Bulletin Boards: Themes and Tips

Other Bulletin Board Ideas

Need more tips and possibilities for the bulletin boards in your classroom?

• Plan to change your bulletin boards, at the very least, once a month. Bulletin board displays lose their effectiveness if left standing for the entire school year!

• Whenever possible, create interactive bulletin boards. Provide flaps to lift, pockets to fill, Velcro pull-offs, puzzles to complete, or dials to spin. These bulletin boards directly involve students in a host of learning opportunities.

• Use a variety of bright colors, large letters, and lots of illustrations. Don't overload the visuals, however. Be sure there's sufficient “white space” on the bulletin board, too.

• Provide lots of opportunities for students to design and assemble bulletin boards. Encourage them to post their work and celebrate their accomplishments.

• Create extra bulletin boards by covering a wall of the classroom with butcher paper or newsprint. Students can write announcements, vocabulary words, or sayings on the paper. You can easily remove and replace the paper throughout the year.

• Create hanging bulletin boards by stringing a wire or heavy twine from corner to corner of your classroom. Put clothespins on the wire and hang student work, inspirational posters, decorations, or other items.

• Create a simple bulletin board that you can change each week. Post a series of different puzzles, mini-mysteries, word searches, or brainteasers each week for students to tackle during their free moments.

• Consider creating at least one “special events” bulletin board. This can be used to celebrate birthdays, the loss of a first tooth, new sisters or brothers (elementary); an historical event, a sports team victory, or a Student of the Week (secondary).