As the new school year is approaching, new teachers are ecstatic to be choosing a theme and decorating their classrooms. One major rookie mistake though is to spend a lot of time and money on “decorating.” But, when you are new and excited it’s hard to resist. As you move from year to year, and gain experience, your priorities will change as you prepare for each new year. You will be able to fine-tune the areas of your room you want to represent, and if you can wrap it around a theme, well that’s just fun!
I have seen some amazing themes throughout the years. Some of my favorites and most impressive were Pirates, Mary Engelbreit, Under the Sea, Western, and my absolute favorite…a Travel Theme! I have spent years adding to, and editing my travel theme in my classrooms. Below are some of the ideas I used to display and incorporate my theme.
Teacher’s desk turned into a car, with lights that turn on! Also pictured, is the lollipop bouquet used for rewards.
Door decoration.
Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Door decoration
A cling on, dry-erase map to add locations we read about. Also, the heart-shaped “READ” icons were lights I got from a dollar store. I used puffy paint to write the letters on each. When we would start our silent/free reading time I turned on all four lights. For every five minutes that pass, a light is turned off to indicate how much time is left. The students loved having the job of pushing the lights off.
We used the map to track postcards we received from our “Elf OFF the Shelf” that year.
Math facts tracking board, Bucket Fillers board, and student work display board.
“I Can” statements/learning targets and standards board. The boxes were completed for each lesson/unit/standard, etc.
“I Can” board to show the standards being taught per subject.
Calendar
Classroom Jobs board
Daily Schedule
Lunch Count. We would start our day on green, and whoever was having hot lunch would show a red card, a blue card for cold lunch, and if it stayed on green that student was absent.
Word Wall
Reading area with a suitcase filled with travel themed books, brochures, maps, postcards, etc.
Behavior chart
As the year went on, our classroom needed items restocked. If anyone wanted to donate items they could take the sticky note for what they would like to donate.
Reading tracking board. Each car represented a student’s words read per minute.
Math facts tracking board. Each student had a sailboat for addition and subtraction facts.
Each student had a passport we would add to throughout the year. At the beginning, we would set goals and as they completed tasks they would get marked. Stickers, stamps, writing, etc. would be added to their passport to track their year.
This set of stamps had “I Can” statements on them that we would use to stamp our passports as we completed standards and tasks.
Center signs
Weekly Spelling list display
Classroom bathroom door
Classroom ready for Meet the Teacher Night
Classroom ready for Meet the Teacher Night
Classroom Library
Classroom Library
Some items were purchased in stores or on Teachers Pay Teachers, others were ideas found on the internet and Pinterest, and some were my own. I am not taking credit for anyone else’s creations, but merely giving examples of ways to utilize items in a travel-themed classroom.
I would love to brainstorm and discuss any ideas, questions, concerns, tips, etc. you may have as the new school year approaches. Happy planning!
What an exciting way to begin the year. a far cry from back in 1945 when I BEGAN IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY, WITH ALL 8 GRADES .
i would have loved learning in this kind of environment.
I sure enjoy visiting your room each year, seeing all the different areas, you are so very creative!
What an exciting way to begin the year. a far cry from back in 1945 when I BEGAN IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY, WITH ALL 8 GRADES .
i would have loved learning in this kind of environment.