Halloween Bulletin Board Idea for Elementary and Middle School

Looking for Halloween bulletin board ideas?

Making a Halloween bulletin board has never been more meaningful than when you add in some kindness! You will love how easy it is to make this Halloween bulletin board idea! Plus, you will love how much the kids love the kindness theme and read these posters daily!

Make this Halloween bulletin board idea with these quick steps!

1. Use a catchphrase.

When creating an eye-catching bulletin board display for any season or holiday, I love to start with a catchphrase to get the students' attention! As you decorate a bulletin board, decide if you want to caption the display with bulletin board letters or a printable header page!

For this Halloween Bulletin Board, I have used two different catchphrases in two different styles:

👻Kindness is BOO-tiful (bulletin board cut-out letters)

👻Our Class is FULL of Kindness (printable page with header catchphrase)

Both options are included in this set.

2. Print out the posters.

Using motivational posters as a bulletin board display is a great way to convey positive messages to your students! Punny Halloween sayings are especially fun!

I love using kindness posters all year long for each season and special holidays like Halloween because it is a simple way to spread kindness and get the kids thinking about how important kindness is, especially in the classroom community!

Print out a few or all ten and add them to your Halloween Bulletin Board display!

👉Love student work-focused bulletin boards? You will LOVE these spooky and fall ideas!

3. Print out any accents and borders you want.

This Halloween Kindness Bulletin Board pack includes so many optional extras! So if you love adding pizzaz like fun borders, extra banner pieces, and spooky cut outs, this set allows you to do so!

4. Cut, Assemble, and Hang!

Once you have everything printed, cut out any accents and hang up your display! To make this bulletin board interactive with your students, make a poster of the kindness quote of the day! With ten posters included, you will have ten days of kindness quotes to discuss with your students. 

After sharing the last quote, have your students create their own kindness poster. This can be Halloween-themed or have no theme. Over the next week, share your students' quotes! The kids have so much fun and get very creative when it is time to create their own kindness quote!

👉Love the idea of students creating their own quotes? Grab these free kindness quote templates!

5. Sprinkle in more accents!

By now you know I love all things holidays and seasons in the classroom! I love decorating for the changing season. It makes the classroom feel homey, and the kids look forward to seeing the different decorations and decor throughout the year! 

Grab these fun Halloween accent pieces for your bulletin board and classroom to sprinkle in more Halloween accents and fun!

This bulletin board set will definitely add kindness and a bit of spook to your classroom this Halloween season! It is easy to print, cut, and display. The conversations around these posters and the theme of kindness is a #teacherwin in any classroom!

👻Happy Halloween!

                    You would also love to read:

7 Unique Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary

4 Classroom Alternatives to Celebrating Halloween in the Classroom

9 Halloween Read Alouds for Upper Elementary 

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Looking for no-prep activities for
Halloween? Head HERE!

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

Voting and Election Day Picture Books for Upper Elementary 2024

When the calendar flips to November, we start to think, read, and learn about the government, democracy, and of course, elections, voting, and the electoral process, especially when it is a presidential election year. 

November 2024 is a United States Presidential Election year. You can easily bring these complex topics into your upper elementary classroom with these picture book read-alouds.

Keep reading to learn more about my go-to picture book read-alouds, perfect for Election Day. These picture books were hand-selected for upper elementary students. Plus, grab some fun and free activities below, that will go perfectly with your lessons on voting, the election process, and the Presidential Election.

1. If I Ran for President by Catherine Steir

If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier introduces young readers to the U.S. presidential election process in a simple and engaging way. Through the perspective of different children imagining themselves as presidential candidates, the book explains the steps involved in running for office, from campaigning to winning the election. It's an educational resource that helps kids understand the basics of democracy and the responsibilities of being a leader.

2.  V is for Voting by Kate Farrell

V is for Voting by Kate Farrell is an alphabet book that introduces young readers to the concepts of democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of voting. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a word or phrase that relates to the voting process and civil rights, making it a great tool for teaching children about their future roles as good citizens. The book combines simple rhymes with colorful illustrations to make learning about democracy accessible and fun.

3. What's the Big Deal About Elections by Ruby Shamir

What's the Big Deal About Elections? by Ruby Shamir is a nonfiction book aimed at young readers that explains the importance and mechanics of elections in the United States. It covers the electoral process, including the history of voting rights, how elections work, and why participating in them matters. The book helps children understand how elections shape their community and country through engaging text and illustrations.

Get ready for Election Day 2024 with these FREE printables!

4. A Kids Book About Voting by Next Up

A Kids Book About Voting by Next Up introduces children to the concept of voting and why it’s important in a democracy. It explains in simple terms how voting gives people a voice in making decisions that affect their lives and communities. The book is designed to empower young readers by helping them understand civic duties and how their vote can make a difference.

5. So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George 

So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George is a fun and informative book that explores the lives and personalities of U.S. Presidents throughout history. It highlights the diverse backgrounds, quirks, and challenges of different presidents, while also discussing what it takes to hold the nation's highest office. The book offers our students a fun and insightful look at the presidency with engaging text and fun illustrations.

6. What is a Presidential Election? (2024) by Douglas Yacka and Who HQ

What is a Presidential Election? by Douglas Yacka and Who HQ is an informative chapter book that explains the U.S. presidential election process to young readers. The book covers the history, key concepts, and procedures for electing a president, including primaries, campaigns, and the Electoral College. It’s part of the super popular Who HQ series, providing a guide to help children understand how the nation's leader is chosen and why elections are so important in a democracy.

7. The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia by DK

The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia by DK is a comprehensive and visually engaging reference book that profiles all U.S. Presidents, from George Washington to the most recent leaders. This book is very similar to one of my favorites as a child! The book combines detailed biographies with historical facts, timelines, and hundreds of images, offering a rich visual exploration of the lives and legacies of the presidents. It serves as an excellent resource for young readers interested in American history and our Presidents.

8.  I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman

I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman is a picture book that introduces children to the concept of voting and decision-making in a simple and relatable way. Through everyday examples, the book explains how making choices, big or small, is a form of voting and how those choices can have an impact. It's a great resource for teaching young readers about the importance of participation and the power of their voice in a democracy. This book pairs perfectly with any mock elections you hold in your classroom!

9. Vote! by Eileen Christelow

Vote! by Eileen Christelow is an engaging picture book that explains the voting process in the United States through the story of a local election. Using a blend of narrative, humor, and cartoon-style illustrations, the book breaks down how elections work, from campaigning to casting ballots, and the importance of every vote. It is a valuable resource for teaching children about democracy and the significance of participating in elections.

10. Related books that you would also like to read:

✅ Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts by Syl Sobel 

This one is new to me and super engaging for kids! It explains the U.S. presidential election process, including historical insights and fun trivia. 

✅ The Voice That Won the Vote by Elisa Boxer

✅ Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter

✅ Be a Good Citizen! A book about laws, rights, and responsibilities by Julien Bodrieu

As November 2024 approaches, it's the perfect time to dive into lessons on government, democracy, and the electoral process in your upper elementary classroom. With a United States Presidential Election on the horizon, these topics become even more engaging for students.  These picture books will spark important discussions and deepen students' understanding of the election process. 

Happy teaching!

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3 Must Do Activities for Veterans Day

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Looking for no-prep activities for
Election Day? Head HERE!

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

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Teaching Election Day and Voting Activities Upper Elementary

Election Day activities for upper elementary students bring instant engagement! The kids love learning about what is happening outside the classroom, like Election Day, voting, and the election process. These non-biased activities are a great way to bring the upcoming presidential election, voting, the Electoral College, and democracy into your upper elementary classroom!

How can I teach Election Day 2024 and all things Democracy in my upper elementary classroom?

Teaching students about elections and the democratic process is one of my favorite units to teach! Students love learning about real-world topics such as elections, especially during a presidential election year. As exciting as it is to bring in real-world events, we must remember to teach about the election process in the United States rather than about specific candidates. 

Below are seven creative activities you can incorporate into your classroom to help your students understand elections, the electoral process, and the importance of voting in the United States of America.

How to Teach the Election Process to Elementary Students

1. Build Background Knowledge

The election process is a tricky concept!

Kick off your Election Day learning by watching one of these kid-friendly videos to build background knowledge for your students. Of course, watching one video is not enough for kids to understand everything about the election process, but it is a great starting point and easy to sneak in during snack or after recess! Have your students take notes about the videos you watch to hold them accountable!

Try one of these:

✅Race to Win (an interactive game)

✅Elections and Voting (7 minutes)

✅Election Day for Kids (5 minutes)

Kindly Note: As with any video you show your students, please preview the video to ensure that they are appropriate for your cohort of students.

Grab the free Election Day notetaking pages and bonus printables HERE. 

2. Dive into the Content

Helping students learn about citizenship and democracy is important for teaching about the election process. When teaching democracy, citizenship, and the election process to upper elementary students, I always introduce these concepts in a structured order that builds on students' understanding as they learn about the complex system of the election. Try this scope and sequence to help guide your instruction and increase student understanding:

• Start by teaching the basics of citizenship, what it means to be a community member, and the responsibilities that come with it, such as following rules and respecting others. 
• Now, you can dive into teaching the three levels of the government.
• Next, introduce the concept of democracy and explain how it allows people to have a say in the decisions that impact their community. 
• Now, you are ready to teach the election process, where students learn how voting allows citizens to choose leaders or make decisions. 
• Don't forget to circle back in January when Inauguration Day comes!

As students grasp these ideas, they can delve into how elections work, including the importance of voting and the different roles within an election, such as candidates and voters. By following this sequence, students can develop a comprehensive understanding of how democracy functions and their role within it as future citizens.

3. Hold a Mock Election

A mock election is an engaging way for students to experience the voting process firsthand. Start by selecting a simple topic for the election, such as voting for the class's favorite snack, animal, or book. Provide students with ballots, set up a voting booth, and have them cast their votes in a ballot box. After counting the votes, announce the winner and discuss the importance of voting and how the process mirrors real-life elections. This activity is engaging and teaches students about decision-making and the impact of their choices.

💡Teacher Tip: Hold your own presidential election by using different characters you have met in the books that you have read aloud to your class. This is a great way to dive into character traits and understanding as you connect it to the election. Have students critically think about which character would make the best president and why! Grab the supplies you need HERE.

4. Get Creative 

Let your students' creativity shine by having them design campaign posters using any supplies you already have in your classroom! Each student can choose an issue related to their school to promote, such as longer recess time. Provide materials like markers, colored pencils, and paper, and encourage students to develop slogans and visuals that support their issue. This activity helps students understand how campaigns work and the role of persuasive communication in elections.

Looking for more creative ideas? Here are a few of my favorites!

✅ Word Search

✅ Coloring Pages

✅ Directed Drawing

5. Read a Book

The best conversations about elections and democracy in my classroom always come from reading aloud picture books! 

Don't worry; you do not need to scour the internet for excellent and appropriate picture books to read to your class this election day; I have compiled my favorites HERE!

6. Hold a Debate

Hold a class debate on a topic relevant to your students, such as Should Homework be Assigned? Divide the class into two groups, each representing a different viewpoint. Give students time to prepare their arguments, then hold the debate. Afterward, have a class discussion about how debates help inform voters about different perspectives before they cast their votes. This activity teaches students the importance of listening to others and considering multiple viewpoints.

Not sure how to get started on holding a class debate? Head to this blog post for a step by step approach!

7. Electoral College Map Coloring

To help students understand how presidential elections work in the United States, have them color a map of the United States based on which states voted for which candidate. Provide them with a list of states and the winning candidates for each state. Using red and blue crayons or colored pencils, students will color each state accordingly. This activity not only helps students grasp the concept of the Electoral College but also gives them a visual understanding of how different regions of the country can vote differently. You can grab the map for FREE HERE.

Ready to dive into all things election? These election-themed activities will engage your students this November! These activities teach the basics of elections and encourage critical thinking, creativity, and civic engagement. Participating in these hands-on activities will give your students a deeper understanding of democracy and the importance of being an informed and active in the electoral process.

Happy teaching!

You will also love reading:

4 Simple Ways to Bring Gratitude into the Classroom

4 Thanksgiving Activities You Never Thought to Do!

Veterans Day Activities for Upper Elementary Classrooms

6 Autumn Picture Books for Upper Elementary

Check out these Election Day activities HERE.

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

Student Inventory Forms for Interests Learning Styles

I love using student interest inventories at the beginning of each new school year! Student inventories are essential tools that provide valuable insights into students' thoughts about school, interests, strengths, and needs. As teachers, we can tailor our instruction to help our students succeed by utilizing student interests and strengths, creating more engaging lessons, and providing targeted support, ultimately fostering a more personalized and effective learning environment. 

Inventory pages are easy to use and the perfect way to kick off the new school year! I use different inventories throughout the first week of school and consider them an essential component of my back to school teacher survival kit!

What is a student inventory?

Student inventories are activity pages for teachers to give students to better understand students' interests, strengths, and needs. These inventories can include surveys or questionnaires that gather information on students' thoughts about different school-related topics, learning styles, favorite subjects, hobbies, and extracurricular activities. 

Why use student inventory sheets?

By using student inventories, teachers can tailor their instruction to meet the diverse needs of their classroom, create more engaging and relevant lessons, and build stronger relationships with their students. All of these are critical for creating a strong community of learners! 

Here are 4 reasons you should be using student inventories in your classroom!

1. Understand Individual Learning Styles and Preferences

✅Tailored Instruction: By identifying how each student learns best (visual, auditory, kinesthetic), teachers can adapt their teaching methods to better suit individual needs, increasing the likelihood of student success.

✅Personalized Support: Knowing students' preferences allows teachers to provide more personalized support and resources, helping students feel more comfortable and engaged in the learning process.

2. Build Stronger Relationships

✅Creating Connections: Student inventories help teachers learn about students' interests, hobbies, and backgrounds, fostering stronger connections and a sense of community in the classroom.

✅ Enhancing Classroom Environment: Understanding students on a personal level can lead to a more positive and inclusive and positive classroom environment where students feel valued and understood.

3. Identify Strengths and Areas for Growth

✅ Learning Styles: Early identification of students' learning styles allows teachers to implement targeted activities and approaches right from the start of the school year.

✅ Academic Goals: Teachers can help students set personal academic learning goals based on their strengths and areas for improvement, promoting a growth mindset and encouraging continuous progress throughout the school year. This is why using academic inventories is so important!

4. Compile Data

One year, during parent-teacher conferences, a parent asked me what learning style their child had. I am unsure if they were trying to catch me off guard or were genuinely interested in knowing, but either way, I had my pile of student-completed learning style forms that I pulled out and let them know immediately. The parents were so impressed, and I was so happy to have been prepared!

After I interview each student at the beginning of the year and have the students complete learning style forms, I take out a class list to write which learning style strength each student has. Most people have more than one learning style, but I focus on which one style came through most from the questionnaires. I keep the class list with each student's learning style in my plan books so that it is handy when I plan activity lessons or attend student-specific meetings.

Try these free quick questionnaires to get to know your students!

Teacher Tip!

Do you love to do things digitally? 

Try this free and easy-to-use student learning style quiz. Before using a new website, be sure to get your school or district's permission. Kindly note: I am not affiliated with this site, but have used this with my kids. Once students answer a few questions, the site will let them know their learning style. Have the kids leave up that page so that you can walk around with a class list and write down which style each child was given as their strength.  This will support the forms that the kids fill out.

Make this the year that you start using student inventories! They will help you get to know your students, create an environment for success for each student, and are professional to have on hand for your next meeting. Have a great school year!

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Teaching the Writing Process

Looking for no-prep student inventories? Head HERE!

                   LOVE these ideas? Pin to save!

*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

Teaching the Writing Process to Upper Elementary Students

Teaching upper elementary students about the writing process can feel overwhelming if you do not have appropriate visual resources to help both you and your students refer back to during any writing lesson or activity. From coming up with ideas during brainstorming to publishing their final drafts, there's a lot for young writers to learn. 

How can we make this process meaningful for our upper elementary students to grasp and apply to ANY writing assignment? That's where an interactive writing process bulletin board comes in!

Start the school year by explicitly teaching your students the steps of the writing process. This will help them bring the writing process into every writing assignment during the year. No matter what my students are writing, whether it is a narrative, essay, informative piece, poetry, or a summary of what was read, we take it through the writing process. Knowing what the writing process is, and making it accessible for students is the first step to building confident and able writers in your upper elementary classroom.

What is the writing process? 

The writing process is a series of steps that writers follow to create a piece of writing. These steps usually include prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. I also include two additional steps: peer editing and teacher conference after the editing step and an author's share after the publishing step. 

What are the five parts of the writing process?

Introduce this process during the first few weeks of school. Start by explaining each stage in simple terms: brainstorming ideas during prewriting, getting thoughts down on paper in drafting, improving content in revising, correcting errors in editing, and sharing the final piece in publishing. Use relatable examples and interactive activities as you introduce each step. If you are going to include a peer editing step, explain that this is the time that students help one another edit and revise their work. An author's share is any way that you pick for students to share their writing. You can display their writing, have everyone share their writing piece with a peer, or randomly select a few pieces to be shared with the whole class.

💡Try this idea at the beginning of the year to help students understand the steps of the writing process! Share a "this or that" question and have the students agree on a response to answer the question. Then, brainstorm supporting ideas as a group, write a quick draft, and work together to revise and edit your piece. By doing this, students can see how the writing process helps transform their initial ideas into polished pieces of writing, all through your modeling of expectations.

How can I create a writing process bulletin board?

Creating a bulletin board for the writing process is a great way to display the steps of the writing process in an informative way that students can refer to all year long! 

Use a writing process banner and a poster for each step of the process. You can also arrange the posters for each step of the process into a clip chart layout to keep track of where students are in the writing process. It is easy to do! Simply stack the steps of the writing process posters from the first to the last step. Then, add student names to clothes pins. Have the students take ownership of their own clip and move it through the process posters as they work through the process in their writing piece.

Go one step further and create a writer's nook in your classroom! Near the writing process bulletin board display, I suggest having all the tools that writers need as they write, such as student writing notebooks, folders, pencils, erasers, sticky notes, editing and revising checklists, graphic organizers, and thesaurus books.  

This is also a great corner to add helpful posters for writers, such as...

✅ grammar posters

✅ punctuation posters

✅ figurative language posters

Try adding these accent pieces to make your writing corner bulletin boards pop!

How else can I support my student writers?

Don't forget that students need a lot of support to become fluent writers. Engaging students in writing tasks, writing lessons, and prompt activities is not enough support for students to understand how to write a fluent writing piece. Teaching isolated lessons on how to use a graphic organizer as a brainstorming tool is important. As you teach that lesson, refer to your bulletin board to tie together the process in action with the writing process display.

These ideas and resources will help you support your students' needs as writers...

✅collaborative stars anchor chart for peer editing and revising (FREE download)

✅ writing inventory to get to know students as writers

✅ grammar lessons and activities

✅ punctuation lessons and activities

✅ sentence structure lessons and activities

✅ handwriting supports 

Remember to explicitly teach your students the writing process. Making the writing process accessible and understandable for upper elementary students is crucial for building confident and skilled writers. 

By incorporating an interactive writing process bulletin board, explicitly teaching each step, and providing the necessary tools, you can create a supportive environment where students thrive. Remember to always refer back to your bulletin board and teach focused lessons on important writing skills and steps of the process to reinforce student understanding. With these strategies, your students will be ready to tackle any writing assignment with enthusiasm and confidence throughout the school year.

You would also love to read:

Back to School Picture Books

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Why You Need a Mountain-Themed Classroom

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Classroom Management Ideas that Work

Back to School Must-Haves to Kick off the School Year

Looking for no-prep writing process posters? Head HERE!

                   LOVE these ideas? Pin to save!

*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)