2011 Primary Bulletin Board Ideas

Let me first preface this post with a motto I would have tattooed on my bicep/arm flab if tattoos weren't breaking commandment, if I didn't think tattoos were fabulously not fun and really... why am I talking. I would never have this tattooed on me, but it is a motto I live by when it comes to church- BAN THE FLUFF.

I like simple. I like effective. I like spending time with my hot husband even though his dreds smell rather than fretting over stuff that really doesn't make much difference. Which brings me to bulletin boards. Am I saying they are fluffy and not important? Absolutely not. Bulletin boards can definitely add to the spirit of the room. However, they can detract from a lesson the attention of a child if they are over the top. Find the balance. Don't stress over it, as with anything in life. A bulletin board doesn't make you or break you in your calling.

I like boards where there are spots to change the monthly theme and scripture. Some boards you can use to display reverence reminders. If you're stuck, pray over it.

* Have a large drawing of a jar you can add paper hearts to. Write down the childrens' favorite scriptures or scripture heroes on the hearts as well as their names. Have the Primary yearly theme and scripture posted above and below the jar "For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them." 2 Nephi 4:15

* Alma 32:33 "And now behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and it sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good."

Have a really large flower with this scripture. Or as time goes, you can start with a seed, then add a stem, then leaves, etc and by the end of the year have a flower.

* Have a really large iron rod. Take a picture of the primary that you can gradually move along the rod as the year goes on. Only move the picture though if the primary children are reading their scriptures!! At the end of course you can have a picture of the Savior.

The Iron Rod is "the word of God, and whoso would hearken to unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it they would never perish." 1 Nephi 15:24

* Let the Primary Chorister use it for songs!!

* Have large pictures of the different books of scripture. Have a Bible, a Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, JS History, Ensign. Space them around Moroni 10:4-5. You could even have a few GAK pictures having to do with the different books to help them identify what goes where.

* Have a large map with different pictures of the Book of Mormon in different languages by the places where that language is spoken. "The time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." Mosiah 3:20

You could also have pen pals with different primaries throughout the world and share testimonies of what the children have learned about the scriptures throughout the year.

* When holy men of God write or speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, their words “shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (D&C 68:4).

In October or April you could have this quote and all the pictures of the current apostles and first presidency. You could also have a challenge for the children to learn all their names!!

* John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" Have a large magnifying glass with this scripture. On the other side of the board you could have the word "Findings!!" Throughout the year you can put up words the children have said they have found to be true in the scriptures.

* John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Again, have pictures of the different scripture books and then a picture of the Savior in the middle.

* Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Divide the board into 2 sections. On one half have a bunch of different pictures of different ancient prophets. On the other side have all the pictures of the children in primary with the words "They wrote the scriptures for us!!!" and then the scripture on the bottom.

Hope these can help! I'd love to post pictures of anyone who wants to share!!

LDS Primary Bulletin Board Ideas 2009

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by erstwhile ungulate 2/9/07

I received a very nice email and thought I'd share.

" I love LOVE your blog. Thank you so much for all the help and ideas. I was wondering if maybe you could add a section for bulletin board ideas? I find myself in a slump and can't always come up with cute ideas for each monthly theme. Thanks so much for considering." -Sister Bessey, Primary Secretary, Sequim Washington

Wow! How blessed to have a bulletin board! My first thoughts in creating a bulletin board are these:

1. Will this bulletin board strengthen someones testimony in Christ?

2. Think about the children's needs. If you have a child that is ADD and the board is covered in neon patchwork with rotating pinwheels... you probably won't have them singing during singing time... And that's not their fault.

3. Will the bulletin board be an effective teaching tool?

Since the year is almost out, I'll just post a few ideas for July on out and anything extra that comes to mind. I love to see children's work and am not artistic hence most of the ideas rely upon the children. Post scriptures! Be creative! These are just starting points. Pray for help and guidance... it will come!

-July- I will strengthen my family.

* Call up the children and write down their answers to How can I strengthen my family? Type up their answers large enough to read. Post GAK pictures to go along with their answers.

* Have a large milk carton with the letter I on it. Next to it write "Do my family good!" Have milk glasses with responses from the children how they help strengthen their family. Scriptures and pictures of Christ can be put on additional glasses.

* Have different pictures of individuals from the scriptures that strengthened their family. Number them. Have the words Who can strengthen their family? posted. Have a pocket with slips of paper for the children to fill out who they think the individuals are. Also have an 8X10 piece of foil that will show their reflection (or simple hanging mirror)... because they too can strengthen their family!

-August- Temple blessings unite families.

* Have pictures of different parents who were sealed in the temple. (Be careful, you don't want to make any children feel bad!!) Or you could just do pictures of the different primary teachers and presidency members that were sealed there. Have each person pictured write a short testimony statement of how temple blessings have united their families.

* Have some of the older children do FOREVER poems. (Fills a Faith in God requirement) Give them a sheet of paper with the letters FOREVER and they have to start each line of the poem with that letter. (For example... F-Families can be sealed in temples. O-Our Heavenly Father is very happy when we make the choice to go to His temple. R- Reno, Nevada's temple is awesome and the best! Etc.) Post different pictures of different temples.

* Have different members of a family holding a paper chain. Post different scriptures on temples. Have a challenge sign up sheet for the children to sign. The challenge is for them to look up all the scriptures and memorize one!

-September- Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.

* Have the children draw pictures of their favorite prophet and why!

* Have the children write letters to President Monson on why they love him and what a prophet is. Display the letters and a large picture of President Monson. Then send the letters to him! (For younger children, write what they say and let them sign/scribble their name!)

* Mystery Prophets. Do 2 a week! Cover their picture, read a short blurb/quote on something they have said about families and then reveal during opening/closing exercises.

* Make paper children and write your primary children's name on them. Put a little paper clip on the back. Have them all accessible for the children to interact with. Take a small pole with a paper prophet attached (Like a fishing pole) with a small magnet on back. Have a small path for the prophet to lead the child to a family and temple. While waiting to start primary, children who are being reverent can do this one at a time. Great way to encourage reverence! Of course have the theme and scripture posted too.

-October- “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches me about families.

* Talk to the activity days leader. Have the activity days girls do a simple flower origami project. Display all their flowers and a proclamation. Post the words "Different flowers, Different families... One truth."

* Try to make the proclamation readable to little children! Post the words and pictures for words so the little ones can try! (For example in the May 2009 Friend there is a story on page 37 Jesus Christ teaches at the temple... it's a story but some pictures substitute the words) There is a technical term for this type of reading, but it's not coming to mind. Anyone? Anyone?

* Have a pumpkin family with the theme displayed. Have little pumpkins with quotes from the children about why they love their family.

-November- My family and I can serve others.

* Have a giant turkey. On the feathers write down the children's ideas on how their family can serve others.

* Don't forget the ward family! Have pictures from different auxiliary service projects!! Have a member from that auxiliary write a short blurb on what they did and send you something to put up!

* Make a giant illustration of King Benjamin and a few of his words on service and being children of Christ. Have children who are reverent come up and color the bulletin board while you are waiting to start.

* Have a large paper rake. Make paper leaves and put the children's ideas on different ways their family can serve. Have a paper family that can play in the leaves.

-December- My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ.

* Post a variety of pictures of Christ in a neat and orderly way. Post the theme. Simple.

* Have a picture of a child and a LARGE thought bubble. Children that are being reverent can come up and draw or write different ways to remember Jesus in the thought bubble.

* Have the words posted, "Heavenly Father's gift to us. Jesus Christ." then the theme. Have a LARGE picture of Christ. Make square gifts to put up along quotes from the children and children's family on how they remember Christ and blessings that have come from the gospel.

Extra Just for Fun:

* Post pictures and testimony statements from the children on things they've learned from Primary Activity Days.

* Have the children draw pictures to teach the song of the month!!

* Have some older primary children come up with an idea and make the bulletin board to fulfill a Faith in God service or talent requirement.

* Have the articles of faith posted and let the children (And primary workers) who can recite them sign their names by that article! Invite the Bishopric in to see if they can sign by any of the articles of faith.

* Have all the words to the song "I am like a star" posted. Then add stars with the children's pictures on them.

* HERE is a link to sugardoodle for 2009 bulletin board ideas.