Let’s talk some truth about Bulletin Boards. We all have a love/hate relationship with them, right! But if you are “mad about bulletin boards” I have some ideas and resources for you!
Oh, I know, when our boards are cute as pie we are so proud, but it’s the getting it up there on the wall that drives us crazy. Anyway, one year I made the one below- you might remember reading about it in previous posts!
In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog running!
That was done on a hallway bulletin board. Yeah, I know, those are the worst because everybody sees them and they have to be extra, extra cute. So, I blogged all about that one and you can go back and read that if you want to. I will include a link at the end of this post. I mean, I included photos and some directions, so bookmark it and read it later. BUT—– I have now done the impossible!
I re-purposed that giant board!
First, let’s take a look at the first version of this fabulous board.
This is the very large board in the hallway and, to be honest, it took some time to create. I left it up for most of the year. Here’s the deal. In May I had to take down that big bulletin board, but I saved parts of it! Yep, carefully removed staples and found a place to store the lady and some of the other parts. So, the next fall I decided to get her out and use it in my classroom. Now, it looks a little different….. but it is still pretty darn cute.
You can see I recreated the lady scientist with her wild hair and the static shocker thing.
I added the butterfly net and the wooden lizard on her shoulder.
Here’s a close-up of her hair. It’s just paper strips curled and stapled in place with a few white ones just for fun.
The lab coat was drawn freehand and I made sharpie stitches around it. The lizard is held in place with push pins.
The beaker is made of burlap and was a gift from my daughter. It is stuffed with tissue paper and add dimension. The beaker’s bubbles are just scrap construction paper.
By the way, the cork bulletin board has been painted black since this bulletin board was created. Paint your boards and you never have t use bulletin board paper again!
And then I added some more decorative items!
The posters are a set I made myself. They are called Science Motivational Posters. Notice the title of each poster spells out SCIENCE!
The banner is made from cut-outs I bought in the party supplies at Target. Yeah, I could have made those, but they were already the perfect color on heavyweight paper with a pre-cut string. I just added the letters and stuck them up with push pins. It is a total accident that the diagonal lines on the banner match the posters almost exactly.
Ta-da! All finished!
And just so you can compare here they are together!
They both look fabulous!
Which one do you like best?
To make this board (either version) you can read more details on the blog post linked below.
And there is more! Check the images below for some boards you can easily recreate.
Above are two of the sets I have designed. On the left is a Science Safety poster set featuring those cute little dot people. That banner in the photo is also included!
On the right is a set for grades 1-2. It shows the Engineering Design Process using younger children and simple phrases. Click on the images to see more.
Are you looking for a bulletin board kit? I have those, too!
Aren’t these fun? I love those bright pops of color. These bulletin board kits contain ideas, directions, and the letters you need to print and cut to create your own version. The embellishments are not included, but I do give directions for making them or where you can purchase something similar. Just click the images!
Have fun creating your own versions of these fun displays!
You might enjoy these blog posts or resources:
- Create an Amazing Science Board (This has directions for making the board featured in this post!)
- Bulletin Board Bonanza
- Science Motivational Posters
- Engineering Design Posters
Bulletin Board Supplies – Teacher Favorites!
Your bulletin board is fantastic!
Aww, thanks! The original board took several days to make and put up, but the new one was much quicker. I plan to leave it up for along time- maybe all year! Thanks for visiting!
Your bulletin board is amazing! I am so glad you did repurpose all that hard work! 🙂 The stick bug is amazing! My tolerance for bugs is not very high, unless it is a cool one like that! Last year we had a snake in our hallway and some of the teachers caught it and researched it. I preferred it when it was a little more contained. We did release it later in the day. 😉
Katie
Inquiring Our Way Through Third Grade
The bulletin board is AMAZING and I want one in my room. When you are done repurposing…you can just send it to me to repurpose in my room. Lol!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
I love the birthday banners! How neat to take a picture with the banner each year. My oldest just turned 30 this year too. Funny how me turning 30 didn't bother me like some people said it would but her turning 30 made me feel pretty old! LOL My baby just turned 28 this year.
Do you still put up pictures of the students' work on the new board? Thanks
The new board does not have space for student work like the first version did. The first version was in my hallway and included photos of students at work, not really their work. The new board showcases a poster set and we refer to it just about every day! Thanks for visiting!
Hi!!! Love the bulletin board! I would love to have access to your posters. Do you have them on TPT? I'm so going to use this idea next year and keep up all year in my room. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Gina! I do have those posters available. You can find them right here: teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Motivational-Posters-in-Purple-Lime-and-Bright-Turquoise-2018350 These are also available in a primary color scheme! Thanks for visiting!
Is there a pattern for the scientist?
Hi Sandra! No, I didn't use a pattern. I drew the lab coat on white paper like you would draw a t-shirt and then cut it down the middle and folded it back to make lapels. For the head I drew it on flesh colored paper (it's just an oval) and then added strips for the hair in a wild arrangement. Her hands are just mitten shapes! It took time to make that board because of all the extras I added to it, but the scientist was easy! Thanks for visiting!
Thanks so much for these wonderful ideas! Awesome!! Can't wait to try them out!
Love this! What size paper did you use for the lab coat?
It's just white bulletin board paper! I think I laid a jacket on the paper to trace around just to get the shape right. I drew it and then cut it down the middle at the top edge and folded the sides back to make lapels. The sleeves were too long so I just bunched them up and made her arms bend!