6 Impactful Bulletin Board Ideas for the Inquiry Classroom

Traditionally, bulletin boards existed as a place where teachers could hang student work and show off the progress in their classrooms. They acted as appealing displays to complement the work being done by students. These days, teachers are uncovering so many other interesting and versatile ways to use them.

Bulletin boards can be engaging, dynamic, and interactive. They can help capture students’ attention through the curation and placement of images, questions, samples of work, artifacts, and other interesting items. They are also great tools from which to reinforce concepts, celebrate progress, and encourage deeper learning. Bulletin boards are essential in the inquiry classroom.

Bulletin boards are more than just pretty displays to show student work. They are impactful tools that can be used to spark curiosity and engage students in many ways. Using them to their fullest potential can turn any classroom into a dynamic and interactive space for students of all ages.

The article below delves into the impact that bulletin boards can have, and provides some examples of just how dynamic and useful they can be in any classroom. We’ve also included 6 engaging and interactive bulletin board ideas for your classroom.

The Importance of Bulletin Boards

Most of us grew up in classrooms with bulletin boards all around us. Some were probably colourful walls where our work hung after a big art project, and some might have included photos and labels of key concepts and words we were studying that week. Nowadays, many teachers understand that bulletin boards have much more potential in the classroom. That isn’t to say that bulletin boards can’t act as display boards, but rather, that isn’t all they’re good for.

Visual Engagement and Inspiration

Bulletin boards are great at capturing students’ attention with colourful and visually appealing displays. This helps to enhance interest in the subject matter and make learning more exciting. Displaying student work on bulletin boards is also great because it acts as a self-esteem booster for students and motivates them to put in their best effort. They also provide a platform for students to share their achievements with their peers.

Bulletin boards are also a great way to provide inspiration to students. Things like stories, pictures, and artwork can serve as creative inspiration for students and motivate them to use their imagination and create something unique. For example, displaying a Picasso or Andy Warhol painting may inspire students to create a colourful composition of their own.

Introducing New Topics

In many classrooms, bulletin boards are used as a way to introduce a new topic or unit. For example, adding images of Indigenous dwellings and traditional beadwork and paintings to a bulletin board is a fun way to introduce a unit on Indigenous history. Including key vocabulary, essential questions, and interesting facts also helps to spark curiosity and engage students. Having students contribute to a bulletin board prior to a new unit is also a great way for them to feel included. For example, starting a unit on the Civil Rights movement might prompt a student to bring in photos, letters, or primary source documents that a friend or relative may have. All of these help contribute to creating an authentic learning environment.

Creating a Shared Learning Environment

Often, rules, mottos, and values are displayed in the classroom as a means to reflect a class’s identity. They serve as a reminder to everyone what is expected of them and foster a sense of belonging. Creating a shared learning environment through the use of bulletin boards can set the tone for the classroom and reflect the themes and values that are important to the class community. Some examples include:

Classroom rules and mottos
School values
Photos of students exemplifying empathy, helpfulness, respect, etc.
Notes of kindness between students
Recognition from other teachers, adults, or administrators for adhering to the school rules and values
Poems and short verses that relate to the school’s core values

Suggested article: 4 Important Ways to Build Inquiry Habits

6 Impactful Bulletin Board Ideas to Use in the Classroom

Bulletin Board Idea #1 – Exploring the Solar System

To introduce or engage students in an inquiry about the solar system, consider adding large, colourful images of planets, the sun, and moons. Include interactive elements such as flap doors or sliders to reveal interesting facts about each planet, or encourage students to add facts and information. QR codes work well to engage students in a virtual reality tour of the solar system. Other ideas include:

A timeline of space exploration milestones: Include dates, photos, and mission objectives to demonstrate the breadth and impact of space missions
Students’ models or drawings: Create a diorama or mobile with student models, drawings, or prototypes of new planets, spacecraft, or robots used in space exploration
A wonder wall with post-it notes: Students post their questions under the appropriate heading when they have a question about the topic
Space exploration questions: For example, “What makes Earth unique compared to other planets?” or “How do the sizes of the planets compare to each other?”

Solar System Bulletin Board Materials:

Colourful and realistic planet cutouts
Fabric banner for bulletin boards (just pin it all up at once)
Solar system paper lanterns to hang

Bulletin Board Idea #2 – The Wonderful World of Math

Arguably one of the least popular subjects in a lot of schools is math. Often, students can’t conceive of any time in their lives when they’d need math. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth – we use math virtually everyday whether we realize it or not. Creating a bulletin board showing real-life applications of math is a great way to bring the uses of math into the classroom. For example, images of bridges and structures, sculptures, and nature patterns would be a nice addition. Other elements include:

Weekly math puzzles and brainteasers on colourful clipboards that students can respond to either on a whiteboard placed beneath the challenge, or on a piece of paper put in a box
A shelf with manipulatives that relate to the content being taught in that unit. For example, tangrams or geometric shapes.
A showcase of famous mathematicians and their contributions to math (these are awesome posters of mathematicians to pin up in a high school math class)
Prompts and frameworks to help students solve tricky problems (for example, these math strategy posters)
Students’ math art projects, including geometric designs, blueprints, or calculations
An inquiry question section where students can submit their own curiosities – for example, “How is math used in designing buildings” or “Where can you find examples of symmetry in nature?” Asking these open-ended questions invites students to contribute to the wall and share their learning

Bulletin Board Idea #3 – Environmental Conservation

Students are very aware of the problems facing the environment – from climate change, forest fires, pollution, and the degradation of natural spaces. Co-creating a bulletin board about conservation is a great way to let students share information and contribute to solutions. For instance, include a “Take Action” section on a bulletin board with suggestions for small projects students can do to help the environment (for example, recycling challenges, planting trees, etc.) Encourage students to take pictures of themselves completing these challenges and add them to the board throughout the year, or add environment-themed stickers next to students’ names to shout-out their accomplishments. Other interactive ideas include:

Creating a “Did you know…?” section with flaps revealing surprising environmental facts
Adding a map where students can pin places they know are affected by environmental issues. For example, if a student hears about a forest fire in the state/province, they can pin its location or pin up an article they found online
Encourage students to create their own awareness posters (sort of like these examples) about issues that are most important to them. Earth science posters with images of volcanoes, the water cycle, and other processes are also a nice choice to show students the science behind environmental issues
Place a blank whiteboard on the bulletin board with room for students to ask inquiry questions as the unit progresses (some suggested inquiry questions can be downloaded as a PDF here)

Bulletin Board Idea #4 – Historical Figures and Their Impact

To begin a unit about a particular time in history, consider creating a bulletin board to showcase important historical figures. Include portraits and illustrations of historical figures from various fields like science, literature, civil rights, etc. Try to include a mix of lesser-known historical figures, or people whose viewpoints may not be well-known to students. We’ve written a Guide to Using Historical Inquiry in the Classroom that offers more ideas. Some other creative ways to present this bulletin board in the classroom include:

Creating a “Who Am I?” section with clues about a historical figure and a flap revealing their identity. Students can also create their own clues about important people and challenge their classmates to figure it out
Posting QR codes (or having students post QR codes) linking to biographical videos or documentaries
A “Living History” corner where students write letters or diary entries as if they were historical figures. We’ve written about How to Teach Controversial Issues in the Classroom if you’d like some guidance on this topic
Leaving space for a timeline of significant events where students can pin their historical figure in the right spot to demonstrate their contribution to history. For example, a timeline of the Civil Rights Movement would include people like Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, Malcolm X, and others

Historical Figures Bulletin Board Supplies:

Colourful and inspirational historical figures posters (set of 12)
Historical Quote Posters (featuring Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Bessie Coleman, and others, set of 12)
Events of the Decades (1900-2010) posters
Historical Thinking posters

Bulletin Board Idea #5 – Innovations in Bioengineering

This bulletin board idea is more suitable for middle-school aged students and older, as the subject isn’t really introduced in the curriculum until then. However, some younger students might know a bit about bioengineering in terms of the food they eat, artificial intelligence, and prosthetics. Since it’s a broad topic, it’s likely that students will have some basic understanding of it. Creating a bioengineering bulletin board is interesting because the field is constantly changing and expanding, so there are lots of opportunities for regular student interaction. Some ideas to start your bulletin board include:

Creating a “Bioengineering in Action” section with before-and-after images of bioengineering solutions (for example, photos of the progression of dentures or artificial limbs over the years, physical therapy devices, laser instruments, etc.) Suggested article: Bringing SpaceX Into the Inquiry Classroom
QR codes linking to videos explaining bioengineering concepts and innovations
Profiles of notable bioengineers and their contributions (some examples include Graeme Clark, Wilhelm Roentgen, Robert Jarvik, Forrest Bird, etc.)
A “design your own prosthetic” area with a template for students to draw their ideas
An inquiry section with open-ended questions for students to explore. For example, “How can bioengineering improve human health?” or “What are the ethical considerations of bioengineering?”

Suggested supplies for a bioengineering-focused bulletin board:

Bioengineering for kids (book)
Bioengineering for teens (book)
STEM building toys for kids 8-12
Biomedical Engineering article (STEM for Kids)
Introduction to Bioengineering (Guide by Encyclopedia Britannica)

Bulletin Board Idea #6 – Robotics and Coding

Similar to the bioengineering idea, robotics is an ever-evolving topic that students seem to be really interested in. Whether they’re understanding AI tools like ChatGPT or learning about robotic tools they can use around the house, it’s a space that continues to grow and expand daily. Coding is another topic that continues to expand, so adding some photos of famous programmers and their contributions is a good place to start with your bulletin board. Other creative ideas include:

Construct a timeline of popular robots in pop culture: This can include robots like Rosie (from The Jetsons), T-1000, R2D2, HAL, Optimus Prime, and WALL-E. A lot of students think of more modern robots, used in industrial and futuristic settings, but a lot of them forget that robots have been around in pop culture for decades, so Including some photos and diagrams of various robots is a good start to creating a robotics bulletin board
Add a section dedicated to students’ drawings of robots to help with everyday tasks – for example, cleaning the classroom, helping with homework, etc.
A large whiteboard or Q-Matrix where students can leave their questions about robots and comment on other students’ questions. They can also add coding challenges or puzzles in different programming languages to challenge their peers
Create a vocabulary section that includes common terms like algorithm, loop, variable, function, etc. with simple definitions and examples. Include visuals and icons related to each term. You could also print out pages from this Coding and Logic workbook for students to grab-and-go as an extension challenge or free time activity
Include a shelf or nearby desk with accessible coding projects for students to work on. This Snap Circuits mechanical robot is a good starter project for most students

Guiding Questions for Creating Bulletin Boards:

What is the purpose of my bulletin board?
For example, is it to introduce a new topic and spark excitement and wonder? Is it to highlight the learning process before delving into an inquiry unit? Determine this first. The purpose of your board will usually inform how you organize its contents. For instance, if your goal is to show the student inquiry process, leave some areas blank so that you and your students can add to it later.
How can I make the content accessible and engaging for everyone?
Ensure students with special needs can access the board and contribute to it. Consider adding sections where students can add their own questions, ideas, and wonderings. Think about whether it’s appropriate to add interactive elements like flaps, puzzles, QR codes, or other things that students can engage with.
What essential concepts, vocabulary, and information I should be including?
Think about the essential takeaways for students. If you’re introducing a new topic, add key terms and vocabulary they might encounter. Include engaging photos, interesting facts, and other broad
How can students contribute to the bulletin board?
Think about how you can prompt students to think critically and interact with the material. For instance, consider leaving space under a new term and get a student to record the definition once you cover it in class. Print off intentionally unfinished diagrams, unlabeled photos, and other pieces to provide opportunities for students to contribute to the board.

Key Takeaways:

(1) Bulletin boards are important tools in the inquiry classroom and can be used for more than just displaying student work.

(2) The visual aspect of bulletin boards captures students’ attention and makes learning more exciting. They can also be used to introduce new topics and spark curiosity, or help create a shared learning environment and foster a sense of belonging in the classroom.

(3) Six impactful bulletin board ideas include: exploring the solar system, the wonderful world of math, environmental conservation, historical figures and their impact, innovations in bioengineering, and robotics and coding.

(4) Bulletin boards can include interactive elements to engage students, such as QR codes, flaps, and whiteboards for questions, in addition to more traditional elements such as vocabulary, question prompts, and key concepts