Bulletin boards have been called the “silent teachers” of the classroom. They can be just that, if they are used! Regardless of the age group you teach, a carefully decorated bulletin board is a positive addition to your study environment.

The well-put-together bulletin board does a lot of things:

• It says the teacher cares and is interested in his students.

• It provides an interesting, bright focal point in the classroom.

• It introduces new ideas and information.

• It stimulates discussion and stirs curiosity.

• It may visually portray the theme of the quarter lessons.

• It can commemorate special occasions, seasons, and holidays.

• It reflects the individuals who attend the class, making them feel a part of the group.

Do you want your bulletin board to have impact?

• Keep it simple. Don’t clutter the board, but leave plenty of open space.

• Plan before you begin by making a rough pencil sketch of your layout.

• Keep the caption short, and the letters easily legible from a distance.

• Use only two or three main colors for letters, background and border.

• Plan a design appropriate to the age level of your students.

• When possible, involve your students in preparing materials for your bulletin board.

• Arrange your boards at the students’ eye level.

• Change your board often. Remove seasonal or holiday decorations immediately following the holiday season.

• Plan an occasional display that you can add to or change every week.

Stimulate interest in your bulletin boards by experimenting with different materials, techniques and backgrounds

• The background of your display can be construction paper. But also consider using burlap, wallpaper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, cotton fabric in a small print, maps, foil, gift wrap, or fish net.

• Mount the pictures for your display on construction paper matched to a predominate color in the picture, or a color which picks up one of the colors in your background material. Add interest by mounting pictures on unusual shapes, by cutting or tearing out the shapes.

• Try outlining your pictures with heavy string, rope, or yarn instead of mounting them. Try framing an outdoor scene with twigs, a snow scene with a white lace doily or fluffy cotton balls. Use your imagination!

• Introduce the 3-D aspect into your bulletin boards. Raise your pictures from the background by mounting pictures on the front of flat boxes attached to the board. Mount small objects to your board. Use a shelf to display small items. Soft sculptured letters, padded pictures, or frames are a beautiful way to add depth to your board.

• Use variety in your lettering materials. Consider using letters made from yarn or string. Cut-out letters can be fashioned from construction paper, burlap, wallpaper, gift-wrap, or fabric.

Where can you find ideas for your bulletin boards?

• Observe other teachers’ boards. Sometimes one of their ideas will trigger an idea for an adaptation you could use.

• Christian supply stores or Bible bookstores are sources for books on creative bulletin boards for Sunday school use.

• Teacher resource centers and stores will offer ideas for bulletin boards, as well as supplies for backgrounds, borders and lettering which can be adapted for use in Sunday school.

• Look for ideas on greeting cards, posters, and calendars.

• Visit public libraries and school classrooms. Study their bulletin boards and make sketches for later use, or take photos to keep on file.

• Keep magazine pictures in a file of ideas that appeal to you.

• Look through children’s coloring books and reading books for figures that can be used as patterns.

Save time and effort by recycling your bulletin boards

• Keep your letter patterns and cut-out letters.

• Cover letters and figures you wish to use again with clear adhesive paper.

• Remove all figures and letters carefully.

• Keep an up-to-date file of sketches, photos or board ideas you have used, and when.

• If your figures aren’t too large, store all the pieces for one board in a large flat envelope. Protect large figures with large plastic storage bags.