Gratitude Bulletin Board Ideas for the Classroom

Get ready for the season of gratitude this fall and Thanksgiving in your elementary, upper elementary, or middle school classroom with these simple gratitude bulletin board ideas that will encourage and motivate your students to appreciate all they have.

This gratitude bulletin board is perfect for any classroom, from elementary to high school, and will inspire students to reflect on what they are grateful for at any age. This motivational gratitude display adds warmth and fall flair to your classroom décor and encourages positive thinking, reflection, and community among your students all season long.

Creating a gratitude bulletin board display is an easy and meaningful way to decorate your classroom for November while reminding students of the importance of kindness, appreciation, and giving thanks, all without being overly Thanksgiving-focused.

Why should I have a Gratitude Bulletin Board in my classroom?

✔ Builds a Positive Classroom Culture - A gratitude bulletin board fosters a warm, welcoming environment where our students can share what they are thankful for. Though doing this during the Thanksgiving season, they will be able to carry this thought process through the year.

✔ Encourages Reflection - Taking time to read each poster and think about gratitude teaches students to slow down and reflect on what truly matters. This simple routine supports social-emotional learning and helps students focus on positive emotions and manage stress.

✔ Keeps Gratitude Visual All Month and Beyond - This visual reminder is perfect to practice thankfulness not just in one month, but all year long!

Make a Gratitude Bulletin Board with these quick steps!

1. Use a Catchphrase

I love using the catchphrase "Choose Gratitude" each November. Each poster I display has its own catchphrase. The kids love to find their favorite phrase that speaks to them, and that phrase sticks! When we discuss being thankful and gratitude, students always come back to their favorite gratitude catchphrase.

2. Print out the Posters

This set makes it easy to fit any bulletin board size! You can print the posters at full size (8.5x11) or print two to a page for smaller display areas. I like to mix full- and half-size posters because I always love adding student-created accents to the display as well.

3. Print and Cut the Accent Pieces

This gratitude bulletin board set is flexible to meet YOUR needs! You can easily create a complete bulletin board with everything included. Bulletin board letters, banners, borders, accent pieces, and student templates help you to customize your gratitude bulletin board display!

4. Add a Dash of Student Work

While the gratitude posters make a beautiful bulletin board on their own, you can use the included gratitude templates for students to write, color, and decorate. These student-created accents will involve your students in the display process and help them reflect on gratitude, with their buy-in. Use these pages to have students write one or more things that they are grateful for. With several different templates, you can assign different ones to students or allow student choice. 

If you want to get extra focused on student work, you will love this cornucopia craft that has students read about gratitude and write about what they are thankful for...with a twist! This project has students building a cornucopia with an illustration of one thing they are grateful for inside. Students write a paragraph with clues to get their classmates to guess what they are thankful for.

This project is a fun accent to the posters or as a standalone bulletin board. Grab this gratitude bulletin board craft kit here!

5. Sprinkle in other Accents

Make your bulletin board and classroom pop with these fun gratitude accents. I especially love the colorful turkey cutouts. I use these to have the kids fill the shape with things that they are grateful for. They are perfect for scattering around the room, hanging on the bulletin board, or using as door decor!

Don't forget that gratitude picture books can and should be displayed in your classroom as fall and gratitude decor! Read about my favorite gratitude picture books here and scoop up some fun and free gratitude printable activities below.

Choose gratitude! This gratitude bulletin board set will add a sense of gratitude and appreciation to your classroom this November and the Thanksgiving season. It is easy to print, cut, and display! You will be impressed by the conversations that come from these motivational posters and love the special touches your students add, too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

You will also love reading:

7 Thanksgiving Picture Books for Upper Elementary

8 Must-Read Gratitude Picture Books

4 Ways to Bring Gratitude into Your Classroom

4 Thanksgiving Activities You Never Thought to Do

6 Picture Books to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Check out my favorite Gratitude Activities HERE.

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