Turning Bulletin Boards into Classroom Games

This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!

Hello!  My name is Rachael from The Classroom Game Nook Blog.  Thanks to Rachel Lynette for allowing me to share some tips with her readers today!

As you might guess by the title of my blog, I’m a big fan of classroom games to promote a meaningful and engaging learning environment.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that most students would much prefer playing a game with their friends to review an important concept over reviewing using a textbook or a worksheet.

Now, you might think that bulletin boards and games have nothing to do with each other, but I’m here today to tell you that they have EVERYTHING to do with each other.  When I taught in the classroom full-time, I loved putting up a beautiful bulletin board display.  After stapling up the final piece, I’d stand back and admire my work (OK, and maybe call a colleague or two into my room to validate my work with their “ooos” and “ahhhs”…).  The only problem:  My students could care less that I spent two hours after school putting it up.  In fact, they hardly noticed. (Womp, womp…)

That all changed when I started using my bulletin boards for games!  And now, you can, too!

Step 1: Don’t just put up your completed unit bulletin board at the beginning of the unit and leave it there hoping your students will notice.

(“Mrs. ____, you are soooo talented at creating meaningful and beautiful bulletin boards for us!” <—not going to happen!)  Instead, put up the pieces WITH your students.  Begin the unit by putting up only the topic headings:

This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!

Step 2:  Continue to add pieces to your bulletin board as you learn about your unit.

Be sure to refer to your bulletin board often so that students get in the habit of using it as a resource.  By the time your unit is complete, students will be very aware of everything on the bulletin board:

 

This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!
{Find this bulletin board set as part of my Getting Started in Writer’s Workshop unit.}

 

Step 3:  Use your bulletin board to play a review game!

This is where you check how well your students have paid attention to your bulletin board throughout the unit!  Check out these fun ways to use completed bulletin boards to engage your students in review games.  These games can be played with bulletin boards for any concept or grade level.

This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!
{Find this bulletin board set as part of my Sun, Earth, and Moon unit.}
This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!
{Find this bulletin board set as part of my Teaching Science through Non-Fiction Texts unit.}
This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!
{Find this bulletin board set as part of my Early Explorers unit.}
This Minds in Bloom guest blogger shares some really great tips on turning bulletin boards into classroom games. There are a variety of games that you can play once you've completed a bulletin board WITH your students. Who knew?!
{This bulletin board set it part of my Force and Motion unit.}

 

So many options!  If you’ve got a bulletin board, then you’ve got a game waiting to happen!  I’d love for you to pop over to the Classroom Game Nook blog for even more game ideas, tips, and freebies!

 

The Classroom Game Nook

Rachael Parlett
Rachael Parlett is the teacher-author behind the Classroom Game Nook.  She is blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to her 1-year-old daughter while still maintaining her Teachers Pay Teachers store and collaborating with other teachers.  You can stay in touch with Rachael on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!

Minds in Bloom

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