Teachers are always looking for ways to create more inclusive and welcoming classrooms that teach history that includes all students; a women’s history month bulletin board is a great way to do just that! Of course, the history of women shouldn’t be relegated to one month out of the year, but it does offer more opportunities to shine a light on accomplished women throughout history.
Coming up with creative bulletin board designs is always a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Pre-planning, using recycled materials, or simple creativity can go a long way in creating a memorable classroom display. We’ve assembled a few of our favourite women’s history month bulletin boards and tips to help inspire you!
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What makes a good women’s history bulletin board?
Planning ahead before putting up classroom bulletin boards will save a lot of time in the long run. In the end, the best bulletin board is one that serves its purpose – whether that’s displaying work, reinforcing subject content or other information, or providing a space for interactive activities.
Here are a few things to consider when planning out a bulletin board display:
What is the purpose of the board and does the design support it?
For example, an interactive display must be accessible to students and sturdy enough to withstand regular use.
How does a women’s history month bulletin board address multiculturalism and diversity?
In the case of a women’s history display board, it can be easy to get caught up in familiar stories that we’ve all heard, or to only consider women from the same part of the world that we live in. Expanding the view outside of our frame of reference, to women from other time periods, locations, and cultures can not only expand our student’s worlds, but ours as well!
What is the budget for the board?
Are there materials that can be recycled or sourced from parents or other sources? Setting a budget may seem constraining, but sometimes that is where the most creative ideas are born!
How will students interact with this board?
Is it possible to involve students in its design or execution? If not, how can the women’s history month bulletin board material tie into subject content?
What is the students’ current level of knowledge on the subject of women’s history?
Is this something they have studied before, and if so where are the gaps? Bringing a fresh perspective will intrigue students at every level.
Is there a way to tie this material into the students’ interests and needs?
While it isn’t necessary to make every bulletin board “cool,” they should feature material that students will want to engage with.
Bulletin boards do not have to be complex, pricey, or overly crafty to be aesthetically pleasing or effective. Bulletin boards are a way to extend teaching into the blank spaces in your classroom, and should reflect the teacher’s pedagogical styles.
A good women’s history bulletin board is one that includes various points of view and puts women’s stories into the context of the greater world, highlighting accomplishments large and small, and that speaks to the students at their level of learning.
Examples of women’s history month bulletin boards
- Women’s History Month Bulletin Board From Stephanie’s History Store
We love this free colorful bulletin board and simple designs, which features women from all over the world. The open-ended design leaves lots of room for student prompts or discussion.
- Yaaas, girl, preach! From We Are Teachers
This women’s history month bulletin board helps the students familiarize the women in history with their respective quotations. Let the students guess who said each phrase before lifting the flap to reveal who said it.
- She Believed She Could, So She Did From We Are Teachers
The photos of female students can be displayed next to those of their role models.
- Celebrating Women Quotes Board From Teacher Vision
This women’s history month bulletin board incorporates a bright and modern minimalist design to highlight quotes from Anne Frank, Maya Angelou, Marie Curie, and Malala Yousafzai (the youngest women ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.)
- Who Run The World board From Hey There Library
Looking for a clever way to show off women-centered books? This creative bulletin board uses splattered acrylic paint, a plain-coloured background and oversized letters to highlight book covers from favorite books about women.
- Women In History Collaborative Board From Art With Jenny K
This bulletin board is a collaborative student art project, history lesson, and classroom decor in one. Students sill enjoy recreating simple block portraits of famous women in history to display on a board, door, or wall.
- Women In STEM board From We Are Teachers
This inspiring women’s history month bulletin board features bios and photos of ten “Women in STEM” who students should know about. Get kids in on the action by colouring or decorating the black and white biography printouts or the bulletin board background.
- Women’s History Month Quote board From Counselling Solutions By Krys
Here’s another board full of quotes from famous women – but with a twist. Students will love to interact with the bright, comic-style depictions and short quotes. This bulletin board set features a diverse array of women from all walks of life who have changed the world.
- Women’s History Interactive Board From Study All Knight
This history-teacher-designed board idea was born when a teacher found that, while students could easily list dozens of white male figures in history, they struggled to list women and African-Americans. Her boards cleverly integrate QR code technology and “guess who” games to educate students on women’s history.
- Women’s History Month Board From Stephanie’s History Store
Middle school students created this women’s history board that celebrates their favourite women in history through quotes and photos.
- Women’s History Month Poster Collection From Go Alexandria
While this isn’t a full bulletin board design, we absolutely loved this assortment of women in literature posters and accompanying activities. Several of the resources are free to print and use and would make a terrific display or student-created board.
A women’s history month bulletin board is a creative way to get students interested in the female historical figures. They make a great addition to any classroom, as both decor and an extension of teaching what is often-overlooked history.
