How to Decorate a Fifth Grade Math Classroom

Decorating your classroom not only makes it inviting to students, but it also inspires them to be creative and can boost learning. Decorating a fifth grade math classroom can pose some extra challenges, as you have to find a balance between making the room too childish, and too boring. You will also want the decorations to be relevant to what you will teach during the year.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Poster paper
• Markers
• Tissue paper
• Magnetic board
• Laminating machine or service

1. Create and hang posters with inspirational sayings. Search the Internet for sayings that will make it clear to the children what you expect from them and will inspire them to do better. One saying you can use is, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” (John Wooden) Another good saying is “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.’(Lou Holtz)

2. Get a huge magnetic board and math magnets. You may also be able to purchase math manipulatives. You can also purchase magnet sheets to use to make your own number and operations magnets. Sure you could always use a whiteboard or chalk, but for your tactile students, there is something enlightening about handling the number itself. Manipulatives to make or purchase should include number lines, numbers, large shapes, common fractions, clocks, and thermometers. Look through your curriculum and see what else you can come up with.

3. Make a mathematics border around the room. Make a series of laminated math problems that students will learn how to solve during the year. On the front of the card put the problem. On the back of the card, restate the problem and put the answer. Then hang these around the top of the classroom like a border. The children will have a great sense of accomplishment by watching you flip over the cards throughout the year as they learn each function.

4. Make a math pun calendar. Look for math puns on the internet and think up a few yourself. Print a weekly calendar online (or make it yourself) with a different math related saying each week.

5. Tape large numbers made of tissue paper to the windows so that when children begin gazing out the window they will still be seeing math.

Tips & Warnings

• Change some of the decorations out monthly to keep the room fresh and interesting.