The Memory Van

• At the beginning of the school year, kids are apathetic to school. Counter this with memories of summer activities. Create a backdrop with beaches, lakes and summer fun. Draw roads in and create a summer groovy van (Volkswagen or The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo). Give each child a cutout figure to represent themselves and place on the map where they visited or hope to go someday. Instruct students to write about their favorite summer experience and post it on the board. If they have pictures, allow them to bring those in as well. Kids will enjoy reliving their summer fun.
  
  

Vinyl Records

• If you can, grab some old vinyl records from a garage sale. Have one for each student with a black label the size and shape of the record label saying, "I groove to ...". Ask them to complete the sentence with their favorite song or artist. Explain to students that before mp3 players, CDs and even cassette tapes (you may need to explain this too), vinyl records were how people listened to their favorite music. This is a great way to bridge history and generational gaps. Add pictures of popular music groups from the 1970s and create a montage with contemporary acts the kids name.
  
  

Tie-Dye

• Design the bulletin board with tie-dyed colors. Place class helper jobs on the board. Give kids cardstock and show them examples of psychedelic writing samples that use color patterns popular in the 1970s with lots of swirls and bright colors. Ask the kids to write their name in the grooviest way they want and put their name up for different class jobs.
  
  

Song Titles

• "Ooh Baby Baby It's a Wild World" by Cat Stevens can launch a map or social studies themed board. "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor is a great title for a science board. "Imagine" by John Lennon can be used in so many ways, including an art theme or placing a picture of the world and discussing social studies. This title can also be a motivational board that helps students recognize that their own potential lies within.
  
  

Psychedelic Flowers

• A psychedelic flower board that has a great big bright sun is a great board to start a conversation about photosynthesis and plant pigments. This could grow into lessons about conservation and each student's responsibility to protect foliage, and in turn, how it provides us with oxygen.