April Showers Bulletin Board
Watch young writers blossom with this delightful spring bulletin board and writing activity.
Dixon Ticonderoga Materials:
- Fadeless® Paper Inspired by Schoolgirl Style, Cotton Candy Cloud, 48" x 12', #P0040048 or 48" x 50', #P0040045
- Fadeless® Paper White, 48" x 12', #P0057018 or 48" x 50', #P0057015
- Bordette® Decorative Border, Apple Green #P0057017 • Tru-Ray® Construction Paper, 5 Assorted Hot Colors, 9" x 12", 50 sheets, #P6596
- Tru-Ray® Construction Paper, Classic Colors, 9" x 12", 50 sheets, #P103031
- Prang® Washable Art Markers Bullet Tip, 8 ct, #X80680
- Prang® Pastello Paper Chalk, 24 ct, #X10440
- Tru-Ray® Construction Paper, White, 12" x 18", 50 sheets, #P103058
- Ticonderoga® "My Flower" Writing Activity
- Pacon Junior Composition Book, 5" x 7-1/2", 100 Sheets, #PMMK37090
- Ticonderoga® My First Pencils, 36 pack, #X33336
Other Materials:
- Stapler
- Double-sided Tape
- Scissors
Step One
Cover bulletin board with Cotton Candy Cloud Fadeless® Paper. To do this, first cut enough paper to cover the board. Find the center of the paper you’ve cut. Roll in edges in and secure at the bottom of the rolls with binder clips. Start securing the paper to the board by stapling at the top center. Roll the paper out to the left or right, stapling as you go.
Step Two
Roll out the remainder of the paper to the other side stapling across the top. Then staple down the sides and bottom, smoothing the paper as you go along. Cut off excess paper around edges.
Step Three
Tape the Apple Green Bordette® Decorative Border around the edges of the bulletin board with the scalloped side facing inward.
Step Four
Freehand draw cloud shapes on the White Fadeless® Paper, approximately 12" x 24" inches in size. Cut out the clouds and attach them to the top of the board with double-sided tape.
Step Five
Create the flowers using the Tru-Ray® construction paper, Prang® markers, and Pastello paper chalk. Each tulip blossom in the example is cut from one sheet of construction paper by rounding the edges to produce the tulip shape. The petals are drawn with a black Prang marker in a curved "Y" shape, and shaded with Pastello paper chalk. The stems and leaves are made from strips of green construction paper; stems are straight, leaves are tapered at one end. Attach to the bottom of the board with double-sided tape, layering blossoms, stems, and leaves.
Step Six
Freehand draw raindrop shapes on a blue sheet of Tru-Ray® construction paper. Cut out the raindrops and attach them between the cloud and flowers.
Step Seven
Print the phrase "April Showers Bring May Flowers" on a sheet of white 12" x 18" Tru-Ray® construction paper. Cut out and attach to the bulletin board with double-sided tape.
Step Eight
Have students complete the Ticonderoga® "My Flower" Writing Activity with pages cut from the Pacon® Junior Composition Book and Ticonderoga® pencils. (The writing activity can be found here: https://weareticonderoga.com/shop/projects/my-flower-writing-activity/) Post mini-essays to the board with staples.
National Core Arts Standards
Creating, Anchor Standard 1
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Creating, Anchor Standard 2
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Creating, Anchor Standard 3
Refine and complete artistic work.