How to Create a Christmas Bulletin Board
Ideas for Your Preschool Sunday School Classroom
Nov 5, 2008
Some people use dolls or teddy bears instead of people, since they are easier for the children to relate to sometimes. It can be very simple to create this wonderful Christmas bulletin board. Details are a major part of putting the perfect board together, and with this project it will take very little effort.
Creating the Bulletin Board Background
You will want to start with a dark midnight blue background using butcher paper. This will represent the sky at night. However, every sky needs stars. The quick and easy way to add these sparkling lights is to do it before putting the paper on the board. Here's how:
- Lay your paper out on a large table.
- Next, take a paint roller and cover it with plain Elmer's school glue. You will need to have a paint tray available to remove excess glue.
- Then simply pour silver glitter all over the paper and shake it around.
The paint is water soluble, so clean up is a breeze. Once the glitter dries, you can hang the butcher paper up and secure to the bulletin board with staples.
Decorating the Bulletin Board
After you have papered your board, you will need to create a stable opening on one side of the board. Brown paper can be used for this step. Make a large square and cut it out. Then cut along the inside of the paper to create a stable figure. You can find many types of textured paper at your local office supply store or discount store to make the stable look more realistic.
The next steps are pretty simple if you have Internet access. The patterns for the people can be downloaded on many sites. In fact, Paper Toys offers a complete color scene of the nativity that you can use for your bulletin board. You will need figures in flowing robes for Mary, Joseph, the Three Wise Men, and the Shephards. When searching for a Mary figure, try to find one holding a baby. This can eliminate your need for a manger. Arrange your people standing inside and near the stable. Add animals, too, if you like.
Adding Texture to the Bulletin Board
Next comes the fun part. You will want to dress up the characters and scenery. For each of the characters, add pieces of cloth for the head coverings. Simply cut them to match the patterns and staple them over your cutouts. You can also use ribbon or twine to make belts for the robes. You can glue pieces of straw to the stable area to make a 3-D type environment.
You may also consider using real photos cut out of magazines for the animals or the gifts from the wise men. You can find many pictures of vases or ornate boxes to put in the wise men's hands. You could also use generic cutouts and add your own textures like felt for the animals or beads for the gifts. For the shepherds, you can use real sticks for the staffs and cotton balls for the sheep. You can also find an ornate star ornament to use for the North Star.
This textured bulletin board will be unlike anything your children have ever seen. Makes sure you place your bulletin board high enough so that curious little fingers cannot pull off the many small objects. Under your direct supervision, you might allow the class to explore the many textures. With the board created from mostly scraps and inexpensive items, it will not hurt if something falls off or breaks.
