Displays in Primary classes

Let’s face it; producing truly astonishingit’s mounted at chair height? Position
displays is a gift.your displays accordingly.
I can spend half an hour carefully ruffling a drapeTry to be flexible about how you think about
and fixing it to a wall and it still looks likedisplay. I’ve seen information sheets
someone’s fired staples into an old ragstuck to the ceiling and wonderful (and
from half-way across the classroom. Similarly,waterproof!) displays created in toilet areas. Be as
colleagues have spent valuable time showing mecreative as you can and don’t limit
how to make artistic groupings of conkers andyourself to convention!
russet leaves whilst interspacingPlanning Do plan your displays before you start
children’s work, and it looks fabulous,them. Spending five minutes deciding what you
but when I try it looks like there’swant to achieve before you start on the display,
been some sort of mad autumnal whirlwind. I justor you set the children their task, is five minutes
can’t do it! I like straight lines, abhorwell spent (Am I the only one to have produced
Paisley patterns and drapes are a completea display that’s far too big for the
anathema to me. In short, I am not one of theboard? Surely not!). You might also elect at this
Laurence Llewellyn-Bowens of this world. I dopoint to for ask advice on colour matches from
however, recognise those with talent.one of your stuffed-ferret colleagues who will tell
Talented people are creative. They use a rangeyou all sorts of things about warm and cold
of wonderful materials; they construct displaycolours; be prepared to believe what they say,
areas with trellis and interwoven drapes. Theyeven if it does sound like gibberish.
incorporate driftwood and seashells and hangCreating Backing a board is very much like
things from the ceiling. They use soft lighting inwallpapering. Put the paper on from the opposite
corridors and make collections of tactile objectsside to the door, that means that you
that invite touch and exploration. Ultimately, thesewon’t see the overlap on the paper
are the people who are not queasy about handlingwhen you walk into the room, and
stuffed ferrets.don’t forget that you can use more
I hope that you’re one of the talentedthan one colour to back a board; different
ones. If you are, stop reading now and go and docoloured stripes or diamonds can be conducive to
some sort of artistic arrangement for one ofsome work. Alternatively, you can let the
your less able colleagues, they need your help,displayed items do the talking and opt for a board
really they do! If you’re starting tothat’s covered with hessian or a very
empathise with my position, then read on.neutral colour. Intrusions in the board, e.g. light
Displays perform many functions; they inform,switches are best handled by using a craft knife
inspire and celebrate. They also publish yourto cut a diagonal cross in the paper over the
standards and expectations to colleagues andoffending article and folding the edges back
parents. So how about some golden rules forbefore trimming them. Think about how hard you
display?push the staples in; remember you’ll
Types of display There are several differenthave to get them out again afterwards. A staple
types of display. • Starting point: usuallygun may be ideal for upholstery but a small hand
a collection of posters, artefacts and questionsstapler (with a piece of card placed underneath to
that stimulate interest in a new topic. •raise it off the board) will provide enough grip for
Information: these are things like multiplicationa display and allow you to get the staples out at
tables, rules for grammar, code of conduct,a later date without ripping the
targets, learning objectives, etc. They are oftenchildren’s work. I always used very
positioned higher on the classroom wall, but theysmall staples to position the work on my display
need to be large enough for the children to bebefore fixing it into place since I always had to
able to read easily. • Interactive: thesemake alterations before it looked vaguely
displays are designed to involve the children. Usebalanced. Give some consideration to the border.
questions with hidden answers, moveable objectsScalloped edging, wallpaper borders or strips of
with sticky Velcro pads, overlapping acetatemarbled card can add something special to a
sheets and laminated card on string. •display but make sure that they don’t
Celebratory: these displays applaud theoverwhelm the contents.
children’s efforts. It’sPublicising Of course your display may be so
entirely up to you and the ethos of your schoolfantastic that the children will step into the room
whether you include only perfectly drafted workand gasp in sheer wonderment and delight. They
or allow process work to be displayed here too.also might not even notice all of your efforts.
Try to ensure that you allowVery often you’ll need to attract the
everyone’s work to be displayed atchildren’s attention to new displays.
some point; if a child has tried hard their workYou can do this by simply talking about the
deserves to be up there! • Notice-board:display, pointing out the excellence of the work or
this can serve to involve children. Class noticesthe value of the information. You might also use
can be published and children can bring inan interactive display as an introduction to a
photographs, newspaper clippings and work fromlesson and can even set a classroom quiz about
home.the work on the walls. However you choose to
Consider just how much space you afford todo it, make certain that the children notice the
each type of display and try to retain a balance.change of environment.
You should also consider how your displays reflectShare the workload For older children it can be
your current curriculum focus.quite challenging and motivating for them to be
Position Have a look around your classroom fromgiven a display board of their own. Of course you
a child’s perspective. The height of thewill have to live with the consequences and a
child will influence just where you can position yourcertain amount of vetting may be required before
display. Will the children be able to interact withyou feel that their plans match your standards.
your interactive display without clambering onto aYou may find yourself blessed by an incredibly
chair? Will they be able to read their own nametalented teaching assistant who loves creating
on the celebratory display if it’s lodgedspectacular displays; if so use their talent and
somewhere near the ceiling? Will their best pieceability without guilt. Failing that, do a deal with one
of work be scuffed to a scrap becauseof the stuffed-ferret brigade!