How to Cover a Classroom Chalkboard
Room decorations help students to focus on the topics taught, add interest and reinforce key themes. Most classrooms have at least one bulletin board, but older rooms may lack wall space to adequately display student eye candy. One way to expand available space, for rooms with whiteboard alternatives, is to cover a classroom chalkboard for use as a bulletin board.
Things You'll Need
- Construction paper
- 1/4- to 1/2-inch duct tape
- Ruler
- Yardstick
- Scratch paper
- Pencil
- Clear packing tape
- Craft scissors
- Purchased bulletin board borders (optional)
Instructions
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Measure the width and height of the board. If the chalkboard has inserts or clips, measure over these for the approximate dimensions. These areas may be cut off from the larger paper and used as supplies for later board decorations, so that all the paper is used without any waste. Determine the measurements of any chalk holders at the bottom and borders. The chalk holders may work best as accent pieces for the main part of the new bulletin board. Cover the holders with extra paper, if you use these to hold student work.
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Use the scratch paper and a pencil to sketch out a design for the board. Incorporate your measurements for the border and any chalk trays. If the basic covering material will be used for the duration of the school year, select a heavy-gauge paper that will survive a series of redecorating displays.
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Cover all of the chalkboard edges with the construction paper. Tape or staple the paper in discrete places so the adhesives are not visible, or are minimally visible, to viewers. The edge paper on the chalkboard cover supports the center papers, so make sure the tape is secure and the paper provides solid support by adhering completely to the board. Large pieces of construction paper offer more support than smaller pieces connected with tape.
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Add paper to cover the rest of the empty board space, working from the perimeter toward the center. Attach at least a few pieces of paper directly to the center part of the original chalkboard to support large areas of construction paper. Avoid using cellophane tape in rooms with temperature extremes, which will send the paper to the ground. The changes cause the tape to dry in cold weather and slough the adhesive in hot weather.
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Divide the board into segments with materials. First determine the size of the segments necessary by using a paper sketch of the board, and then add decorations and featured items. Attach the decorations with the tape to the covering, or staple the decorations to secondary papers attached to the board with tape. For designs meant to support a yearlong bulletin board design, attach the divisions and design elements securely to the board edges.
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Tips & Warnings
In place of construction paper, cover the chalkboard with recycled paper maps or large pieces of newspaper.
Avoid stapling paper; even when you are sure you will never use the board, you may be reassigned to a room where the chalkboard will be used by other teachers. Holes or tacks in the chalkboard make future writing difficult.
References
Resources
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