April brings with it several themes and activities that teachers can use to create bright, interactive bulletin boards. Though some teachers might think that bulletin boards are only for younger grades, high school students will benefit from mature bulletin board topics.
It's Raining Books
Utilize an April shower theme with an It's Raining Books! bulletin board. Cover a bulletin board with blue paper to represent the sky. Then, title the board, "It's Raining Books!" or another similar title. Create several umbrella cutouts and staple or paste them all over the board. You could also simply draw umbrellas on the board. Then, paste book cutouts over the umbrellas. Include books that the class has read earlier in the school year and also books that are on the school's summer reading list. They could also be students' favorite books. If students choose to post their favorite books, ask them share why they enjoy the book with the class.
You Fool!
Since April 1 is April Fools' Day, entertain high school students with a You Fool! bulletin board. To do this, cover a bulletin board with yellow paper or any other bright color. At the top of the board, write, "You Fool!" And at the bottom of the board, write this quote from William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" in quotation marks: "Better a witty fool that a foolish wit." Next, think of foolish characters throughout literature. You could use either funny fools or tragic fools. For instance, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Lennie from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" could all be considered tragic fools. See Reference 1 for more examples of literary fools. Then, draw or paste a picture of these fools and write a brief synopsis of the work in which their foolish behavior is displayed. Paste the synopses next to the pictures. Ask students to help with the synopses.
It's Party Time
Most school districts have a spring break sometime in late March or early April. In addition, prom season starts at the end of the April. Help students make wise party choices with an It's Party Time bulletin board. To do this, cover a bulletin board with bright paper. Divide the bulletin board however you wish to include safety topics pertinent to your students. For instance, the left third of the board could have a car on it and be devoted to road safety for travelers. The middle could have a beach scene for those going somewhere warmer on spring break. Include sun and water safety in this part of the bulletin board. See Reference 2 for some sun and water tips published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The far right side could be a cutout of a prom dress with party safety tips for during the dance and after.
