Winter Classroom Displays - The Red, Red, Robin November 5, 2007
Posted by Linda in : Seasonal, quick display, winter , 1 comment so far 
Red Red Robin, originally uploaded by LindaH.
This is one of those classroom displays that works best on a large wall. The original was floor to (a fairly low) ceiling. This meant that the robins were quite a bit larger than life size!
The display looks impressive but it was fairly quickly done. The wall was backed with sugar paper. It was at the entrance to the classroom where it didn’t get direct sunlight so wouldn’t fade.The bare trees were made from old tights, the leaves at the bottom were re-cycled from the autumn display and the snow was just cotton wool. The titles just printed and cut out.
The main focus was on the making of the robins. This display was in the SERF unit which served a range of ages and abilities within the school. The robins had to be a simple design and yet leave room for the older children to express themselves. I think it has worked well from that point of view.
I spoke to the teacher and speech therapist involved in the display and they felt it was important that it was used as a starting point for lots of speaking and listening work. I love this commitment to making the display a regular part of the teaching strategy. It’s powerful stuff. The display evolved over several days and the children were involved at every stage.They also enjoyed singing the song 
Some of the children found change very difficult so working on classroom displays like this gave lots of opportunity to prepare for the changing season.
Snow Dudes January 11, 2007
Posted by lmhartley in : literacy, winter , 1 comment so far 
Snow Dudes, originally uploaded by CharmingMilo.
I like this jolly selection of Snow Dudes. They are just the thing to cheer up a dull January day. Debbie writes:
We read a book in my classroom called “SnowDude” by Daniel Kirk. In the story, the kids make a “snow dude” who comes to life and runs away. He snowboards and acts wild. I had my students make their own snow dudes with mini books to match. This is the bulletin board outside my classroom.
Update:
And for anyone else who would like to make them: I used two patterns- one for the pants and one for the snow dude head/body. This way he looked more like the character from the story, with a big belly that hangs over his pants. The kids were allowed to choose whatever color paper they wanted for the pants.
The story of Snow Dude is also similar to The Gingerbread Man, so it makes for a great comparison lesson!
Futher Update:
I am getting ready to take the Snow Dudes bulletin board down to make room for the Valentine decorations and February projects. But I thought I’d snap a picture of my favorite little dude before I did so. The mini book with him says his snow dude likes to “belly slide down skiing hill and leave the other people running behind.
Snowflakes November 30, 2006
Posted by lmhartley in : Seasonal, winter , 3comments 
Snowflakes, originally uploaded by LindaH.
Sometimes displays are for the staff as well as the children. I like this one very much.
The Snow Queen and Science November 8, 2006
Posted by lmhartley in : Science, literacy, numeracy, winter , 1 comment so far 
snowqueen, originally uploaded by LMH_.
The Snowqueen was a half term long year 3 project a couple of years ago. She was huge- larger than life. She dominated the classroom and was actually very well-loved by some children, despite her evil ways (or possibly because of them )
The children really loved making her, and the snowflakes which hung from the ceiling all over the classroom. She was a totally cross curricular project.
The snowflakes were made to link in with year 3 maths, lines of symetry and reflection.
She was a traditional tale -turned into a playscript (literacy)
We investigated various materials to judge their suitability for making Gerda a coat to keep her warm (science).
Oh and we went to see a production of the play, in a theatre, at the end of the term. (PSHE - social skills and knowledge of the world).
The Snow Queen Rides December 31, 2005
Posted by lmhartley in : Seasonal, winter , comments closedThis display could be just the work of a talented TA or it might have been made with help from children. How much value does this sort of display have in the classroom?
Here
I interviewed some children about their thoughts on the making of this image (from Classroom Displays in Primary, LM Hartley, 2005)
