Classroom Displays

66/365 - 9/26/2008, originally uploaded by snelly23.

I couldn’t resist this great quick display for Autumn! The maker says:

I was looking for real fall leaves to photograph on Monday, the first day of fall, and I failed. Our class used “glue paint” over and under tissue squares on construction paper to make these shiny fall leaves.

I love the tree with its ‘glue paint’ leaves and it’s wonderful affirmative messages. I’d love to add some photos of class members caught doing and being all of these great things, and to add some affirmations of their own, perhaps on more leaves building up at the base of the display, over this term.
People are always looking for 3d tree displays and I think this is a simple but excellent example.

Everything you always wanted to know about making classroom displays?

Everything about classroom displays?

That’s a huge claim isn’t it? I think we can start to build something like it though if we all put our heads together. This blog has a large readership and I’m convinced that between us we could answer most questions people can come up with so that’s what this post is all about.

It’s a funny time of year for classroom displays. Most people in the UK are either just back, or just about to go back to school. Boards are empty and if you are very organised you’ve backed them and got up something to welcome the new class.

Filling Your Empty Classroom Displays Boards

Lots of you will have spent time, usually in the ’so-called’ holidays getting your classroom just the way you want it and now you have a blank canvas.

• How can we help you fill it up?
• What do you want to know about?
• Are you stuck for design ideas?
• Do you need practical tips?
• Are there some subjects that you just can’t think of an interesting way to display?

What to do next and where

Ask your questions in the comments of this post and let’s see if we can come up with some great classroom displays solutions.

While you’re there, if you see a question about classroom displays that you know how to solve please feel free to add your own answers.

These wonderful language displays are courtesy of Joe Debono and his school Newbury Primary in Ilford, Redbridge in London.

There are over 40 languages spoken in the school and Language of the Month was introduced to help the children to learn a little about and share each other’s languages.

As well as displays the initiative includes online audio visual resources and specially designed simple games.

I think the initiative is fantastic and it will give a real sense of validation and respect to children and their families for whom English is not their first language.

Online Resources and Downloads

The school hasn’t stopped there though. They’ve made all these resources freely available via their web site. You can hear children speaking simple words in their own languages, download the activity booklet which has suggestions for over a 100 games and other pdf files to help you put up your own language of the month displays.

I’m going to use it myself to try to master a few simple words from languages I might encounter amongst my students next year. How about you?

On safari through the jungle - in the classroom, originally uploaded by LindaH.

Transformational classroom displays are particularly popular in early years and key stage 1 settings. This reading area has become a jungle, complete with an elephant,lion and tiger. Most of the animals have been made and painted by the children, with some adult assistance. The result is a high interest area with lots to talk about.

Making displays like this can be a huge stimulus for speaking and listening but once the display is up staff often need to make an effort to remember to keep referring to elements in the display. Adding labels and other text can re-vitalise a display. A favourite addition is laminated speech bubbles so that asking questions like “How does the elephant feel today?” can give the children even more opportunity for expression and contribute to a text rich environment.

Once children and staff get used to the display and it looses its “wow” factor it has to go. There’s a great temptation with displays like this to forget their purpose and treat them like pretty wallpaper.

Displays like this need to be treated with a little caution. Whilst it can be great fun to transform a whole classroom too much stimulation can be very challenging for some children. Keeping some areas visually quiet and uncluttered is also a consideration.

seaside display, originally uploaded by LindaH.

This seaside display was made by a family learning class with help from the learning mentor. The children were all under four and attend the school nursery.
I am sure that displays like this are helpful in several ways:

• Making the display provides a shape and purpose for the family learning sessions
• The work gives lots of opportunities for speaking and listening skills to be practised
• Encourages a sense of pride and achievement.
• It promotes a sense of ownership in both the parents and the children

There are more, I’m sure. Seeing this I couldn’t help but think how much better it was than having the sort of Disney cartoon murals you sometimes see in nurseries and creches.

Practical Tips

To re-create this display
The starfish - breakfast cereal or pasta

The crab - folded paper plate, card and googly eyes

The hot air balloon- assorted collage items glued onto card then covered with cellophane, probably stapled.