A cowboy classroom or Western theme classroom is a perennial favorite. Depending on the items you choose, you can adapt this theme to all grade levels and subject areas. Read on for decorations and resources (and a video that made us laugh out loud).
Start with bandanas and denim. Any cowboy hats hanging around from the fair or birthday parties? Perch them on a shelf or hang them on the wall to set the mood.
There are few ready-made options for a cowboy classroom right now, but Wanted posters are a classic option for rounding up helpers in a cowboy classroom.
Write classroom rules up on a chart titled “The Code of the West” or “The Cowboy Way.”
Slogans for a cowboy classroom
- Howdy, Pardner!
- Yee Ha!
- Yippie ti yi yay!
- Saddle up!
- Write ’em, Cowboy!
- Reading Roundup
- Wanted: Math Stars
- A Place to Hang Your Hat
- Cowboy Up!
- Giddy Up!
- Have a Rootin’ Tootin’ Year!
Books
Bring out your favorite cowboy books. The list below is our favorite group for elementary school.
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Ready for some cowboy math?Just for fun!
Online resources
Get some background knowledge for your cowboy classroom with primary resources:
- Beef and Beans from the Library of Congress
- Historical Photos of Cowboys
- The National Archives are a treasure trove
- The Smithsonian delves into the Mexican roots of U.S. cowboy culture with a set of lesson plans.
- Cowboy songs preserve some aspects of cowboy life.
Find some worksheets:
- KidSoup has reproducibles for little buckaroos covering lots of subjects.
- Use a worksheet generator to create word puzzles and math worksheets. There are some ready made ones to download, too.
Whether you’re going to study cowboys or just enjoy a western-themed classroom, you should be in the mood now!
