Backtoschoolideas

(compiled from many sources)
Jean Roberts sends these ideas:
Bulletin board ideas.

1. Make a large tree on the classroom wall. This tree may be made from flat brown paper, or wide crumpled butcher paper. - A "tree for all seasons" may, as the name suggests, be left up all year and may be decorated to suit the time of year. For the beginning of school in September, cut out large leaves from red, orange and yellow paper, print a name on each leaf and pin to the tree.

2. "Hats off to Mrs. Baker's class! " This sign was surrounded by a variety of hat shapes, each with a child's name.

4. For those Grade One teachers who have very large classes, here is a mild but effective protest!
"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe....."
Cut out a large boot, and have the children's names on girl and boy shapes around it. You could also have the children draw themselves in the first week and print their own names to put around the words and boot picture.

5. "I am special!"
Each child draws and colours his/her own face on an inverted paper plate. Add crayoned paper strips or the correct colours of crepe paper for hair.

6. Printing the names on bright red apples and placing the apples on a tree or in a basket makes a colourful display.

7. The children make a full figure drawing of themselves and cut it out. Each drawing is mounted with a drinking straw in the child's hand for a pole, and on the top of the pole is a banner with the child's name on it.

8. Do you have a very large class?
Cut out a large old-fashioned bathtub and mount on the board. Each child creates their own face on a paper plate (or just a drawing), adds yarn or crepe paper hair, etc. All the heads are mounted above the tub as though bathing. A poem to go with it:
There's too many kids in the tub,
There's too many elbows to scrub,
I've lost my knee, oh, where can it be,
There's too many kids in the tub.
(May be sung to "Popeye, the Sailor Man")

9. "Each year I try to pick an interesting opening theme and pick a way to have all the children's names up on our large bulletin board. .....(1999) was "Spiders". Each child was given the spider shape to decorate and which included their name. It was titled "Busy Workers in Div. 16". Another slogan I use is "Div. 16 Leaping Ahead" and the bulletin board is covered in frogs, or "Div. 16, We Give a Hoot" and the board is covered in owls."

10. Take a head photo of each child. Make a photocopy. Give each child their photocopied head and he/she can glue it to another paper. Then the child draws his body. Over the head a half circle umbrella shape is placed covering the child's head and stapled at the top. Lift the umbrella to see the child's face.
Good for rainy climates! "See me! I am under my umbrella!"

11. Do a mini ice-cream theme the first few days. Each child can make a large cone shape out of brown construction paper with a different coloured scoop on top. They put their picture on the ice-cream scoop and their name on the cone. The title can read "Our Class Comes In (number of children) Flavours!"

12.You could have the children create different fantasy fish with crayon on a pre-cut shape, leaving a large circle area in the middle for their picture and name. All must be coloured facing the same direction (preferably noses to the right so the fish are travelling from left to right). They are then fastened to the bulletin board in a triangular fashion, so that you start with one fish on the right hand side, two fish behind him, the third rowwith 3 or 4 fish and so on. The title of the board reads "School's In!"

13. Create a large yellow school bus, with the children's heads (photos, photocopies or drawings) in the windows. The side of the bus could read"Mrs. Smith's Magic School Bus".

14. Cut white paper, any size, into T-shirts - one for each student. You or the children print their names in the middle of the shirt front and decorate it any way they wish. They could put some of their favourite things around the name. Hang them on the bulletin board as if they are hanging out to dry. Use string and actual clothes pins. You could do one, too, and yours of course will be much bigger.

15. Have the children draw themselves and attach a parachute. Title: "Flying into Grade One".

16. Print each student's name on a picture of a bear or teddy bear. Title: "Welcome to Our Bear-y Wonderful Class".

17. Create giant puzzle pieces in bright colours. Mount these on a black background and separate each piece slightly so the background shows. Each piece can have a child's picture and the name on it. The title can be: "We Fit Together Perfectly".

One that I always do goes w/my Apple Unit that I do in Sept. I take the kids photos sometime during the first week of school. I staple each photo to an apple that I've cut out on the Ellison die cutter (we have the large, 9x12 size one now). On one edge of the bulletin board I make a large apple with a stem and a leaf ( you can fold the leaf down the middle to make a little dimensional effect) out of butcher paper. Coming out of the apple is a worm w/glasses and a little bow tie. The title of the board is "You're the apple of my eye!" It's cute! I try to change this board 3 or 4 times a year but I always use the kid's photos someway.

Instead of die cutting the apples, I've also had the kids paint dessert size paper plates in red, yellow or green and then glue on stems and leaves. Hope this helps! Cheryl Ristow

This year my door will be geared to the rainforest. I will have a HUGE palm tree with bright monkeys, parrots, tigers, etc. on it. Each child's name will be on an animal. My caption---OUR TROPICAL RAINFOREST! I will also have my rules, consequences, rewards on a wall labeled---PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT!!! OBEY OUR CLASSROOM RULES! Huge playing cards will be in the middle and small playing cards will be used for my border. Another cute board I have used before is to create a parking lot.Divide each section for a small car to be put. Put the child's name on each car. Caption reads---- RESERVED PARKING!!! Really cute and eye catchy!! Keep sharing!!!
Jo-Psmith4804@aol.com

I'm going to use this also: I've seen different versions...this was in the Wong book.

Posted around the room..........
HIGH FIVE!!
1. Eyes on speaker
2. Quiet
3. Be still
4. Hands free--put things down
5. Listen!!

I call out HIGH FIVE...silently the students count to 5, thinking of (and doing) each item as they count. Hopefully, when they reach 5, they're ready to listen!!

Linda -Lmcnice@aol.com

I teach 9th grade but I'm going to elementary next year. One saying that I have in my class now and will move to my elementary class is : RESPECT. You want it? Then Learn it, Earn it, and Return it. Sknenmee@aol.com

For October, I use a good work BB with a ghost on it that reads BOO-TI-FUL WORK. I also make a web out of black yarn, reading WEB OF WORDS with seasonal words (You might want to scramble them and see if the students can unscramble them).
KateRouse@aol.com

Bulletin Board Ideas
October - Fall into Great Work: leaves, scarecrow
Something to Crow About.... : crows, corn stalks, scarecrows
Unbe"leaf"ably Great Work: leaves, etc.
November - A Harvest of Great Work: cornucopia (sp?), leaves, pumpkins
December - A Blizzard of Great Work: snowflakes, snowmen &nbspraftslug@aol.com

I take a picture of each child and then I cut it into a circle shape and glue it in the middle of different colored construction paper sheet. Then for homework I have the kids cut out pictures from a magazine of things they like to do, things they like to eat, things like to play with, etc. They bring these pictures to school in an envelope and after we read Things I Like ( I believe it has a monkey on the cover) , they glue their pictures around their own picture on the construction. paper. This makes a nice bull. board. "THINGS WE LIKE" &nbspPSK013@aol.com

I am also going with the "STARS" theme. I am going to have the students make mobile on the first day to hang from the ceiling. They are called "Be a Star". On stars(I am going to use the yellow notepads shaped like star) they write different things that they can do and share them with the class. Example: I can play the piano, I can cook, I draw, etc. On my behavior chart I am going to use the little gold stick on stars.

I have used this idea in the past: With red oak tag paper make a giant red apple then
with a scissors cut on top right of apple so it looks like someone took a giant bite out of it. Then make a nice size brown worm and make it stick out from the bite mark. On apple write "TAKE A BITE OUT OF KINDERGARTEN" On the 1st or 2nd day of school have kids color apples (cut after coloring and add tiny worms) and in permanent black marker put their names on the apples . Put giant apple in middle of bulletin board and small apples all around. (Small apples can also be colored yellow or green) (Don't forget to put a tiny eye and smile on the worms)

One idea that I wanted to share is about stickers. I order mailing labels but instead of printing an address on them I have them say You are a Star
In Mrs. Fields' Class
Georgetown Elementary
Keep up the good work!!!
I use these for especially good work and the kids love that they are personalized. I am going to start the year with the theme of "School" -- I will decorate the room with pencils, crayons, scissors and other teacher type things and many apples. During this time I will teach the meaning of "Quality" using two apples (one that is beautiful and one that is less than perfect). After that we will define quality work, quality behavior and a quality teacher. On different days -- by brainstorming. This gives me a good idea of what they want from me and helps develop class rules. Usually the behavior and assignments can both be examined by my asking "Is this a quality assignment? or Is this quality behavior?" I will read books like Spider's First Day at School, Mrs. Nelson is Missing, Cream of Creature from the School Cafeteria, Teacher from the Black Lagoon , and Principal from the Black Lagoon. After this I shift into a unit on Apples. I don't have to change my whole room since apples were already part of the scheme. If anyone has any school suggestions. I would love to hear them. I have loved all the ideas and think we have a great group. Hilda

The card says Welcome to your new classroom community. The items in this bag have special meanings.
The cotton ball is to remind you that our room is full of kind words and warm feelings.
The chocolate kiss is to comfort you when you are feeling sad.
The sticker is to remind you that we will all stick together and help each other.
The gem is to remind you to shine and always try your best.
The tissue is to remind you to help dry someone's tears.
The toothpick is to remind you to "pick out" the good qualities in your classmates and in yourself.
The gold thread is to remind you that friendship ties our hearts together.
The eraser is to remind you that everybody makes mistakes and that it is okay.
The Life Saver is to remind you that you can come to any adult in our school community if you need someone to talk to.

That is on a card and the items are in a baggie.
The Parent's First Day care Package reads as follows:
Dear Parents,
Welcome to our classroom community. Thank you for entrusting your child to me. I promise to do my best everyday to be your child's companion in learning.

After you have wiped your tears, make yourself a nice warm cup of tea. Put your feet up and relax. Then hold the cotton ball in your hand. The softness will help you to recall the gentle spirit of your children I will work along side your this year to help your child grow.
Sincerely,
I didn't make those up as we had started already when I got them, but I am going to make up a few to have on hand when the class comes back on track on Sept. 2, I have a lot of first children in school this year. The parents really liked them . I picked up most of the things last SaT. at Wal Mart and put them in a zip lock baggie with the card. On the outside of the student card it says Room Donna in Ca

Here are a few I have used before:
We Are "Bear"y Special! Have one bear cutout for each child and slit the hand to hold each child's picture.
A New Scoop of Kindergarteners Make an ice cream cone cutout for each child and put pictures on them.
Welcome to our School! Have a fish cutout for each child and put a picture on each one.
A Great New Bunch! Cut out big purple circles and put them together resembling a bunch of grapes. Put a picture on each grape. WERE4IU@aol.com

Time Capsule:
Saw a cute idea for a beginning of year---Take a paper towel roll and have the kids decorate it. Place inside the roll a self-portrait the student draws, info. on the child like height, weight favorite colors, T.V. show, fav. books, sample of their writing, and a hand print. You can design a piece of paper to contain all of this. Place it in the roll and seal up the ends of the tube. Don't forget to put the name on it with a tag or such. Make a big deal about what a time capsule is and the purpose of one. Place in a safe area in your room. Check on them from time to time with the kids. On the next to the last day of school hand them back to the students to take home and they can make a comparsion. Attach a note for parents to read about the time capsule. They will ENJOY!! Suzanne-- in Fla.

Sit at the teacher's desk.
Be the zookeeper and take care of the animals.
Have lunch with your favorite person.
Join another class for indoor recess.
Get a free milk.
Have bread and peanut butter at snack time.
Have the teacher phone parents to tell them what a great kid you are.
Draw on the chalkboard.
Use the clay during free time.
Chew sugar free gum.
Be first in line.
Do only half an assignment.
Choose any class job for the week.
Choose the music for lunch. Bring in a tape.
Use colored chalk.
Do all the class jobs for the day.
Invite a visitor from outside the school.
Work on a mural.
Get a drink whenever you want.
Use the pencil sharpener any time.
Make a bulletin board.
Put fifteen marbles in the group reward jar.
No early morning work.
Be a helper in the room with younger children.
Help the custodian.

Stay in at recess to play a game with a friend.
Use stamps and ink.
Write in ink for the day.
Invite a friend from another class into the room for lunch.
Use the teacher's chair.
Work in the lunchroom.
Take a class game home for the night.
Move your desk to a chosen location.
Keep an animal on your desk--stuffed or not stuffed.
No homework pass.
Lunch with the teacher.
Operate the projector.
Use the couch or beanbag chair for the day.
Go to another class for lunch.
Use the typewriter.
Be the first to eat.
Use the tape recorder and tape a story.
Have a special sharing time to teach something to the class, set up a display, etc.
Be leader of a class game.
Extra center time or extra recess.
Read to a younger child.
Read to someone else.

Some of the ideas above are not so good, but others are great. Sitting in the teacher's chair and eating lunch in the classroom have been favorites in my classes. I've also come up with some of my own:
Get first pick of recess equipment.
Get a fun worksheet.
Play a computer game. Michele Kendzie Arcadia, CA

Make puzzle pieces for each child using poster board, const. paper, whichever you prefer. Children write their names on it will their goals for the year, their interests, whatever. Put under the title, Don't Be Puzzled, You Fit Right In! If you have kids list their goals for the year, your can do this activity again near the end of school and discuss if they met goals, or have them list things they want to learn in third grade. :-) sandy

Floating into a new millenium and use hot air balloons with kids names on them.
This is cute also to put their pictures in the little balloon buckets.
I also teach second grade and I really like the theme you have chosen "Moving into the next Millenium".
Have you considered having each child design and decorate a vehicle for the next millenium? Perhaps you could narrow choices by asking the children to design a car, a boat, bicycles, etc. for the next century. This might be a good parent/child homework project. Good luck and have a great year.

I have an interactive November BB. Nutrition and food groups are subjects we talk about in kindergarten. On the BB are 4 "people" made of food. Mine are years old and came from I don't know where, but for this part, perhaps you can make some or think of something else. Under (Freida Fruit, Victor Vegetable, Billy Bread, Marvin Meat, and Dinah Dairy) I made a construction paper apple, loaf of bread, 1/2 gal milk container, and a pig. Onto each of these, I glued a "pocket" made of paper. I cut, mounted, and laminated many pictures of foods belonging to the food groups and put them in a "grocery bag (brown lunch bag). The students remove a picture from the bag and place that picture in the pocket of the correct food group picture. I have about 20 food pictures, so I let the students do the BB with a friend, giving each of them 10 foods to classify. They receive a sticker for completing the BB. Hope this makes sense to you!

I am doing a November board also. I sent a large oak tag feather home with each child. I also enclosed a note to the parents. I asked each child to decorate the feather. No coloring! They could decorate it with feathers, candy, sequins, glitter, fabric, lace etc... I will then make a large turkey body and put up all the feathers on the turkey's body.Diversity!! I got a few back already!! They are outrageous!!

I am doing the feather idea that Lorraine mentioned too . I am adding a few different twists though. I am putting the feathers around a turkey body, putting a tie on the turkey, adding shoes to his feet, and giving him a pair of glasses. The title I am using is "Turkey".....where? Lorraine is right about the results of the feathers ....they are just great! My parents and children worked together this month to make adorable paper pumpkin faces. These family projects are fun if not overdone. I won't do one in Dec. since this is such a busy month for everyone.

Just a couple of suggestions. You said this is a showcase. See if you can find or perhaps make a large cornucopia, horn of plenty prop the cornucopia up on books, blocks, and then drape it with a pretty tablecloth or sheet in a fall color.. apricot or peach would be beautiful. You could surround it with fall leaves, pumpkins, flowers, and then fill it with gourds, artificial fruit, corn, etc..and then select some books from the library that have to do with Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, First Thanksgiving, etc

trace a big turkey with a chef's hat on, title it "Turkey chefs" and then have your student's write or you could write for them if they are beginning writers, their favorite Thanksgiving recipe..have them actually write the recipe out in their own words. I did this several years and it is a riot!! So much fun. Then you could post them around your turkey and also put the tablecloth, Thanksgiving decor. and make it look like a dinner table.

One of my all-time favorite bulletin boards is one that my first graders help me make. We receive a lot of compliments on it from other children, teachers, and parents.
It is so simple, and can be adapted to almost any monthly bulletin board in which you will be using a character, such as a jack-o-lantern, turkey, Santa, etc...The children work in groups to make a paper chain using pre-cut 3x6 strips of construction paper--orange for Halloween and Thanksgiving, red for Christmas..... We then attach this chain to the center of our board and begin to coil it around itself attaching it to the board as we go. Then we put a construction paper face on it (in keeping with the season, a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween, turkey face and feathers for thanksgiving.)

My favorite bulletin board is one that is titled "Share our Success". I have the kids make handprints with paint and then cut them out. I then put them up on the bulletin board. Then every Friday I let them choose their favorite assignment or one that they are most proud of to put up and "share" with everyone else. Throughout the week I remind them that I am looking for "success" papers in which they "do their best" to put up on the bulletin board. This encourages them to always turn in quality work!

These ideas compiled by Marcia Goudie

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