Bulletin boards can serve many functions in the early childhood classroom. They can contain useful information for parents (i.e., communication), provide engaging visuals for the children, or showcase child created projects. Designing a back to school bulletin board is a fun way to get back into the swing of regular classroom activities. Even in a child care center that is open during the summer, a fall back to school display can provide a fresh start for the preschoolers in the class.
Materials Needed for a Bulletin Board Display
There are countless numbers of materials that could be used to create an excellent bulletin board. This list provides a few suggestions and examples:
- Butcher paper
- Rolls of different colored papers
- Construction paper T
- issue paper
- Stencils
- Colored cellophane
- Tempera paints
- Photographs
- Corrugated (ridged) paper
- Cotton balls
- Doilies
- Felt
- Craft foam sheets
Back to School Bulletin Board Themes and Ideas
The early childhood classroom looks very different in many ways from the primary school classroom. Despite this, traditional school related images may be used on a back to school bulletin board. These images evoke thoughts of fall and school time (separating it from summer activities such as the beach, the pool, or vacation). Students may not ride a bus to school, but they will understand what that big yellow vehicle is.
The following bulletin board suggestions are examples of specific back to school themed creations. These can be easily adapted for the needs of each specific classroom:
- Back to School Bus: Cover the bulletin board with a solid sheet of paper (either butcher or rolled paper). Use a large sheet of yellow construction paper to create a school bus. If you do not have a large piece of paper, combine a few smaller sheets into one bus. If art making does not come easily to you, try cutting shapes that fit together as a school bus. A rectangle for the passenger part, and a square for the front. Write the name of the school on the front of the bus using markers. Cut square holes for the windows. Use stencil letters to write "Welcome back to school!", or something similar. After the school year has started, take some pictures of the children in your class. Cut the pictures so that you can glue a photo of each child into a window in the bus.
- School House: Cover the bulletin board with a sheet of paper. Using red construction paper, cut a large rectangle and a large triangle. Place these together (triangle on the top) to create a school house shape. Stencil words such as "Our classroom" on the top. Add photos of the children once school has started.
- Class Tree: This is more of a get to know each other/introductions bulletin board. First, cover the bulletin board with blue paper. Use brown construction paper rectangles to create a tree trunk and branches. Add fall leaves with orange, red, and yellow tissue paper. Try crumbling the tissue first before gluing it on for an added effect. Attach photos of the children onto the tree branches.
Other Important Bulletin Boards
- Parent Communication Board: Parental involvement is key to any child’s school success. This is vital in the early years. To improve the flow of information in the classroom, create a parent board that contains important announcements and information. Try not to crowd in too much. This will make it difficult to read and follow. Make sure to designate this as a parent information bulletin board. Use large stenciled letters to label it clearly. Items to be hung on this board may include: The lesson plans for the week. Great children’s book ideas that correspond with the current theme. Lunch or snack schedules. Important policies (such as being nut free or sick child guidelines). Important phone numbers (the classroom line or even certain social service or help agency numbers).
- Child Create Bulletin Board: Try to reserve at least one bulletin board for child made artwork. Start from day one of the school year. Have the children create simple crayon drawings, finger paintings, or tempera paintings. Hang these up to showcase their wonderful artwork.
Start the school year off with a fun or informational bulletin board. Choose a back to school theme, create a parent communication center, or create a child made display.
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