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Classroom Set-Up Using a Theme

Many teachers use seasonal themes in their classroom, but fourth grade teacher Carrie Zook (LaSalle Elementary in Mishawaka, Indiana) sets up her classroom using one major theme for the entire year. In fact, longer. Theme materials can be expensive, so she economizes by using a theme for two or three years.

Finding a Theme

Over the past six years, Zook has used the typical themes -- Oceans, Space -- but this year she wanted something different. She looked online and at the card and party store outlets for ideas. She selected the theme of Hollywood because it's fun and...

They love movies in the fourth grade. And I talked with my fourth grade niece and asked her: If you walked into your classroom, what would you want it to be like? What would make you think "This is cool"? And make you excited to be there?

So Hollywood it was.

Using the Theme to Showcase Classroom Activities

Zook purchased ready-made items for her bulletin boards and walls that shouted Hollywood -- reels of film, small and large yellow stars, clapboards, silhouettes of cameraman behind a camera, and oversize movie tickets, celluloid film, and a popcorn container filled with candies. She incorporated the Hollywood theme in many ways throughout the year.

Yellow Stars Zook made a yellow laminated star (magnet on back) with each student's name. One use: grouping students. For example, when they arrive in the morning, students place their star on the blackboard under the Bag Lunch or Hot Lunch sign, making lunch count and attendance check easy. She uses larger stars to label things around the room.

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Clapboard, Popcorn Box, Movie Ticket Zook displays "props" like a clapboard (as in "Scene 1, Take 2") and a gigantic popcorn box full of candy. A reminder of the rewards students can win for completed work -- their name on a movie ticket and a chance in the weekly drawing.

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Silhouette of Cameraman and Camera She also uses black and white paper clapboards with a  silhouette of a cameraman and camera to "publicize" the classroom duty assignments. She writes the duty above the clapboard and the student's name on the silhouette of the cameraman.

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Celluloid and Reel of Film Zook uses celluloid strips as edging and a reel of film to decorate this bulletin board displaying the rules for the mini-economy she runs in her classroom and the expectations for classroom procedures, such as lining up.

Zook uses themes to add interest, humor, and fun to her classroom. Like the "gold" academy award that stands atop the mailboxes she set up for students to receive their graded work or information they need. But the themes are more than decoration. They're a way to keep connecting with many aspects of daily school activities.