How to Use Large Fruit Trees in a Bulletin Board Decoration

Apple tree blossoms

Bulletin boards are used to decorate the classroom and teach students about important concepts. While most teachers enjoy planning bulletin board ideas, they also enjoy repurposing bulletin board visuals in order to save time and money. Creating a themed set of bulletin boards using fruit trees allows the teacher to swap out minor elements of the bulletin board to create a new design. Apple tree bulletin boards can be made to welcome students to the classroom, teach students about the different seasons of the year or show how trees look different.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Colored butcher paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Laminate sheets
• Colored construction paper
• Stapler w/ staples

Instructions

Form the Tree

1. 

   Ripe apple on a tree.

   Measure the bulletin board and determine how tall the fruit tree visual should be.

2. Cut a piece of brown-colored butcher paper to a little less than the desired fruit tree size. Use a pencil to trace the basic shape of the tree trunk and branches onto the paper and cut out the shape.

3. Cut a piece of green-colored butcher paper about one-third the height of the desired fruit tree. Use a pencil to trace the general shape of the leaf formation.

4. Laminate the pieces to keep them suitable for use in future years.

5. Secure the tree to the bulletin board with the trunk attached first and the leaves placed on top.

Welcome to School Bulletin Board Idea

1. Welcome students to the new school year with an apple-tree themed bulletin board.

2. Cut out red, green, or yellow apple shapes from colored construction paper and write student names on each apple.

3. Attach each apple to the tree with a stapler.

Seasons Bulletin Board Idea

1. Help students understand the differences in the seasons by creating an apple tree bulletin board showing what the tree will look like in each season. Include words on the board describing the time of year and what is happening in the life cycle of the apple tree.

2. Apple trees are filled with apples in the fall and are ready for harvest. Fill the tree visual with large apple shapes or consider having sections of the tree that have been harvested with visuals of baskets or bushels under the tree that are partially filled with apples.

3. Apple trees lose their leaves in the winter and are barren. Remove the leaves from the visual and consider adding some white-colored strips to simulate snow on the branches and ground.

4. During spring, apple trees bloom with small flowers. Add small pink or white flower shapes to the tree.

5. In the summer months, apple trees are full of bright green leaves and small apples.

Tips & Warnings

• Add more visual interest to the tree leaves by making layers of leaves instead of just one large sheet of green paper.

• Consider altering the fruit tree from an apple tree to a fruit tree native to your area, such as an orange tree or palm tree.

• Take photographs of your finished bulletin boards to use as a reference for the next year.

• Stapling the visual to the bulletin board secures it best; however, this leaves small holes in the paper. Consider using adhesive putty instead, which will not damage the visuals.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Apple Tree through the Seasons

Resources

• Fruit from Washington: Seasons