We Get the Joke-2nd Grade Classroom Mini Collaboration

I love the opportunity to collaborate. It doesn't happen as often as I'd like unfortunately, but it's always fun when I get the chance to work with some classroom teachers. What you're looking at is A second-grade bulletin board. I didn't work with this particular teacher but worked with another one to create the same idea. I spent one period with her class helping them to draw out the sketches for their jokes. We both agreed that having some photo reference would be super helpful for the kids, so she was nice enough to search and print out one or two pictures to go along with the jokes that each student had. The kids used 14 x 18 or so sized paper and crayons to color their work. They began by using pencil and then outlining their drawings and sharpie, erased whatever pencil showed underneath. For coloring, I emphasized overlap in different colors, using dark outlines,even pressure when coloring, and coloring in one direction. I always try to emphasize the use of details in artwork, which helps make the pictures better. The kids finished coloring their drawings in their classroom and then the classroom teacher posted this board. I love the attention to detail in it, and the way she even color mounted the jokes themselves. Even the font on the banner works really well with the whole theme. I don't often see classroom bulletin boards that I like as much as this one. I'm glad I had a small part in it!

Bulletin Boards for the New School Year

At the end of every school year I save a few of the last projects for the following September bulletin boards.  I remember the panic I felt my first year at my current school with 3 large boards to finish and no artwork to put on them.  I remember the anxiety I had worrying about what I could possibly fill the space with.  Now, each year I look forward to filling the boards.  I am responsible for three boards and two showcases and so I start each year off by hanging student work on the two smaller boards and by creating a "welcome back" piece on the largest main board in the front lobby. In the past I've used Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle as inspiration. The Eric Carle boards post is HeRe and the Dr. suess boars post is HeRe.

 

This year, I used the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems as inspiration. A year or two ago our school librarian told me that the kids LOVED this series, and since then, making a board using it has always been in the back of my mind.  I leafed through a few of the books, created a short story board of what I wanted the characters to say, and then drew the images based on that.

On the main board I usually laminate my work and when I hang student work, I try and rotate the work on and off the board every four weeks max, otherwise the work always get shredded up. Do any of you find you have problems with kids tearing or shredding work on bulletin boards? I don't feel like the kids do it intentionally, but the boards do seem to get pretty gnarly pretty quickly in my school!

 Here's to another great year everyone!