Bulletin boards are a great way to add color and life to your classroom. They can be used as an interactive learning tool or simply as a place where students can leave messages for each other.
Furthermore, you can display their work, thus improving the confidence of your students. It’s really up to you how you use them in the classroom.
One way that teachers use bulletin boards is by linking them to certain periods. For example, you may want to create a July-themed display when you reach this month.
This will allow students to see what they need to do during this time period. Though most schools begin to close around July, some may stay open.
What Is Associated With July?
July is associated with many things. Some of these include:
The Fourth of July – The Fourth of July is one of America’s most important holidays. During this holiday, people celebrate independence from Great Britain. This is why it is also known as Independence Day. It is commonly marked by fireworks, picnics, and barbecues.
Summer – Summer is the season between spring and fall. It is often referred to as “summer vacation.” Students usually have more free time during the summer months. The summer is normally marked by warm weather and trips to the beach.
Emancipation Day – Emancipation day is celebrated in July. It was established after the Civil War ended. It commemorates the end of slavery. On this day, former slaves were given freedom. Many African Americans still remember this date. Though this is a great opportunity to discuss history and racism with your students, the event may be too complex and serious for younger students to understand.
July Bulletin Board Ideas
Here are 15 great ideas for using a July bulletin board:
Personal Memories
Have students write about something special that happened in July. You could ask them to share stories or pictures. Get them to write these memories down on a piece of paper.
Ask the pupils to draw an accompanying picture.
For example, if they had fun at a picnic, they could draw the food that they ate. Then, place these memories on a bulletin board.
This will allow your display to feel more personal. Also, it comes across as a celebration of the month.
A Timeline
Create a timeline of events that occurred in July. Use images and words to describe the events that took place. Place this on a bulletin board. You could even make a poster.
This would help your students learn more about the month, making it an informational bulletin. You can also add personal events to this timeline.
For example, if some of your students have birthdays in July, you can include this date in the timeline.
Graduation Theme
July is often the period when school is coming to a close. As a result, you may want to celebrate this momentous occasion with a graduation-themed board display.
You could create a photo collage of all of your graduating class members.
Or, you could create silhouettes of people wearing traditional graduation outfits. To do this, simply get your class to paint a face onto a paper plate.
Then, use black cards to construct graduation caps and gowns. You can even host a graduation at the end of the school year.
Create A Summer Scene
If you wish to fill your classroom with bright colors, you can make a display that represents the vibe of summer. First, you need to decide what scene you want to make.
You may want to make it look like a sunny day at the park. Once you have done this, start by covering the display board with blue paper. Then, add a sun in the sky with yellow paper.
Next, use green paper to look like grass. Cut thin vertical lines into the paper to mimic blades of grass. Add some flowers and figures having fun. Give it a fun title like “A Day in the Sun.”
You can even get your students involved in the production of this bulletin board.
Replicate A Beach-side Holiday
If you live near the ocean, you might want to replicate a beach vacation during the summer. You can do this by creating a board that looks like a seaside resort.
Start by adding sandpaper to the back of a board to look like sand. Then, use blue paper for the sea and sky.
Be sure to use different shades of blue to separate these two parts of the display. Place a sun in the sky and some clouds made from cotton wool.
Add some details, such as sea creatures and surfers. You can even include facts about sea life if you wish to construct an informational bulletin.
Make An American Flag
To celebrate Independence Day, you can make a patriotic display. You can begin by cutting out stars from construction paper. Then, cut out stripes from white and red paper.
Finally, glue the Stars and Stripes together to form an American flag. You can then hang this up on the bulletin. You can then get your students to write what they love most about America.
You can then stick these around the flag.
Present Presidents
Alternatively, you can have an informational bulletin with information on the presidents for Independence Day. You can begin by writing each president’s name in the center of the board.
Then, draw pictures of them next to their names. You can then get the students to use colored pencils or markers to color the faces of the presidents.
To flesh out this display, include important facts about each of these presidents. Though you may not have enough room for all American presidents, you can select a handful of them to showcase.
This will teach the students about American history.
Create A Firework Board
If you feel like being creative, you can construct fireworks from paper. You can then use this to create a display that shows off the Fourth of July. This is also an outstanding option for people who want a colorful bulletin board.
Since fireworks are available in a range of colors, be sure to make this board as vibrant as possible. Then, add details about Independence Day to make the display more educational.
Construct Some Summer Flowers
Another option is to make some seasonal flowers from paper or card. These can then be used to decorate your bulletin board. You can then use these to represent the season.
For example, you could make a bouquet of daisies to show how beautiful summertime is. If you are unsure of how to produce flowers from paper, there are plenty of online tutorials.
Make A Star Map
If you would rather focus on geography than history, you can make a star map of the United States. Essentially, this involves placing a map on the board. Then, stick stars to each state.
You can then get your students to write facts for every state, which can be transferred to the stars. This is a great way of learning about America and celebrating the independence that it achieved in 1776.
Hang Up A Calendar
During the summer months, many people enjoy going on vacations. Therefore, you can create a calendar that represents the month of July.
You can then place this calendar on the front of your bulletin board. This can help your students learn about the month.
Shooting Star Wishes
Cut out a bunch of stars and give them to your students. Tell them to write on the star, specifically what they are most looking forward to in the summer. After they have done this, glue the stars to a dark background.
This will make it look as though they are shooting stars. This is a magnificent method for getting ready for summer. Plus, it gets the entire class involved.
Make A Flag Banner
If you do not have a lot of space to work with, you can still make a patriotic banner. All you need to do is cut out a piece of red, white, and blue fabric.
Then, attach the fabric to a piece of wood. Finally, hang the fabric on the wall. This is a simple but effective way to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Red, White, And Blue
Another way to teach your students about Independence Day is to get them to find examples of things that are red, white, and blue.
These colors are inherently linked to America’s identity. So, if you want to encourage patriotism, you can ask your students to think of items that belong to these color groups.
For instance, they could select strawberries, roses, lobsters, and fire trucks for the red section. On your bulletin board, create three sections, one for each color.
Then, have the children work out which color each of these things belongs to. This is an interactive bulletin board, which engages your students.
Have A Barbecue-themed Bulletin Board
To celebrate the Fourth of July, you can make a barbecue-themed bulletin board. All you need to start is a piece of cardboard. Then, draw a grill onto the board.
Next, add the word “barbecue” on top of the board. Get your students to create some barbecue foods using paint and paper. Stick these to the board for a stunning summer scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Put On My Bulletin Board?
The best thing to put on your bulletin board is information that relates to your topic. However, you can also include other things such as pictures, quotes, and even games. It all depends on how much time you have available.
What Is The Point Of Bulletin Boards?
Bulletin boards are used to display information or images in order to inform others. Additionally, they provide a convenient way for you to organize your thoughts.
They are used in classrooms to represent some subjects currently taught. Furthermore, they make classrooms appear more interesting.
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!
