Guppy Graphs

This is a Math interactive bulletin board that teaches the basics of graphing. This is a great way to teach students how to look at data and analyze their findings using a bar graph! Perfect for teaching greater than and less than in its most basic form. Here are the products I used...

• PAC57340 - Magenta Fadeless 24X12 Paper
• T92408 - Sparkle Fish Scalloped Trimmer
• T8086 - 100 Day Fish Bowl BBS
• CTP5184 - White Small Horizontal Calendar (Cut the header with the days of the week off and taped 2 of them together).
• CTP4628 - Poppin' Patterns Uppercase Letter Stickers (used for the numbers on the graph).
• CTP1228 - 7" Poppin' Patterns Punch Out Letters
• HYG43317 - Assorted Square Pocket Chart Cards (used as cover ups for graph, but post-its would work well too).

If using post its is not possible, another option is to laminate the graph and let students color in the graph with wipe-off markers. The large fish in the set come with the number 10 on them, if you think this will throw your students off, you can always find creative ways to cover them up. As with some of the other centers, include a pocket with a graphing worksheet to be completed by the student. This will help you determine if the center is effective. The directions I typed up using a font I downloaded for free online. The directions read...

- Count all the similar fish.

- Graph your findings.

Happy Fishing!

Puzzling Place Value

Here is a fun and educational math center for learning the basics of place value. This is a skill that most 3rd graders need to understand for standardized testing. Here is how the center works. All the pockets are labeled with a place value. On each card there is a 2-5 digit number. One of the digits is underlined indicating a place value. The student is to determine which place value is being highlighted, then choose the correct pocket. I put stickers on the back of each card that will act as a way for the student to self-check their work. If the sticker on the back matches the one on the pocket, their answer is correct. Below are the instructions I typed up, but you are certainly welcome to do your own or add extra elements as your students require them.

Directions:

1. Choose a number card.
2. Determine which place the underlined number is in.
3. Place card in the pocket that corresponds with that card's place value.
4. After all cards have been placed, flip them over to check your answers.

Another idea would be to attach one of the large pockets used on the front, to the back of the board. Then put a worksheet on place value in the pocket, for students to complete after working at the center. This will help you, as the teacher, determine whether or not the student mastered the skill and if additional instruction is necessary.

Here are the products I used to create this board...

• FLP30045PU - Purple Project Board
• TNT6450 - Real Big Pockets - Bright
• T10805 - Puzzle Mini Accents
• T69034 - Jigsaw Name Plates
• PAC101169 - Colorful Assorted Cardstock
• T79743 - 4" Yellow Playful Punch Out Letters

The words on the pockets I typed up using fonts I downloaded for free online. To make the title I enlarged one of the small puzzle pieces on a copy machine, to create a template that I traced onto colorful pieces of cardstock. I pieced them together to create the background and then put my title on top of it.

Polka Dot Job Chart

So many people are now using the "Dots On Black" Poppin' Patterns Products from Creative Teaching Press and I had a friend of mine, who teaches, ask me if I had any ideas for a job chart. So I put on my thinking cap and this is what came out! The circles in the center of the dots are construction paper circles I cut out and laminated. Then I used velcro to adhere them, so that this chart can be used for several years and only the center circles need to be changed out yearly! I wrote the job title on the outside of the circle at the top. The names of the jobs I used are listed below, but you can always create your own! It always seems to get kids more excited when there is a fun name to go along with the job at hand.

-Weather Reporter

-Calendar Conductor

-Dean of Doors

-Pencil Protector

-Snack Samurai

-Lord of Lights

-Office Outlaw

-Flag Pharoah

-Keeper of Keys

-Board Brigade (2 of these)

-Pet Parent

-Chair Chief

-Lunch Lieutenant

-Paper Pirate

-Fearless Leader

-Plant Prince/Princess

-Captain of Clean

-Earl of Erasers

-Trash Tribe (2 of these)

And here is a list of the products I used to create this fun job chart...

• FLP30049BK - Black Foam Project Board
• CTP3869 - Poppin' Patterns Dots Cutouts
• CTP5933 - Poppin' Patterns Dots Mini Cutouts
• T2704 - 4" White Italic Punch Out Letters
• PAC103045 - Hot Pink 9X12 Construction Paper
• PAC103423 - Brilliant Lime 9X12 Construction Paper
• HYG45215 - Velcro Coins 15 Count

If you have more students than jobs, you might consider attaching a ziploc bag or an expand-a-file onto the back of the board to store your extra student name circles!

I Spot A Good Class

This is a cute one for Spring! I used plain address labels to add the names to the ladybugs...but you could easily just write the names onto the cutouts themselves!

• CDDJ610039- Ladybugs BBS
• FST5145- Red/White 4" Polka Dot Punch Out Letters

That's all you need to create this cute board!

Apple Puzzle

What better way to welcome students to your room than with a board that lets them know how essential they are to the success of the entire class?

• TF8001- Welcome! Apple Puzzle
• T10834- Apples Discovery Mini Accent Variety Pack

I used the mini apples as a trimmer for this board since straight border is impossible to use on a circular board. :)

Memory Verse Bears

A new take on the Valentines Day Bulletin Board. Great for a church Sunday School room or vestibule.

• PAC56118-Petal Pink 48"X12' Fadeless Paper
• T85027-Valentine Hearts Border
• CDDJ610017-Here's My Heart Bears BBS
• T438-Deep Pink 2" Casual Ready Letter
• T10931-Bright Books Accent Variety Cutouts
• T79501-Black 4" 3D Ready Letters
• CDDJ620039-DJ Kids Cutouts

The memory verse on the large heart is...

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." -Psalm 119:11

Winter Friends

This one is great for a classroom that can't decorate for Holidays.

• PAC56388-Winterime 48"X12' Fadeless Paper
• CD1225-Snowflakes Scalloped Border
• CDDJ610018-Snow Pals BBS
• CDDJ610027-Penguin Pals BBS
• Silver Poster Board

I cut the silver poster board to make an ice skating rink for the penguins.

Here Comes Santa Claus

This is a nice one for Christmas! Perfect for a door decoration!

• PAC57210-Light Blue 24"X12' Fadeless Paper
• CD4017-Holly & Checks Pop Apart Border
• Cd110062-Christmas Scene BBS
• T79402-Red 2" 3D Ready Letters

Psychedelic Synonyms

This mini tri-fold is for a center working on synonyms. You could also make this board with antonyms, homonyms, or other phonetic skills.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Boards (Magenta)
• TNT6044-Swirls Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• TNT3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• TNT360-Index Cards 3X5 Colored
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I wrote synonyms on the index cards and laminated them. On the back I put a star sticker that matches the appropriate pocket for self checking.

Grocery Guide Words

Here is another tri-fold center idea. This one is teaching guide words for dictionary skills as well as alphabetical order.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Board (Yellow)
• TNT6433-Red Polka Dot Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• T3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• PAC25340-Craft Sticks Regular Size
• T63337-Snack Foods Stickers
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Stars Stickers (for self checking)

I wrote different food words on the sticks that would go between the guide words printed on the front of the pockets. On the back of the stick I put a star sticker in the color that matched the star on the outside of the pocket which allows for self checking.

Pick A Pronoun

Here is one of the most popular tri-folds I've done. This is on a mini tri-fold board, so it's small enough to sit at a table and allow the teacher to still see the students working behind it.

• 895183-Assorted Mini Tri-Fold Board (Light Blue)
• TNT6034-Green Polka Dot Library Pockets (Peel & Stick)
• TNT3542-Pocket Chart Cards Bright (100 count)
• PAC25340-Craft Sticks Regular Size
• T46405-Colorful Sparkle Star Stickers (for self-checking)

The polka dot paper behind the title is one of the pockets cut apart. On each stick I put a different noun (also included proper nouns) Then on the back of the stick I put a star sticker that matched one that I put on the outside of the pocket, allowing the student to check their work.

Chilly Change

This is one of many Tri-Fold displays I've done. They're some of my favorites to do because they're so versatile. It's a perfect for a center because it can be brought out during part of the year while teaching a specific skill and stored away when the unit is over. This particular one is on counting money, specifically change.

• FLP30049-Light Blue Foam Project Board
• CD120048-Penguins/Igloos Cutout Buddies
• CD5261-US Money Coins Stickers
• FX12-742-Snowflake Prism Stickers
• White Poster Board (Drew blocks on it to give the illusion of an igloo for the background of the title.)
• T79045-Snowflake 4" Casual Letters

Radical Readers/Zebra & Pink Print

This board is perfect for placing students in reading groups! Switch it up by labeling them X, Y, Z instead of the traditional ABC groups! Another idea is to allow students to name their groups!

• PAC57128-Nile Green 48”X12’ Fadeless Paper
• FST3114-Zebra Double Sided Border
• FST4614-Zebra Blank Chart
• FST4530-Zebra Create & Decorate BBS
• FST5126-Zebra 4” Punch Out Letters

Monkey See, Monkey Do

This board is perfect for a door or narrow space! A great way to display your alphabet line if you don't have the space along a wall!

• PAC57028-Brown 48”X12’ Fadeless Paper
• T8226-Monkey Mischief Jumbo Alphabet Line Modern Manuscript (Traditional/Zaner Bloser also available)
• T10818-Monkeys and Bananas Mini Accent Cutouts
• T79743-Yellow 4” Playful Ready Letters
• CTP1931-Coconut Palms Border

Color Overalls

This one is totally cute for an Early Childhood classroom! Here are the products I used on this one...

• PAC57080-Canary Fadeless 24"x12' Paper
• T92194-Color Pallette Scalloped Trimmer
• CD110107-Color Overalls BBS
• CD120043-Paintbrushes and Cans Cutout Buddies

Read A Real Gem

Here's an exciting way to track your the reading completed by your class!

Here are the products used on this board...

• PAC57210-Lite Blue Fadeless Paper 24x12
• CD1240-Ocean Waves Scalloped Border
• CD110098-Big Treasure Chest BBS
• CD3459-Dive Into Learning BBS
• T10931-Bright Books Classic Accents Variety Pack
• T10821-Bright Books Mini Accents Variety Pack
• T10928-Speech Balloons Classic Accents Variety Pack
• HYG33605-White Picket Fence Cutout Border

I used the key that comes in the treasure chest BBS to track the number of books the students read. I used an exacto knife to cut along the edge of the inside of the treasure chest allowing me to put the book accents inside and some of the big jewel cutouts. The picket fence border serves as a sea ladder, I cut the points off the top of the fence making it look like a ladder. The treasure at the bottom of the ladder is the treasure meant to go inside the chest.

The quotation on the bubble says, "WOW, look how many books this class has read!"

Look Whooo's In First Grade

Nothing makes a student feel more special than being welcomed to the classroom with an amazing door or wall display. For this one I used the following products...

• CD110136- Pop It Tree BBS
• CD110137 - Owl BBS
• T79401 - 2" Black 3D Ready Letters

I made the quotation bubble by cutting out a piece of light blue poster board.