Need Ideas For Winter Bulletin Boards?!?!

Need ideas for winter bulletin boards?!?!  Here are several I've done over the years that might get some ideas cookin' for you! I don't do holidays because that is limiting for students and the length you allow something to stay up!  A winter board can be up till the end of February.  

(I'm currently working on this year's with my students!). 

This is a great time to do a school wide collaborative project!  Every year I have my students create a different component for a large collaborative mural.  If I have any left over parts...I usually hang up smaller displays in other parts of the school.  The students are always so excited to try to find the part they created!  The project range from watercolor, collage, marker, colored pencil, crayon...and everything in between!!  You can make this work based on the supplies and space you have available to you at your school!

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Collaborative Winter Bulletin Board 2022

I do a collaborative bulletin board for winter every year. Here is the link to the post where I shared a lot of  past boards >>  https://www.artwithmre.com/2022/11/need-some-winter-bulletin-board.html

When I made that post we had not finished up this year's board.  I wanted to share it with you.  I love how cool & wintery it looks.  For those of you wondering how I do this...let me share.

The days before Thanksgiving break I have all my classes make parts to the board.  They are told from the start that they will be "gifting" this creation to the school to make it beautiful.  I've never had a problem where students negatively reacted to giving their work to the bulletin board.  They know it will be on display for three months, and they will get to see it every time they enter the school, go to lunch, related arts, or other times walking through the school.  I know I've had teachers in the past tell me they thought there students would not be able to part with their work.  I honestly believe if you tell them from the beginning the purpose of the project....they get it & will be totally on board! As the teacher, I cast the vision of what the finished work will look like, and the part the students work will play.  I keep the different parts to the board in baskets to stay organized (after they've dried...most pieces are painted or collage).  This is a great time to review some skills too!! (cutting, painting, gluing..etc)  Also feel free to have  some responsible older students help you with assembling the board when all the pieces are complete! 

Need Some Winter Bulletin Board Inspiration?

It is that time of year when we start thinking of ideas for new winter themed bulletin board ideas. Here are many of my past boards (I'm currently working on this year's with my students!).  This is a great time to do a school wide collaborative project!  Every year I have my students create a different component for a large collaborative mural.  If I have any left over parts...I usually hang up smaller displays in other parts of the school.  The students are always so excited to try to find the part they created!  The project range from watercolor, collage, marker, colored pencil, crayon...and everything in between!!  You can make this work based on the supplies and space you have available to you at your school!

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My Favorite Collaborative Winter Bulletin Board

 During a "normal" year I always do a huge collaborative bulletin board with all my students. Each class/grade level takes on a "piece" of the picture. One class did the sky, one grade level did the buildings..etc. Then they all come together into a huge display that is at the front of the school as you enter our building .

This one popped up in my Facebook memories.

One of my favorites. I do not "do" holidays in my classroom because of a deep desire to be inclusive of all my students. I had done so many BRIGHT & COLORFUL boards in the past, I really wanted to show the students that "black & white" could be beautiful. This winter board will forever hold a special place in my heart!

Collaborative Winter Bulletin Board 2019

A couple weeks ago I posted my past winter bulletin boards. I've been back to work for about two weeks, and was able to cobbble together a collaborative board in the midst of grading all the art work that was created during the month and a week I was out on medical leave.

The sky was created by three different classes. Two classes created the checkerboards with marker. They then sprayed them with water to "soften" the pattern. The next day students in another class used bubble wrap and white tempera and stamped the paper. 

I had one group of third graders create the checkerboard border using rulers and silver crayons. I try to give my students as many opportunities as possible to use rulers because it seems that they get few chances to do so in their classroom.  

I had a good bit of the painted paper & checkerboard border the kids made left...so I re-did the PTO board as well.  They were thrilled!

Here is a closer shot!

Some classes created snowmen in action. Love this coco stand! 

Well..can you tell what is going on here?! It is pretty funny! This 4th grader has a wicked humor! 

A little twisted! 

Winter Bulletin Boards

Since I've been at home on medical leave/FMLA....and not at school to do my annual winter board...I thought I'd share boards from years past. These are all collaborative boards with 2 or more grade levels involved (most utilizing the whole school!). The work is on a bulletin board in the main hallway, and I usually leave it up until February. It is so much fun seeing the kids looking for the part they contributed!! 

Collaborative Winter Board 2016: Winter in the Smokies

Every year I do a collaborative board with K-4.  Each student makes a part of the board.  I've posted them since 2008 when I began my blog.  It is amazing how much they've changed over the years.  This year I picked the theme Winter in the Smokies.  This was before all the wild fires took place....so I feel it is now a nice reminder to keep that community in our thoughts!!  

Here is a close up of the main board!

Because of the number of classes I see.....the board is not big enough for all the students work.  So we have a display outside my room & in another hall way!  I really does give a great winter feel to the whole school. It has become something the staff & parents really look forward to seeing each year!

Winter Bulletin Board 2016: BEGINNING

I've been posting my winter collaborative boards for as long as I've been blogging.  Each year I try to tweek/improve/change things.  This year I was thinking about Tennessee (I teach in Nashville)....so we're going to make Winter in the Smokies!   Each class makes different parts of the bulliten board..and then we assemble it.  It will be up from the end of Nov. till mid Feb.  The kids understand they won't get the pieces back, and are totally ok with it!! (You just have to prepare them for that from the beginning!!)  

Here is a link to my past winter bulletin boards!!

http://www.artwithmre.com/search/label/Winter%20Bulletin%20Boards

Winter Board 2015

This year's winter board was inspired by the book The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy & Jane Chapman.  It doesn't look as wintery as boards of years past....but I love it.  All the color makes me happy...and I know will help with the long gray days of winter!!!  Instead of doing Christmas lights...I had my 4th graders create colorful feathers(Remember my ATC's for Mini Matisse's trade?  The kids really mastered this skill!! Beautiful!!). 2nd graders had been weaving, so with them I did a quick mini weaving using two colors of blue for the sky.  1st grade created the pine trees that line the bottom. Kindergarten created the amazing patterned owls!  LOVE THE OWLS!!!!   I know I gush a lot about my students' work, but I really am their biggest fan!!! I hope this post & the last one inspired you to do a collaborative board in your school!!!  If you create one inspired by the ones from ART WITH MR. E....I'd love to see them!! Facebook me or e-mail the images!!!

Winter Boards 2008-2014

Every year I've done a collaborative winter board in the main hall of our school.  Unfortunately, before blogging....I wasn't very good at taking pictures of what was happening in the art room.  

All of the boards represent multiple grade levels.  Some years I had every class in the school participate...while other years around half of the school participated.  For example, this year 3rd grade did not contribute because they were busy working on their circle weavings...and because of time I really needed them to focus on that project. 

It is kind of amazing to see the change in the boards over the years.  I think the first few years I didn't have a real "plan".  Now I'm dreaming of what could be for the following year as I'm putting up the current years!!  Stay tuned...this year's board will be posted in the next day or so!!!

2008 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014