If you want to teach your students passively, bulletin boards should play a more active role in your classroom. Although many people think that bulletin boards are for displaying news and bulletins only, bulletin boards can also generally spread knowledge within the classroom. This is one of the reasons why they can play such an important part in your lesson plan. The following article will help you create an Arkansas-themed bulletin board. However, you can use the following instructions to fit any topics or themes.

Before you begin decorating the bulletin board, make sure that you have all of the required information ready. You will need to research more about the state of Arkansas. If you want to make the board-making process interactive for your students, you should also include them in the researching stage. Give them a few questions that will guide their research. For example, "When did Arkansas become a state?" and "What important events have taken place in Arkansas?"

Although historical information is very important for a complete and accurate depiction of a person, event, or place, you will also need some fun facts that draw attention the board. After all, you do not want to bore your students with facts that may or may not interest them in the long run. Fun facts can be any facts that seem interesting or whacky to you and your students. For example, "The state prohibits moose from being viewed from airplanes. Furthermore, it is against the law to push a live moose out of a moving airplane" (1). This is a fact that is interesting and is generally unheard of.

After you have compiled all of the information that you will include on the board, type them and print them up and cut them to appropriate sizes. Glue these sheets of paper to colorful backgrounds, then use thumbtacks to attach these components to the bulletin board. You will also need some pictures to make the bulletin board visually appealing.

Finally, trim the bulletin board with borders. These are generally found at arts and crafts stores and teaching supplies stores, but you can also order them online. You can even find templates online, print them out and cut them, then use thumbtacks to attach them to the bulletin board. Do not use glue since this will ruin the board and make your presentation permanent.

After you have finished with the board, make sure that you create a title. Then, gather up your students and share the information with them!

Resources

1. Legends of America

2. The History Channel website

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