock-up above shows a simple rectangle, the gable should be pretty simple to create as it consists mainly of simple shape and clean lines. The teacher’s last name replaces “Lowe’s” in the cutout and the rest of the title can be created using traditional bulletin board letters.
• Border: Solid maroon trimmer to mimic Lowe’s colors.
• Decoration: Find tool clip art to print, cut, laminate, and display. We found all of the images above at Clker.com. Of course, you could create the cutouts {tools, vests, etc.} using construction paper as well.

Photo Source: musicbulletinboards.net

Seriously, how fun is this back-to-school bulletin board from Tracy over at Bulletin Boards for the Music Classroom?! We love the festive colors, simply adore the unique theme, and have a feeling you’ll appreciate the fact that it’s not super difficult to put together. Not to mention, this is one of those designs that your students, fellow teachers, and visiting parents will certainly ‘taco’ bout!

‘Taco’ Bout Fun!

• Background: Colorful striped wrapping paper or red bulletin board paper.
• Title: ‘Taco’ Bout Fun!
• Border: Complimentary solid color trimmers or multi-colored bulletin board border.
• Decoration: Start with the tacos! Tracy made hers using simple word processing software. She started with a large circle, used fun fonts to type the various topics and activities she and her music students would be exploring during the year, then printed the circles onto yellow paper, cut them out, and laminated them for durability. Folded in half, stuffed with shredded construction paper (brown “taco meat”, green “lettuce”, and red “tomatoes”), and attached to colorful plastic plates, arrange the finished tacos around the board and add accents to the plates – taco sauce packets, plastic silverware, etc!

Photo Source: fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com | Tasakeus

A great tool to have at your disposal as a teacher is a personal cutting machine (like a Cricut or a Silhouette!). It truly is amazing how many different applications these machines have; everything from classroom decor to center activities! Here’s a lovely example of a Cricut-made back-to-school bulletin board originally featured by Robin over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. While a cutting machine is convenient, the great news is you can still get a similar look using handmade and purchased bulletin board supplies. We think this design offers a great summery transition to the new school year and “ant”icipate that your kiddos will love the picnic theme!

We “Ant”icipate A Great Year!

• Background: Red and white checkered plastic picnic tablecloth or white bulletin board paper.
• Title: “We “Ant”icipate A Great Year!”
• Border: Grass or picnic themed trimmer.
• Decoration: 1) The Ants. If you don’t want to mess with cutting out a bunch of small ant cutouts, you might consider using black craft paint to create fingerprint ants directly on the background paper. Simply dip your finger in the paint, create three prints side by side, and then when the paint dries, you can use a black permanent marker to add antennae and legs! With this method, you’ll be able to create the line of ants in no time at all! And, of course, you’ll be able to customize the shape of the line. Might we suggest first using a pencil to draw the line, then add the fingerprint ants… 2) The Food. While the original bulletin board only displays a bag of chips (how cool is it that they recycled an actual chip bag?!), we think it might be fun to recreate more of the picnic food and use the items to display various subjects or topics that you’ll be covering in class throughout the school year. Fruit, sandwiches, fresh corn on the cob, cans of soda/bottled beverages, cookies, etc. Draw your own cutouts or find templates to help you create these accents out of construction paper – e.g. here’s a watermelon template from All Kids Network. Simply arrange the pieces on the board/”picnic blanket” and add labels! [NOTE: You could also create a piece of food for each student in your class and print their names on the cutouts instead of subjects/topics!]

Photo Source: cundiffskindergartencritters.blogspot.com

We love the sunny, summery theme of this adorable back-to-school bulletin board created by Tracy over at Cundiff’s Critters! The polka dot background is both whimsical and fun, and the watermelon/garden theme not only offers a great summery transition, but also hints at the growth that will be taking place in the coming school year!

Welcome To Our Patch!

• Background: Polka dot wrapping paper or black bulletin board paper.
• Title: “Welcome To Our Patch!” – Tracy printed the title onto a pink sentence strip, but you could also use traditional bulletin board letters or, perhaps, string green chenille stems together, twisting them to form a ‘watermelon vine’ title.
• Border: Complimentary solid color trimmer or multi-colored bulletin board border.
• Decoration: Use the watermelon slice template from All Kids Network to cut the fruit and rind from pink and green construction paper, respectively. Consider inviting your kiddos to create fingerprint ‘seeds’ using black ink or craft paint during ‘Meet the Teacher’ night or the first day of class. Of course, you could also simply cut small tear drop shapes from black construction paper, draw the seeds on with a black marker, or, following the suggestion at All Kids Network, paint sunflower seeds! Add their names to their creations, arrange them around the bulletin board, and add sections of curled green ribbon in and around the cutouts to create a fun, 3D vine!

Example firefighter and dalmatian cutouts via Carson Dellosa

Safety Conscious Kiddos SPOTTED in Room 203!

• Background: Black bulletin board paper.
• Title: “Safety Conscious Kiddos SPOTTED in Room 203!”
• Border: Colorful complimentary bulletin board trimmer.
• Decoration: As we said above, if you have the time, find clip art images of a dalmatian and firefighter (like the ones above from Carson Dellosa) to enlarge and trace using your classroom projector system. They’ll compliment the ‘spot’ theme and add extra visual interest. Decorate the remainder of the board using circle accents or circles cut from construction paper. Recognize your safety conscious kiddos by printing each student’s name onto a circle.

Photo Source: Candis Murawski

While October is National Fire Safety Month, it doesn’t hurt to review fire safety drills, procedures, and tips during your safety unit this June! Especially as we head into the warm summer months – months that bring with them more dry spells, cookouts, and campfires – your kiddos are sure to benefit from extra exposure to this important information. Of course, when we stumbled across this adorable display made by Candis Murawski, we thought it offered the perfect compliment to your fire safety lessons!

Flame Craft & Fire Photo Shoot

One of the things we love about this design is that it’s mostly kid-created! For their first project, Candis provided each of her students with a flame cutout created from white card stock, shallow dishes of red, orange, and yellow craft paint, and small sections of sponge. Demonstrating the simple stamping technique, she then invited her kiddos to use the sponges to cover the cutouts with paint, using and mixing all of the colors as they worked. The finished projects, vivid against the stark black background, mimic open flame against the night sky and offer a vibrant pop of color!

Candis’ second class project took them outdoors for a fire safety photo shoot where each student got the opportunity to demonstrate one aspect of the “Stop, Drop, & Roll!” drill! Not only was this a fun class excursion, it also offered a great excuse to practice the drill.

On Fire in Room 11!

• Background: Black bulletin board paper.
• Title: “We Are On Fire in Room 11!”, “On A Roll in Room 203!”, etc.
• Border: Complimentary colored trimmer.
• Decoration: Group student photos by action, adding them to the board and using bulletin board letters to label each aspect of the drill. For extra visual interest, use construction paper to create a border for each photo. Fill in the surrounding space with your kiddos’ flame crafts and you’re all set! Easy peasy, right?!

Photo Source: pecentral.org

Did you know that June is National Safety Month? Sponsored by the National Safety Council, teachers and parents are encouraged to use the month of June to teach children {and remind adults!} how to stay safe. Encompassing common themes like fire safety, road safety, bike safety, stranger danger, playground safety, and bus safety – as the summer months are approaching and students are likely to be out in the heat more, a case for including a mini-lesson on sun safety can certainly be made as well! Curt Moll, educator and contributor to PE Central, submitted this eye-catching sun safety bulletin board that is sure to compliment to your summer decorating plans and provide your students with important safety reminders as they head out into the sun this summer!

Be Sun Smart!

• Background: Cover the bulletin board with shiny red wrapping paper.
• Title: “Be Sun Smart!”
• Border: None needed.
• Decoration: Cut a medium-sized circle from yellow or gold background paper and attach the shape to the right side of the bulletin board. Use black construction paper to decorate the face of the ‘sun’ – creating sunglasses and a mouth {optional}. Using the sun as a guide, cut ‘rays of light’ from shiny gold wrapping paper to arrange around the circle. Once fully assembled, add a different sun safety tip to each ‘ray’ using bulletin board letters, letter stickers, printed lettering, etc.

Photo Source: andrewrachelashmore.blogspot.com

While you’re probably trying to keep decorating to a minimum as the school year comes to a close, it’s always nice to have some color on the walls! If you’re looking for a simple, fun, and mostly kid-created bulletin board to get you through the rest of the year, check out this adorable display created by Rachel of Our Small-Town Idaho Life. Created as a way to display student writing selections – specifically notes and advice to upcoming students – the colorful candies and witty title are a cutesy addition that is sure to get the bulletin board noticed!

That’s A Wrap!

• Background: Light blue bulletin board paper.
• Title: “That’s A Wrap!” – Rachel also added a subheading to let readers know what to expect from the student prompts – i.e. “Wrapping up the school year with advice from outgoing third graders…” We think this is a nice touch!
• Border: Complimentary patterned trimmer.
• Decoration: 1) The Writing Prompts. Most of the board will be filled with your kiddos writing prompts, whether you have them write about their favorite part of the school year, what they’re looking forward to next year, or as Rachel did, offer advice to incoming students. We love that Rachel created a themed writing paper for students to write on and actually, if you visit her blog, you’ll find a FREE download of the notepaper if you’re interested! 2) The Title Decor. We love that Rachel set the title apart from the rest of the board using simple touches – a strip of red background paper across the top to accent the title and a small banner to feature the main message, “That’s A Wrap!” 3) The Candy Accents. To accentuate the theme, create three-dimensional candies using paper plates, craft paint, and cellophane! The colors are sure to pop against the background and, as Rachel remarked, the candies will make the theme more obvious to readers.