There is no shortage of important days and weeks in October to gather inspiration from when planning your classroom bulletin boards and doors. You can have fun making spooky Halloween-themed boards or get more serious with boards honoring custodial staff or National Indigenous Peoples Day. You can also include bulletin boards or doors decorated to share anti-drug and anti-bullying messages. Check out our list of the best October bulletin board ideas below.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Bulletin Boards
1. Mapping Native America with photos
This bulletin board would be the perfect fit for your classroom to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 10. To replicate this board, make an outline of the United States out of a bead garland before adding photos of Native Americans.
Source: Fox Chapel Country Day School in Pennsylvania
2. Profile of an important holiday
October bulletin board ideas should include those that honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day like this simple but on-point board. The real feathers in the headdress certainly add an extra oomph to this board. Be sure to change the date since Indigenous Peoples’ Day occurs on the second Monday in October each year, not the same date.
Source: Pinterest/Eastvalley Elementary, Marietta, Georgia
3. Web of first Americans
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Grab a map and get started re-creating this informative and interesting bulletin board honoring important Native Americans and where they are from.
Source: Pinterest/Anna Searcy
4. Backdrop for books
This board was created for National Native American Heritage Month but it would work equally well for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Adding items like a dream catcher and a talking stick will add interest to this backdrop for books on Indigenous communities.
Source: Pinterest/St. Joseph Public Library
5. Wearable bulletin board
Have your students create masks honoring the Maya, and then decorate this bulletin board with them!
Source: Twitter/Potters Gate Primary
Bullying Awareness Month Bulletin Boards
6. Stop in the name of bullying awareness
Since October is Bullying Awareness Month, this interactive bulletin board will help dispel myths about bullying while promoting kindness. Students can read the questions on the stop signs and then lift the flaps to read the answers.
Source: Friendship Circle
7. Lending a hand to stop bullying
Have students trace their hand on bright-colored card stock, then have them write an anti-bullying sentiment on the hand. Use the completed decorated hands to embellish this Bullying Awareness bulletin board.
Source: Twitter/Blair Smith
8. Buddy up to anti-bullying
This simple mantra will stick with your students as they go about their day. The construction-paper kids holding the anti-bullying messages are particularly cute.
Source: St Mary’s N.S. Saggart
9. Anti-bullying quilt
This quilt idea can get a whole grade involved since there is plenty of space for students to come together to write their pledges.
Source: PE Central
10. A positive outlook
This board is simple and is more of a reminder not to bully yourself than to not bully others. The reframing of negative thoughts will surely fit right in with your social and emotional curriculum.
Source: Facebook/Signup.com
11. Peas be kind
October bulletin board ideas can be simple and playful yet so poignant at the same time! Kids will surely get a kick out of this fun message.
Source: Pinterest/Dawn McDevitt
Bulletin Boards for National Custodial Worker Day
12. A spot of gratitude
Since National Custodial Worker Day is on October 2, this adorably decorated door will be the perfect way to thank school custodians for all they do. Have your students write on the spots why they are thankful, and then spread them out over your door or bulletin board.
Source: Pinterest/Atwood Hammond Elementary
13. A tasty thank-you
This adorable play on words, or in this case candy names, is a sweet way to say thank you to custodial workers on a special day designated in their honor.
Source: The Blue Hill Primary PTO, Wimberley, Texas
14. Leaf something to make the custodial staff smile
This bulletin board is perfect for a month that has both beautiful foliage and a holiday to honor custodial workers. Students can practice gratitude while writing their personalized messages on the leaves.
Source: A Crowded Classroom
15. Starry note of appreciation
So easy to re-create, the custodial staff at your school will surely appreciate this note of thanks! Cut out stars and have students sign them to make it a large-scale thank-you card from your entire class!
Source: Ms. Sepp’s Counselor Corner
16. Life Savers for your lifesavers!
Another cute play on a candy name, this board will convey your class’s appreciation for the custodial staff in a really sweet way.
Source: Ms. Sepp’s Counselor Corner
17. A clean sweep
This idea is versatile since it can be used for either a door or a bulletin board. This sentiment might be best in a high school because of the nature of the play on words.
Source: Pinterest/Anjela Schieving
Halloween Bulletin Boards
18. Hang with these bats
Although it is more cute than spooky, this door is the perfect way to welcome students into your classroom in October.
Source: Pinterest/California Casualty
19. Social media scaries
This bulletin board is Halloween-themed while also spreading useful information on social media safety. The interactive flaps will draw students in whenever they walk by!
Source: School Counselor Blog
20. Get caught in a good book
We love that this board is affordable to re-create since you will really only need some dollar-store spider webs and a spider—you already have the books!
Source: Read With Mrs. Klein
21. Spiderrific parts of speech
We love a Halloween-themed bulletin board that also serves as an ELA lesson! Students will love following this silly spider’s legs to learn more about the parts of speech.
Source: Read With Mrs. Klein
22. Happy Halloween!
This is the perfect bulletin board to leave up in your classroom during the entire month of October. It will give students something to look forward to since Halloween is the culmination of a month’s worth of excitement!
Source: Breanne Bannerman
23. Books are scary good!
If you’re in need of a quick yet cute decoration for your classroom door, then this is the one for you! It’s simple and affordable to re-create—all you’ll need is some card stock and white crepe paper.
Source: Library Life
Fall-Themed Bulletin Boards
24. Fall into healthy habits
What’s better than a pretty fall-themed bulletin board that also spreads a positive message? Students will certainly learn a thing or two about healthy habits after checking out this board!
Source: PE Central
25. Falling into good study habits
Your students will enjoy seeing their own good study habit displayed on a leaf on this pretty board. Buy some dollar-store leaves and flowers to frame it!
Source: Pinterest/Brianna Nicole
26. If I only had a book …
Wizard of Oz fans will definitely enjoy this cute play on the lyrics to the song “If I Only Had a Brain.”
Source: Library Life
Bulletin Boards for Red Ribbon Week
27. A hand in standing up to drugs
The ribbon in this bulletin board will really pop since it is three-dimensional thanks to the red cutout hands. The cute play on words will also be appreciated by all that walk by it!
Source: Staten Island, NYC Living
28. Keeping hands off drugs
Students can get involved with this board since they will be decorating and writing their pledges on the cutout hands. You can also include other classrooms or maybe even the whole grade depending on your wall size.
Source: Pinterest/Carrie Hubert
29. Red Ribbon Week calendar
Since Red Ribbon Week is in October, this board is perfect for making sure students don’t forget what they are doing each day of the week to take a stand against drugs.
Source: Plumberry Pie
30. Drugs are no treat!
Students can make these cute candy corns that are made up of tissue paper balls during arts-and-crafts time. They can then be attached to this door to spread a Halloween-themed message about the dangers of drugs.
Source: Herding Kats in Kindergarten
What are your favorite October bulletin board ideas? Share them in our WeAreTeachers Facebook group!
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