Bulletin boards are great tools for sharing information and connecting with other people. They have become a classroom staple, with many teachers using them to convey themes and ideas.
The best bulletin board ideas will help you get the most out of your space. Whether you’re looking for an idea that is budget-friendly or one that requires some serious DIY skills, these 15 bulletin board ideas will inspire you!
What Are Bulletin Boards?
A bulletin board is a wall-mounted display where you can pin up notes, photos, artwork, quotes, and more. You can use them as a way to keep track of important things in your life, like reminders, schedules, and goals.
In classrooms, they are often used to represent events or subjects that are currently being taught. For example, you may want to create a festive notice board around the Christmas holidays.
On the other hand, if you are learning about the Ancient Egyptians, you may decorate your bulletin board with an Egyptian theme.
What Are The Benefits Of Bulletin Boards In The Classroom?
There are plenty of reasons why teachers implement bulletin boards in classrooms. Here are just a few:
It helps students stay organized. When you hang up a bulletin board on the wall, it provides a place where students can put their assignments, projects, and homework. This gives you a space to show off their hard work.
It allows students to share information. Students love to see what others are doing because it inspires them to do better themselves. A bulletin board also creates a sense of community among classmates.
It enables you to create a theme. If you don’t know how to make a bulletin board, there are lots of online tutorials available. Once you’ve mastered this skill, you’ll be able to create a unique bulletin board design that reflects the theme of your class.
Bulletin boards make your classroom more bright and lively. With colorful displays, bulletin boards provide a fun atmosphere for students. It’s easy to add color to your walls by hanging up posters, pictures, and art prints.
They give you the chance to get your students involved. By encouraging students to participate in creating the bulletin board, you’re giving them ownership over the project. Plus, when you ask students to contribute something to the bulletin board, they feel more invested in the process.
Bulletin Board Ideas
If you’re thinking about adding a bulletin board to your classroom, here are some ideas to get you started. These bulletin board ideas are perfect for any type of classroom, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
1. Use A Bulletin Board To Highlight A Specific Topic
One of our favorite ways to use a bulletin board is to showcase a particular subject. We’ve seen bulletin boards dedicated to math, science, history, geography, and even music! Find fun topics within these subjects.
For example, you can focus on Ancient Rome for history. There are lots of bulletin board themes for you to try,
2. Get Interactive
Instead of simply displaying information, try getting students involved in creating the bulletin board. Ask students to write down questions or problems that they have regarding the topic. Then, post answers to those questions on the bulletin board.
Encourage students to come back and look at the board again later. You might even consider having students submit their own questions as well. Interactive bulletin boards are a brilliant way of getting everyone involved.
3. Focus On Positive Thoughts
For example, an excellent bulletin board for Thanksgiving involves getting the children to write down things that they are thankful for. Post these items on the board so everyone can read them during the holiday season.
4. Create A Timeline
Another great way to display information on a bulletin board is to create a timeline. In this case, you’d want to include important dates from history.
Some examples could include World War I, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, etc.
This is a great way of getting kids to learn about important historical events. Plus, it gives them an idea of chronology.
5. Display Student Artwork
Artwork is another great way to display information. You can hang up pieces of student-created artwork on the wall.
Or, if you prefer, you can put up small frames with student artwork inside them. Either option will help bring life to your room.
6. Hang Up Maps
Maps are another great way to display data. They also work well in a classroom where there is a focus on geography.
Students can draw maps of places they visit, or they can just paste-up map images. You can add pictures of animals from these countries to liven the board up a bit.
7. Make A Collage
A collage is another way to display information. It’s especially useful if you’re teaching about a certain topic.
For example, if you were teaching about the Great Depression, you would make a collage featuring photos, newspaper articles, and other relevant items.
8. Create An Outcome Board
Essentially, an outcome board is like a checklist or a way of tracking whether objectives are being met. You can write down a student’s name and put their learning goal next to it.
When they have achieved this goal, you can give them a reward. The best part? You don’t need any special supplies to create one. Just grab some sticky notes and go!
9. Put Up A Calendar
If you teach in a school year, then a calendar is always going to be helpful. You can either keep it simple by sticking up posters, or you can get more creative.
For example, you could print out a photo of each month and stick it to the wall. Also, you could print out images of different holidays and place them around the room.
10. Use A Whiteboard
Whiteboards are great because they allow you to write and erase over and over again. You can use them to write down homework assignments, brainstorm ideas, or do math equations.
One of my favorite ways to display information on a board is to document interesting moments throughout the school year. For example, you might note when someone makes a funny joke.
You can also stick any photographs you have taken during the teaching year to this board. These types of moments are often forgotten, but documenting them can make your class remember them for years.
12. Add A Quote To The Wall
Quotes are a great way to inspire students. You can find quotes online, or you can even copy them off of books. You can either use inspirational quotes or ones that are related to a topic you are studying.
For example, if you are reading a book in class, you may want to write some significant quotes and stick them on the board.
13. Write Messages On The Wall
Messages written on the walls of classrooms are a fun way to communicate. You can write things like “good job” or “keep working.” This type of message works particularly well if you are teaching a lesson about teamwork.
Obviously, keep these motivational messages limited to the bulletin board. After all, writing these things on other walls may not be appreciated.
14. Post Reminders On The Wall
Reminders are a great way to help students stay organized. You can post reminders such as “don’t forget to bring your journal,” or “bring your textbook to class.” This is often referred to as a memo board.
15. Hang Pictures On The Wall
Pictures are another effective way to motivate students. You can hang photos of famous people that inspire you. You can also put information about these figures next to the photos.
This not only teaches your students about history but also inspires them to achieve greatness. You can even focus on female heroes, such as Florence Nightingale or Joan of Arc, to specifically inspire the girls in your class.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Use To Construct A Bulletin Board?
You should use whatever materials you feel comfortable with. Often these board displays are made with poster boards, which are available at most office supply stores. However, you can also use cardboard boxes, construction paper, and even paint.
How Do I Decorate My Bulletin Board?
There are many ways to decorate your bulletin board. You can use posters, stickers, magnets, and more. Some teachers will create their own designs, while others will buy pre-made decorations from an art store.
Decorative borders are also commonly used to outline these boards. Whatever method you choose, it’s important to match your theme with your classroom studies. If not, the display may look out of place.
Is It Easy To Make A Bulletin Board?
It depends on what kind of board you are making. A simple poster board is easy enough to construct. If you wish to make a more complex bulletin board display, you should bear in mind that it will likely be more intricate and time-consuming.
Final Thoughts
Bulletin boards are one of the most important tools teachers have at their disposal. They allow you to quickly organize information and share it with others.
However, there are many different kinds of bulletin boards available. It’s important to know which kind will work best for your classroom.
In addition, you must consider how much space you have, where you plan to place the board, and how frequently you intend to update it.
Once you have done this, hopefully, you can use our suggestions to craft some beautiful bulletin boards.
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
