The short answer? No. You don’t NEED to decorate your high school science classroom. BUT… you’re room will look dull if you don’t. I don’t know where this idea came from that high school classrooms need to be boring. Big kids need stimulation too!
That’s not to say you must go all out like those colorful elementary school teachers. You can if you want to, but that is a lot of work.
You only need to do a couple of things to give your classroom some oomph!
How to decorate your high school science classroom
Step 1: Check out your space
How many bulletin boards do you have? How big are they? Are you allowed to staple or hot glue things to the walls? If not, what can you use to adhere things to the wall? Knowing this ahead of time will allow you to map out what you want there. You cannot put a HUGE scientific method bulletin board up in a tiny space. Scale is key, people.
Tip: If you can only use painter’s tape on the walls, like me, put hot glue ON TOP of the tape. I put big strips of painter’s tape on the wall and then hot glue my stuff directly on that. I’m not damaging the walls. While I have had issues with posters falling down with just painter’s tape, I have not had an issue with anything falling off due to humidity with the painter’s tape/hot glue method.
Step 2: Think about Practical Decor
Don’t like the idea of superfluous decor? Then make sure the stuff you put up has a purpose. Here are some ideas for you:
School zone – staple all the school-related papers you get at the beginning of the year (bell schedule, maps, mission statements, etc). I have a couple of transparent packets that students can even slip club flyers in if they ask.
Scientific Method or Process: Pretty basic, but hey, this is science class. Bonus, the scientific process is universal so it works with ALL science courses. So no matter how many preps you have, this bulletin board idea will work for all of them!
Periodic Table – as a chemistry teacher, I need this ALL. THE TIME. But almost all of my colleagues in other scientific fields have one in their classrooms too. It’s pretty standard stuff. So get an expensive one from a science education website, or grab one you have to assemble yourself (like my Customizable Periodic Table Wall Poster). No wall space? Put it on the ceiling!
Metric Reference Poster – hey, do you convert numbers using the metric system all the time? Put up a poster or this metric number line for your students to reference.
Lab Safety Posters – you can never go wrong with lab safety reminders. I don’t have a lab room, so these aren’t up in my classroom. BUT they are up in our shared lab space.
Greek Alphabet Posters – I have these hanging up above my whiteboard. It’s very reminiscent of those alphabet posters from elementary school, but with greek letters instead. We use them all the time in science. Let’s introduce our students to them!
Calendar – However you set it up, a calendar can be super useful. In the past, I’ve set up a weekly grid on a side whiteboard. This year I’m going to put up a full calendar (I only have one prep this year, yay!).
Growth Mindset – our high schoolers struggle with the struggle. I have these two poster sets, from My Teaching Pal and Teach Create Motivate, up in my room to remind them that you grow through what you go through!
Student Work – Yep, you can absolutely leave a bulletin board blank in anticipation of putting up student work! You can put up projects OR you can make a “fridge” where students put up the work they are most proud of! I’ve done both and students appreciate them. They work hard on their projects, so we should post them!
Step 3: Think about Fun Science Decor
Science Fiction Wall – Print out your favorite science fiction movie posters or book covers. Create a collage on a bulletin board or the wall. You get to look at stuff you love all day, and your students can connect with you!
Rock Star Scientist Posters – Y’all, these posters are beautiful! I had them up in my old classroom and I loved them. They have been packed away for a couple of years, but I’m thinking of busting them out again.
The artist, Megan Lee, has made over 70 scientists posters and you can choose 10 for $15! This post isn’t sponsored, I just really like these posters. They provide some sophisticated fun to the science classroom.
Scientist Quotes – Teachers pay teachers has a plethora of scientist quote poster bundles. I particularly like this one, from Elementary in the Mitten, because it features diverse scientists. I have them mixed with my growth mindset quotes and I LOVE the colorful display!
Science Jokes – I rotate these science jokes out weekly. Could I make them myself? Yes. Do I like that they are already ready to go… also yes!
Stuff about you– The bulletin board behind is now mostly stuff students give me. But I also have a drawing my son gave me, a pennant from my alma mater, and the Chi Omega Symphony from my sorority. Kids can see into my life a little bit, and it can spark some great conversations. I’ve had several students attend the University of Cincinnati, even though we’re located in Indiana because they looked into it after seeing my pennant. They see senior photos and student artwork, so they know I care about them!
I hope you got some ideas for your science classroom this year! And just know that you don’t have to have a completely 100% Pinterest-worthy classroom on the first day of the school year or any day for that matter. Your students need YOU, not a pretty classroom. But… a pretty classroom is nice to look at!
