Inside: Brighten up your space with 8 new ideas for decorating your spring classroom door or bulletin board. These ideas tie in math and/or science to make them both fun and intentional.
My principal smiled at me and turned to leave my classroom. Before exiting, I saw his eyes gaze over to my bulletin board. My bulletin board of smiling snowmen math problems. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. It was April. And those snowmen… well… let’s just say they had been up a while.
He kept walking after a pause and I sank into my chair mortified. How had I forgotten to switch out the student work? How had he managed to leave without commenting on them? Would I have had them up until June had this not happened!?
It’s too easy to get caught up in the never-ending to-do list we all seem to have as teachers. And somehow I had let updating my bulletin boards sink to the very bottom. Oops.
I knew I had to find something to put up. The classwork my students had currently been working on wouldn’t cut it… I needed something better. Something that the kids would truly enjoy making, target a standard or two, and make the classroom bright and cheery.
If you’re anything like me and need a little inspiration for decorating your spring classroom door or bulletin board, here are 8 fresh ideas to consider. (I’ve done the brainstorming for us). 🌈
Idea #1- Bring a Splash of Color to Math Time
Decorating your spring classroom door with a rainbow math craft is an easy and fun way to get students engaged while practicing ways to make 10.
To get started, have students list all the ways you can make ten using math manipulatives. Record all of the ways on an anchor chart that students can refer to throughout this project.
Then have them record each combination on separate ribbons of the rainbow starting with red at the top and working their way down the colors to purple at the bottom.
Glue various parts of the rainbow together and add a smiley sunshine to brighten things up!
This resource includes everything you need to make this craft with your students- printable templates, visual directions, and even flashcards, and a center activity.
Your kids will have so much fun putting this math craft together that they won’t even realize that they’re practicing ways to make 10! Plus, this seasonal project will look adorable when displayed on any spring classroom door.
Click here to check out my Spring Math Bundle which includes the Ways to Make 10 Rainbow Math Craft.
Idea #2- A Bouquet of Facts and Fun
Decorating spring classroom doors with a fun flower math craft is a great way to engage students and reinforce learning about related facts.
To start, students choose or draw two numbers to be the parts and write them on the center of the flower. Then, when those parts are added together, it will provide the third number which is the whole. This introduces or reinforces part-part-whole relationships simply.
Once they have established the parts and whole, a different related fact can be written on each petal.
My Related Facts Flower Math Craft includes everything you’ll need plus alternate versions of some of the pieces so you can tailor the project to best meet your needs. It also includes some fun math center activities for related facts. It’s also part of my Spring Math Bundle. You can check it out here!
Once their flowers are complete, you can display the finished products proudly on your spring classroom door!
Students will get a chance to create a fun project while also practicing their math skills – which is always an exciting combination. Not to mention they’ll also be practicing listening skills and spatial awareness.
Click here to check out the bundle that includes this Related Facts Flower Math Craft on TPT.
Idea #3- Seed Creativity
Decorating classrooms with spring-themed writing and artwork can be a fun way to help your students celebrate the spring season.
Having students respond to spring-related prompts encourages them to think creatively and express themselves in their written work. A spring classroom door – or bulletin board – is a great place to showcase their ideas!
Have each student select one of my free Spring Writing Prompt cards, then give them pastel-colored paper to write on. They can also decorate the page with illustrations. Click here to grab the free set of writing prompts!
If you’re looking for something a little more structured and in-depth, check out my Spring Craft and Writing Activities Bundle. It includes a variety of materials for having your students respond to informative, opinion, and narrative writing prompts.
It also includes everything you need for your students to complete an adorable bunny craft PLUS a bonus bunting banner.
(This resource pairs AWESOMELY with my free Spring Writing Prompt cards, too!)
Once the writing is complete, string up spring-inspired clothespins and ribbon for them to hang up their work on the spring classroom door. You’ll have a pretty DIY spring gallery that everyone can enjoy – plus, you’ll be giving your students an opportunity to practice important writing skills!
Make sure you check out my free Spring Writing Prompt cards so you can get started making your spring classroom door today!
Idea #4- Shine a Light on Place Value
Decorating a spring classroom door is an excellent way to liven up the teaching and learning space.
This springtime craft, which will involve creating a sunshine and rainbow math craft, is not only highly engaging for students but can be used as a review of place value skills.
First, students must identify the number of tens and ones in a given number. Afterward, they create the craft so that the number of stripes in the rainbow depicts the number of tens, while the number of raindrops represents the number of ones!
For example, if a student selects (or is assigned) the number 46 there should be 4 stripes in the rainbow and 6 raindrops beneath it.
My Place Value Spring Math Craft includes instructions for teachers, step-by-step visual directions for students, project planner sheets, and printable craft templates.
My favorite part of this resource- it includes two different craft options. The sunshine/rainbow craft is perfect for your spring classroom door or bulletin board throughout the season but there’s also a version with a leprechaun if you wanted something tailored to St. Patrick’s Day.
By making this spring sunshine and rainbow (or leprechaun) math craft for your spring classroom door using place value skills, you’ll have a beautiful welcome for new students, families coming to school events, or anyone who visits your classroom!
Idea #5- Egg-cellent Fun with Addition and Subtraction Strategies
Transform your spring classroom door into something special with the help of the egg basket craft!
Start by giving each of your students an addition or subtraction problem – that way they can practice their math skills as they create their project.
Challenge them to write down three different strategies for solving the problem on colored paper cutouts in the shape of eggs, then attach them to a basket.
My Egg Basket Spring Math Craft resource includes the templates you’ll need, step-by-step instructions, and project planner pages. It also includes 40 addition and 40 subtraction cards to make assigning students a fact to solve a breeze. Click here to check out my huge bundle that includes this adorable craft.
Once the baskets are finished, hang the finished product on your spring classroom door or bulletin board and admire it from afar! This activity is perfect because it not only brightens up the space but also incorporates a fun yet educational element.
Idea #6- Forecast Some Fun with Spring Weather Crafts
If you’re looking for a way to decorate your spring classroom door that integrates a subject beyond math and writing, consider focusing on spring weather. This is a great way to target science standards while also brightening your classroom!
Start by teaching your students about spring weather, such as the different types of clouds, raindrops, and sunshine that come with spring. Use books, videos, and other curriculum materials.
Then have your students create decorations themed around the different types of spring weather, like paper crafts featuring clouds, raindrops, and smiley faces to represent the sun. Try to find creative materials they can use like colorful construction paper or tissue paper for extra texture.
Once they’ve finished their creations, they can display them around the door frame or string them up in a banner to hang across the top of the door. Having a spring-themed door will brighten up any hallway.
Idea #7- Flutter Your Way to Fun
Another option to decorate your spring door while also integrating science concepts is to focus on butterflies.
Before beginning the art activity, teach your students about the life cycle of a butterfly. Discuss its metamorphosis from laying eggs on leaves into caterpillars and then, emerging as elegantly colored butterflies.
Once your students have a decent understanding of how a butterfly grows and changes, start creating colorful butterflies.
Using construction paper or cardstock, students can make all kinds of butterfly shapes by cutting out circle body parts or triangular wings in several different hues of paper.
For added benefit, you can add an element of mathematics by having them use geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, and rectangles when designing their butterflies.
After they’ve created several designs, glue each butterfly onto construction paper and hang it directly on the spring classroom door for an explosion of rainbow colors! This math-integrated art project is sure to bring vibrant images of spring right into your home or classroom.
Idea #8- Paws-itively Adorable Animal Track
A final option to decorate your spring classroom door is to have your students study different animal tracks. This is a great way to tie in learning from a science unit on animals.
To get started, have students brainstorm a list of animals they might find in the woods in spring. This could include creatures like deer, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and even birds.
Then, research the tracks each animal would make – for example, does generally leave two-lobed hoof prints on top of one another.
Once you’ve established which animals will be featured and how their tracks should look, gather some materials such as paint and construction paper or foam sheets that can help you create those designs.
Once everything is ready to go, the students can work together to create whimsical spring animal tracks on your door – it’s sure to make everyone smile! And don’t forget to hang spring flowers and other decorations around inside your classroom too; it’s amazing what a difference these small details can make in creating a cheerful atmosphere.
This is a simple activity that shouldn’t take long but would be very engaging for students and connect well with previous learning
Spring into Decorating Your Classroom
Now that you have some fun and educational ideas for decorating your classroom door or bulletin board, it’s time to get started.
Check out my Spring Bulletin Board Crafts and Activities Bundle for Math. It includes all of the math crafts I mentioned in this blog post plus spring-themed math centers.
These crafts will look amazing on your spring classroom door, bulletin boards, windows, or even hanging from your ceiling.
Also, don’t forget to grab this FREE set of spring-themed writing prompts to help keep your students engaged in learning all season long.
As for me, I’m onto the next challenge… making sure I remember to switch out my sunny spring crafts before fall returns. 😬
