[NewTeacher08]

Hello again! I just posted asking for help for an arcade themed classroom for my teaching partner, now I need help!

I currently have an animal print theme in my 4th grade science classroom. I am going to keep that for next year. I have black fabric on all of my bulletin boards and various animal print borders around the boards.

I have 2 large support poles in my classroom that I am going to paint to look like tree trunks. At the top, I am going to attach giant, tissue paper leaves.

I am looking for other ways to make my classroom feel like you are sitting outside in nature.

Any and all ideas would be very much appreciated!! Thank you!

[K-Jeanne]

For a reading corner set up a tent or several camping stools for the students to sit and read at. I had some artificial pine trees- they came in a set of 3- tall, medium, small- I have them in a corner.
I would love to hear what other ideas you come up with! Good luck!

[Sam5]

All kinds of plants and greenery around the room would really add a nature feel to the room. If you don't want to keep up real plants, buy artificial- I bet you can get some good deals at garage sales. Adding some realistic stuffed animals would be nice. Maybe hang some plastic dragonflies or other insects from the ceiling. Do you have a nature center with a children's room anywhere around? You could look at their area for ideas.

[NewTeacher08]

Thanks for all of the ideas! I am printing them off now!!

[sprout keo]

Where did you find a set of 3 pine trees? I'd like to do a camping theme next year and am looking for ideas!

[NewTeacher08]

Someone suggested making stools out of tree stumps....my husband got me 2 nice sized stumps out of our wood pile...we are sanding them down and covering them in glaze. They are going to be sooo neat!!! Thanks so much for the idea

[minkteach]

If you search the board for jungle or camping you will find all kinds of pictures and ideas. I made vines out of brown twisted construction paper and put green around them and hung stuffed monkeys from them for a jungle theme. I put other stuffed animals everywhere as well. I blewup clipart and traced and colored for decorations. You can make a fishing bulletin board for "hooked on reading", No monkey business for behavior charts.

Camping - tent in reading area and flashlights, coolers for book boxes, bugs all around,

Check out the previous posts for lots of info.

[sevenplus]

Sounds very nice so far. Just a word of caution - check your local fire codes. I seriously doubt our fire marshall would allow tissue paper leaves or paper "vines" in the classroom.

Anything fabric (such as a tent) would need to at least be sprayed with a fire retardant spray.

Hey,
IKEA has large green tree like things that look really cool in a jungle themed room! Does anyone have any suggestions for me I teach preschool and was looking for something creative to theme my room?!?! I was thinking Eric Carle but not sure!? Help!

[niveabody]

Why don't you also try decorating your bb as if it is a big aquarium set up with colorful cut out fishes and corals. Make cut out fishes with real looking eyes (those stuff used for toys? you can buy them from a modiste stall)
Your students will really have fun with it! By the way on its border use red felt interconnected to highlight a rectangle aquarium. Have a great day and good luck!

What do you use for glaze? I have a nature theme, but finally gave up on the tree stump idea as I thought it would never pass the fire code inspection.