empty classroom with chalkboard and classroom displays

Free Classroom Decorations for Teachers

By: SubjectToClimate Team

Aug 24, 2022 | 8 minute read

Teachers, SubjectToClimate has you covered this school year! We have created free classroom decorations for teachers, including climate change inspired word walls, classroom door kits, posters, name tags, and more. All of these resources are customizable, reviewed by teachers and scientists, and easily accessible. Leave the work to us - simply click and enjoy. 

Back to School Bulletin Board

Grade: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Art, Justice, Climate Action

Resource Type: Presentation Slides

Inspire your students this school year by using our free climate change bulletin board and door kit in your classroom. Teachers can use the decoration kit by printing the materials on recycled paper to create a welcoming bulletin board display outside their classroom or on their classroom door. Include your students in the decorating process and make this a fun, creative climate education activity! Your students will love interacting with their peers and collaborating to design the classroom bulletin board. This activity presents a great opportunity for students to choose and share their favorite quotes in this customizable kit. Some of the quotes include:

The door kit letters are a great place to start with your students. Teachers can assign one letter to a group of students and let them design it using materials they find outside, such as leaves or sticks. Your classroom will look great, and students will feel inspired to pay more attention to climate change!

PYP Learner Profile Posters

Grade: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Math, Art, World Languages

Resource Type: Presentation Slides

This set of colorful and free back-to-school posters features Captain Climate demonstrating each of the ten learner attributes from the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program (PYP). Even if you are not a PYP educator, these posters feature learner attributes (i.e.,  “balanced,” “caring,” “reflective”) that all teachers would encourage. The posters will encourage students to start their new school year as active, engaged learners.

The illustrations of Captain Climate are visually engaging and easy to use.  Students will identify with many of the “I am” statements and will be reminded of ways to positively interact with others and approach learning. The statements are short, but compelling; for example “I show respect for myself and for others.” Teachers can also ask students to draw, paint, or design images inspired by the statements.

The posters can be printed in black and white, then colored in by students or posted on Google Classroom or other digital LMS systems. Teachers can have their students view all of the posters and write down at least one attribute from each that applies to them. Additionally, English and Social Studies classes could discuss the meanings of the words used and how those attributes benefit individuals, communities, and society.

Captain Climate Name Tags

Grade: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Math, Art, World Languages

Resource Type: Presentation Slides

The first day of school can be challenging, but preparation makes it go much more smoothly. Name tags are an important and integral part of organizing and preparing your classroom. We have 15 free Captain Climate back-to-school name tags to choose from; they can be used to label storage spaces, lockers, desks, and chairs. Start the first day of class with ease by labeling your students’ cubbies and desks so they know where to hang their backpacks and sit down!

Having materials and spaces labeled and organized makes everyone feel calm and prepared for the busy first days of the school year. Consider using different Captain Climate labels for notebooks, school-to-home communication folders, art portfolios, and subject-specific binders. Students will feel empowered by their stylish name tag!

These labels also make excellent classroom job cards! Decide which Captain Climate design will represent the line leader, calendar helper, plant monitor, door holder, etc., and print a classroom set of each of the chosen designs. With the labels ready to go, teachers can change out the student jobs without any confusion! 

Growth Mindset Posters

Grade: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Art, Social-Emotional Learning

Resource Type: Artwork, Presentation Slides

Teachers can choose from 16 free, beautifully illustrated back-to-school posters with quotes from influential people such as Sir David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, and Rachel Carson. These posters may serve as first introductions to these change-makers for some students. The original artwork is captivating and will inspire students to make their own difference in the world.

These inspiring posters are sure to spark students’ curiosity! The classroom decorations will introduce students to a diverse group of environmental leaders who are working to create a better future. Students will see how people from around the world are using their individual strengths to tackle climate change. Teachers will love these inclusivity-focused posters because they feature climate leaders of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and sexual orientations.

There are plenty of ways to utilize this resource. The posters can be printed and displayed in the classroom or used as digital resources for online classrooms or assignments. Teachers could use these posters for an assignment where students choose one inspirational individual to research and write about. The posters can be used to connect art and creativity to science, language arts, and social studies classes. Social Studies teachers could use the posters as a hook for lessons about the importance of individual action, participation in society, or the importance of having diverse role models.

Vocabulary Words

Grade: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts

Resource Type: Presentation Slides

Our word wall is a printable, downloadable slide presentation that provides images and definitions for climate change vocabulary terms for every letter of the alphabet. The presentation includes a variety of words for each letter as well as powerful images. 

The word wall vocabulary cards are simple to use and feature useful, foundational environmental vocabulary to ease students into climate education. The large font and accessibility of the cards make them easy to use as physical or digital classroom decorations, as well as for online assignments. The vocabulary cards are based on vocabulary from four of our Elementary School unit plans - Art for the EarthAir QualityGreen Spaces, and Green Transportation

The images are engaging and there are a number of words to choose from for various levels of student comprehension. Teachers of younger students could use the definition space to add phonetic symbols to help students learn how to pronounce the terms. Teachers could also add their own class-specific terms to the list and then assign them as vocabulary cards for a language arts, social studies, or science class.

Back to School is a busy time of year, but our climate change classroom decorations are a great way to jumpstart your school year and engage your students from day one. Have social media? Tag us - we would love to see how you use these resources in your classrooms! StC appreciates all of the hard work teachers invest in preparing for the school year to ensure that your students have a warm and welcoming learning environment. As current and former teachers, we at StC will continue working with educators to develop more resources made for teachers, by teachers. Check out our StC Earth Day Classroom Theme Pack for more free, customizable classroom decorations. 

A quick tip: To reduce waste and your carbon footprint, we encourage you to print these resources on recycled paper and attach them to recycled or reused cardboard or paperboard instead of laminating.