It’s the first post of our Thriller Thursday series and we’re kickin’ it off pirate style!

Ahoy maties!

Today I’m going to show you a 4th grade classroom that I decorated several years ago for another teacher. I know, decorating someone elses room while they are away on vacation?? Unheard of! But that’s just the kind of person I am. I LOVE decorating classrooms and I like to help people too! She was extremely grateful and even gave me a gift card in return! Yay! Bonus! Honestly, just decorating the room was payment enough, because it was so much fun!

“Treasured Work” Bulletin Board: For this display I used gold pipe cleaners for the title. The bottom is a treasure chest filled with butcher paper. I hot glued the coins, jewels, and mardi gras beads on top.

We’re Hooked on Reading: This display was made with butcher paper, packaging paper, cardboard and aluminum foil. I made the hook by cutting out the shape in cardboard and wrapping it in aluminum foil. “We’re Hooked on Reading” was written in a silver sharpie.

Catch of the Day Bulletin Board: This board is where the teacher posted her standards. The background is fabric.

Code of Conduct Display: This chart is where the teacher posted her rules. I think it would be neat if the class determined the code of conduct together and then signed it at the bottom to pledge their allegiance. This display is also made out of packaging paper. The pirate is made out of white butcher paper. To make this scallywag I printed out a clip art of a pirate I liked. I projected him on the wall and traced him onto my white butcher paper. Then I painted him with acrylics. After I painted him, I went back over the lines with a permanent poster marker to really make his features stand out. Then I laminated him. He was too big to fit in the laminator, so I had to fold him in half, laminate him, and cut the lamination seam to unfold him again.

Book of the Month Display: I also traced, painted, outlined, and laminated him on white butcher paper.

Student Work Display: “Shiver me timbers! Look what they’ve been learning in Mr(s). _________________’s room!”

These lovely pirate flags hung from the ceiling.  There were 3 different designs, and there were about 5 of each hanging above the students’ desks. They are felt squares with white acrylic paint. To make these I bought 81/2 x 11 stencil sheets from Hobby Lobby. I printed out my images and traced each one onto a stencil. Then using an exacto knife I cut the stencil out. Then I used a foam brush to pat on the white paint. The paint went through to the other side, which was kind of neat to get an image on both sides, but you’ll want to have an old rag underneath so that you don’t paint the surface you are working on.

Another display you could do is a jobs board. I’m thinking a pirate crew would be cool. Here are some of a pirate ship’s crew members-gone-classroom:

• Captain- runs teacher’s errands
• Quartermaster- Hands out papers and materials used in class.
• Cabin Boy- Cleans the white board and desk
• Carpenter- Take chairs off of desks in the morning, help rearrange furniture when needed
• Helmsman- Line Leader
• Cook- Take the lunch count for the day, Get the teacher tea, take dirty cups back to cafeteria
• Gunner- Pencil Sharpener
• Boatswain- Help keep the class in order by picking up anything that’s out of place and put it in it’s right place
• Surgeon- Accompany students who aren’t feeling good to the office or nurse
• Sea Artist- Door Holder

Alright landlubbers! That’s all for today! Check back next Thursday for our next Thriller Thursday Theme!

P.S. That last picture, FYI, was me dressed as a dead pirate for a musical in college!