| Back to school, fall leaves, Thanksgiving and Christmas | | | | there is always talk of equality and diversity around |
| all easily lend themselves to great decorating themes, | | | | this time. With a bulletin board background of stark |
| but what to do when those are over and spring is | | | | white paper place traced and cut-out hand prints of all |
| months away? Invigorate your classroom this winter in | | | | colors all over the board. Have students trace and cut |
| color and pizzazz with some simple and quick designs. | | | | out both of their hands on colored construction paper. |
| Use the five ideas below to get you started on your | | | | On the hands the students can write, "Acceptance |
| winter bulletin board planning. | | | | Starts With Me," "Tolerance Begins Here," or another |
| You Are Unique | | | | appropriate slogan to address the issue of accepting |
| Students are unique. Each child comes with a | | | | diversity. Not only does the bulletin board teach a |
| wonderful personality, personal interests, goals and | | | | lesson about tolerance and acceptance, it also opens |
| ideas. Why not highlight the differences in a positive | | | | up the discussion about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and |
| way on a winter snowflake bulletin board. Allow each | | | | purpose. |
| child to cut out snowflakes while tying in a quick | | | | 100 Days |
| science lesson on how snow forms, what it is made | | | | Typically, the 100th day of school falls during the winter |
| from, and some interesting snowfall facts. After the | | | | months. This celebration of the power of ten provides |
| snowflakes are cut, have the children write unique | | | | a rich opportunity to integrate math into the classroom |
| things about themselves on the cut-outs. Integrate a | | | | bulletin board. Displaying sets of 100 items like |
| lesson on adjectives by having them only write | | | | gumdrops, Popsicle sticks, pencils or erasers make for |
| descriptive words about themselves. Glitter, sparkles or | | | | a quick visual lesson. It is also a simple and potentially |
| tissue paper squares may help to liven up a light blue | | | | colorful bulletin board opportunity. |
| background before the snowflakes are hung. | | | | Have a Heart |
| Who is Hibernating? | | | | Nothing says Valentine's Day like a heart, but this year |
| Bulletin boards can also be teaching tools, so why not | | | | make the heart more significant by creating a bulletin |
| incorporate science into a winter bulletin board titled, | | | | board of an actual heart. This teaching board will help |
| "Who is Hibernating?" Using a list of animals that | | | | with lessons on circulation, exercise and general health. |
| hibernate in the winter, cutout or draw them in their | | | | To tie it in with the holiday, have students write and |
| winter nook. If an interactive bulletin board is needed, | | | | post things that they love about their heart on paper |
| place the animal on one side of the board labeled with | | | | heart cutouts. |
| numbers and the winter hibernating location (i.e. - nest, | | | | Bulletin boards are a fantastic way to reach students |
| cave, hole in a tree, etc.) on the other side. Use clear | | | | with a quick visual impact. They give teachers an |
| pockets and small number cards that correspond to | | | | opportunity to highlight the uniqueness of their class |
| the animals for the children to match the animal to the | | | | and teach important lessons in a non-obtrusive way. |
| correct hide away. | | | | Be creative with bulletin boards and do not be afraid to |
| Acceptance Starts With Me | | | | work outside the borders. |
| Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday falls mid-January and | | | | |