Get a carnival atmosphere going in your classroom!
A carnival signpost is eye-catching. A [amazon_textlink asin=’B014RIWQWA’ text=’circus tent table skirt’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’1c81e597-43fa-11e8-a1f2-1d60adaa9cae’] will set the tone.
A [amazon_textlink asin=’B00OMX23BU’ text=’Carnival Tent’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’05aabb2e-43fa-11e8-98f4-4bdd65669c48′] will unquestionably make your room the coolest in the building. If your students are too big to fit into it, there are 2-D tent options as well:
- Big Top Circus Peel & Stick Wall Decals
- I found a classroom blog belonging to Mrs. James that had a snazzy DIY tent. Mr.s James used alternating lengths of red and white kraft paper to make one wall of her room striped. Then she cut a red triangular roof for her tent.
- For a bulletin board, cover your board with two layers of paper — red or striped on the outside and black or brown underneath. Cut an opening up the middle of the board and pull back the edges to look like the opening of a carnival tent. Staple the openings back. Tuck a couple of figures from a [amazon_textlink asin=’B007AD2QY8′ text=’circus cutouts set’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ba058690-43f6-11e8-b9ae-2dee7f38285f’] inside, attached to the dark paper so kids can peek in and get a glimpse of the excitement inside.
Use Carnival Tickets for behavior management and bunting and flags (there’s a Carnival Giant Decorating Kit with a good assortment if you don’t find them at your local party store). [amazon_textlink asin=’B01LX79MHV’ text=’Popcorn bags and boxes’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f67e05d1-43f6-11e8-bdf9-f5f7a676a741′] fit perfectly with a carnival theme and can hold all sorts of stuff — even popcorn!
Bulletin board slogans:
- The Thrill of Learning!
- This Year Will be a Wild Ride!
- Carnival of Learning!
There are quite a few ready-made bulletin board sets with a carnival theme.
[amazon_link asins=’1609963520,B00JFKHOP0,B008W076MU,B0141NBICK,B001902T68,B007AD2QY8,1609966198′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6fc1e029-43f7-11e8-b295-8d1dae7f9644′]
Trend does a versatile [amazon_textlink asin=’B00JFKHOP0′ text=’Ferris Wheel’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ed6badaf-43f7-11e8-9179-5bd9d558e0ba’] set.
You should also consider reading The Great Wheel, a wonderful chapter book about the building of the original Ferris Wheel for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 (or, more properly, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition). I love this book, and I think your elementary or middle school students will love it, too. It gets your STEM lesson off to an inspired start.
With the midway set up, you can consider some circus elements. Check out our Circus Theme for lots of links and ideas, but here are some we think would add to the carnival atmosphere:
- Add Wilton Big Top Cupcake Wraps’n Pix to grocery store cupcakes for a fun welcome.
- Melissa & Doug Deluxe Puppet Theater looks like the kind used for Punch and Judy shows at fairs long ago.
You can’t help but have fun with such a fun theme! Thanks to our friend Princess Kitty for suggesting it!
[amazon_link asins=’B00979AHC6,B01B55BPCU,0802777058,B00X6A8VWA,B015FMMOXI,B01M4LAV4E,B071KT3MSN’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’us-1′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c05b015f-43f8-11e8-bf39-974966e61db7′]
