New Testament Bulletin Board Ideas for Christmas, Easter & Biblical Themes

Introduction to New Testament Bulletin Boards

As the school year comes to an end, teachers start planning their classroom decor to celebrate the holidays and provide students with some festive cheer before breaking for winter vacation. Bulletin boards are a great way to decorate your classroom and engage students at the same time. For those looking to incorporate some religious holiday themes, New Testament bulletin boards are a wonderful option.

In this article, we'll explore some ideas and tips for creating fun and interactive New Testament bulletin boards for your elementary or middle school classroom. Whether you want a board focused on Christmas, Easter, or general biblical themes, there are plenty of creative directions you can take.

Focusing on Christmas

For teachers looking to decorate for Christmas, the New Testament offers many possibilities for bulletin boards. Here are some ideas to consider:

• A nativity scene bulletin board - Have students help create different elements like the stable, baby Jesus in the manger, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, angels, shepherds, and animals. Use craft materials, paper, or even clay for 3D effects.
• The names of Jesus board - Highlight names like Messiah, Savior, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, etc. Have students decorate around the names with Christmas symbols.
• "Prophecy Fulfilled" board - List Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's birth and link them to New Testament fulfillment. Verses like Isaiah 7:14 or Micah 5:2 work well.
• The Christmas story board - Walk through the Christmas narrative from Gabriel visiting Mary to the flight to Egypt. Pick key passages to summarize or illustrate.

Get students involved by having them create artwork, write reflections, or discuss questions related to the Christmas story. Try posing some questions on your bulletin board as well to make it interactive.

Focusing on Easter

The Easter story from the New Testament also offers many opportunities for creative bulletin boards. Here are some ideas for bringing this story to life:

• A timeline of Holy Week - Illustrate Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, Jesus praying in Gethsemane, His trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection on a timeline bulletin board.
• "He Is Risen" board - Create an empty tomb scene and highlight the truth that Jesus conquered death. Use bright spring colors for a joyful theme.
• Symbols of Jesus' sacrifice - Nails, cross, crown of thorns, lamb, etc. Explain the significance of each item related to Easter.
• Stories of witnesses - Share encounters people had with the risen Jesus like the road to Emmaus or Jesus appearing to Thomas. Discuss reactions.

Try tying in scripture verses, songs, or artwork about renewal and new life. Discussion questions work nicely with Easter bulletin board ideas too.

General Biblical Themes

If you want to create New Testament-themed bulletin boards beyond just Christmas and Easter, there are many options to choose from. Here are some ideas:

• Parables of Jesus - Illustrate different parables He told like the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son. Have students explain the moral.
• The miracles of Jesus - Highlight stories of Him healing people, feeding the 5000, calming the storm, and other miracles. Discuss impact.
• The fruits of the Spirit - Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22.
• Armor of God - Feature the armor described in Ephesians 6 like the helmet of salvation, shield of faith, and sword of the Spirit.

Get creative with bright visuals, interactive elements, questions, and activities to engage your students with these New Testament themes. Incorporate their work and ideas.

Tips for New Testament Bulletin Boards

Here are some helpful tips to create fun, educational New Testament bulletin boards for your classroom:

Pick a Meaningful Theme

Choose a topic that connects to what you're teaching or matches the season, like Christmas or Easter. Make sure it is age-appropriate and relevant to your curriculum and students.

Incorporate Bright Colors and Visuals

Eye-catching colors, shapes, artwork, and text will draw students' attention to the board. Use bold fonts, borders, illustrations, photos, or decorations to accentuate the theme.

Add Dimension and Texture

Incorporate different materials so the board has layers and dimension. Try tissue paper, crinkled foil, burlap, felt, silk flowers, pinecones, cotton balls, buttons, and more for unique textures.

Include Interactive Elements

Make your board participatory with puzzles, games, discussion prompts, questions, riddles, fill-in-the-blanks, and other interactive or movable pieces. This engages students more deeply.

Change it Frequently

Update your New Testament bulletin board every few weeks with a new theme, images, student work, and activities. This keeps it fresh and interesting for your class.

Relate it to Curriculum

Connect the topic back to your biblical lessons and learning standards. Feature scripture, vocabulary words, maps, timelines, or concepts you are covering in class.

Incorporate Student Work

Have students help make artwork, write reflections, answer questions, or contribute in other ways. This makes them more invested in the finished product.

Add Discussion Questions

Post a few guided discussion prompts related to the theme to spark conversations. Let students share perspectives and what it makes them think about.

Bringing the New Testament to Life

The New Testament is full of captivating stories, impactful teachings, and profound truths. Bringing these to life on a classroom bulletin board allows students to engage on a deeper level. Get creative with vivid imagery, participatory elements, links to lessons, and student contributions.

A well-designed New Testament bulletin board both decorates the classroom and supplements biblical learning. It can spark meaningful discussions and illustrate how scriptural truths are still very relevant today. As the school year draws to a close, liven up your classroom with an interactive board.

FAQs

What are some good Christmas themes for a New Testament bulletin board?

Some good Christmas bulletin board themes include a nativity scene, the names of Jesus like Prince of Peace or Emmanuel, prophecy fulfilled, and the Christmas story timeline. Focus on key events and characters from the biblical account.

What interactive elements can I add to my New Testament bulletin board?

Add puzzles, games, fill-in-the-blanks, discussion prompts, movable pieces, and other interactive elements. This engages students more deeply. You can also incorporate questions, riddles, maps, and timelines related to the theme.

How often should I change my classroom bulletin board?

Plan to change your bulletin board display every 2-4 weeks. Frequently rotating the theme and contents keeps it fresh, seasonal, and connects it to current curriculum topics. Students will look forward to seeing what is new.

Should I relate my New Testament bulletin board to what students are learning?

Yes, try to connect the bulletin board theme to biblical lessons, vocabulary, concepts, maps, and timelines you are currently covering in class. This reinforces the content and makes the board more meaningful.

Why include student work on a classroom bulletin board?

Having students contribute artwork, writing, reflections, and other work makes them more invested in the finished board. It also gives them a sense of pride to have their work displayed. Change it up each time to showcase different students.