If you love to put up a fresh display for a new year or term, then we’ve gathered some of the best classroom display ideas the internet has to offer. Whether it’s your staple ‘All about me’ display or mixing it up with something dramatic and creative for the reading corner, we’ve done the inspirational legwork to provide you with a one-stop-shop of inspirational classroom display ideas.

Easy classroom display ideas

1. Refresh your reading corner

There are SO many amazing reading corner displays that make reading irresistible for your class. Have a go at picking a theme; it might fit with your topic, but never be afraid to go off-piste!

Think, underwater, jungle, space, or fairy tale. Maybe choose a book your class loves and dress up your reading corner accordingly – you can make the Hogwarts Express out of bookshelves, right? If you’re looking for more inspiration, look up ‘classroom reading displays’ on Pinterest and you won’t be disappointed!

2. Bring the outdoors inside

Take what you’ve learned from the great outdoors and bring it inside with a wall display that uses leaves, stones and other autumnal pieces of nature.

3. Go dino

Step into the prehistoric period with a wall display all about dinosaurs. Fill your wall with volcanic art, writings about your favourite dinosaur and stories of your class waking up in Jurassic Park.

4. Shout about your core values

Take everything you want your class to stand for every day and memorialise it on the wall with a display all about values. From showing respect to embracing challenge, remind your class how they should approach learning every time they enter the classroom.

5. Hold your own art show

Universities show off the art of their students with grand art shows every year; so why not follow in their footsteps? Art is something to be seen and admired so get that art displayed!

Leave as much space between each piece as your wall or surface space will allow and use natural colours as backing. Hessian fabric is cheap and looks fab as backing for art on the walls or on a surface.

6. Walk like an Egyptian

What period of history are you learning about this term? We loved this wall display all about the Egyptians, complete with mummified head and hieroglyphic drawings.

7. Inspirational bulletin board

The example below is a great example of how you can bring a bulletin board to life. Tied into the right season, this leafy display would light up any classroom. We love it.

8. Explain some science

Scientific concepts can be tricky for your class to get their head around, so why not be creative and make that learning more visual? The example below, explaining light and dark, uses the perfect topic for a science-y wall display.

9. Create a days of the week schedule

Simple but effective, the weekly schedule is great way to remind your class what’s coming up this week. Build on the example below with new sections on subject areas and other reminders for the week ahead.

10. Discuss an historical event

Another great example of how to illuminate a major historical period or event here. This time it’s the Titanic, using news snippets from the time to give the display an authentic look.

11. Key vocabulary

Displays can be quite onerous if they require constant updating. A vocabulary display can fall into this trap but avoid too much change by putting up vocabulary for key topics you will cover in the term. These could be English, maths or topic-based and should include basic and complex words.

Ensure the meaning is also present, as well as an example of it being used. Challenge your pupils to use each word at least once in the term.

12. Profile some famous art

Inspire your class artistically by profiling a famous artist, like this example of Vincent Van Gogh. To complete the display, why not try and emulate his style and post some of the classes work next to his too?

13. Show off your letter writing

We thought this display does a fantastic job of giving your pupil’s letters pride of place on the wall. For a festive spin, make it all Christmassy and pop your class letters to Santa in a sack.

14. Classroom jobs

Every good classroom teacher knows that pupil help in the classroom can be an absolute lifesaver and it’s a fantastic way of giving the children responsibility for their learning space. Win, win.

However, if you don’t have something planned out in the beginning, the logistics of jobs for pupils can be a nightmare, particularly if you want them on a rota. Sort yourself out a classroom jobs board and print out your pupils’ names on cards with Blu Tack on the back so they can be easily moved around.

15. Writing inspiration station

The class’ writing flair is developing all the time, and this display idea can help bring that along. Next time you come to a writing task, offer helpful tips, advice and pointers for your class with a wall display similar to the one below. We liked the breakdown by formality too.

16. Pride in place

Community and taking pride in your local area is a positive message we all want to instil in the next generation. With this wall display, you can do exactly that, highlighted key monuments from around the UK, or reminding pupils of all the things that make up their local community.

17. Goals of the year

A new school year is that ‘Brucie bonus’ moment where you can have another fresh start and the same goes for your class. Have a discussion with your class about what they would like to achieve in the coming year. Have them commit to these goals and display them on a board.

Check in with the board and allow pupils to make changes where their interests and motivations have changed. And don’t forget to add your own to show your class you’re all in this together. 

18. Choice board

This one is for all those class clever clogs! Create a display that offers the class some activity ideas when they’ve finished their work. It should keep them occupied so you can focus on those who need a hand.

19. Motivational wall

Sometimes, a few words of motivation are all we need. With this display idea, the teacher takes a key concept (like perseverance) and explains how we achieve it. When things are proving difficult, a glance at this wall will refocus the class (and perhaps even you).

20. Promote some inspirational figures

Learning about famous figures who have shaped our history is a huge part of primary education, and this classroom display focuses in on some of the women who have done just that. Take famous quote from the field you’re learning about and arrange them around a central theme.

21. All about me

It’s possible your class is full of pupils who don’t know each other. Change that. Create an all about me display that children can use to share things about themselves that no one knows about them.

If you have a class that has a lot of EAL pupils, it might be nice to include what language each child speaks to help encourage connections for children new to the country.

22. Explore a new region

Geography next, with this classroom display that teaches your class all about the Arctic. With a map, fun facts and a little bit about animals you’d find in the region, it’s got everything you need to discover and explore.

23. Express your emotions

Allowing your class to come to terms with their emotions is vital to today’s primary classrooms. With displays like this one, you can let each pupil express their feelings without being scared of afraid.