Camping Classroom Theme: A Look Inside

So, after many,MANY months,  29 students, a few furniture alterations, this is a look inside my classroom. This classroom is new to me this year and I spent last summer painting, decorating and organizing the room to fit a camping theme. It was a blast and I love it. After "living" in the space for a school year, there are things I will change and improve. As a whole, it made a comfortable, interesting and functional space for my third graders to learn in. The photos here are showing some bare walls due to the fact that some were taken before school began and now that school is coming to a close, well, bare again.  I will explain some of my organization in another post, so just enjoy the eye candy for now (gosh the photos are grainy...time for a new camera!)  Thanks for stopping by!
Hasta la pasta!

The trees at the entrance to my classroom are made from wood grain Contact paper (under $7).  I used one roll for 3 trees and had more left over.  The leaves are made from a variety of scrapbook papers in the same greenish color family. Walmart has pads of paper for $5-$10.

The Camp Anderson motto hangs above the classroom library. "Be Brave, Take Chances, Work Hard, Be Great"

I use the back corner for my "office".  Because it takes up too much space, you will not find a teachers desk in my room.  This is the table that I work at when I need to, stage craft projects, teach reading groups and do whatever else needs a large space.

The Data Wall.  It was used...right now...not so much.

The night sky wall is my FAVORITE part of the room.  Black paint+plastic gems glued to thumbtacks=success!  This grainy photo does not do it justice.  It sparkles...even in the dark.  I added twine and clothes pins to hang charts and artwork.

Where the "teaching magic" happens.  I sit on the bench stone wall during lessons.  The projector, Apple TV, speakers and ELMO are housed on the cart next to me for easy access.  The large wipe board is opposite the cart and bench.

The cubbies were a labor or love.  Boxes from Uline can be ordered in a variety of dimensions to fit a space.  Then I glued cute scrapbook paper to the front and added twine handles.  Instant (well, almost instant) storage.  Craft supplies, unit materials, borders, utensils, and other items are stored here for easy access.  

this wipe-board is mounted on a very large steel chart rack that someone made for me.  It makes a great surface for the projector to shine on instead of a pull down screen.  This way it stays there and there is less wait time to set up.  I also drive it around the room from time to time (it is on wheels) to let the kids stay at their desks during a lesson. Bonus!

Hello "moonclock" that doesn't keep the correct time.  But it's cute! If you look closely there is an A frame tent next to the door.  I couldn't get the picture of it to upload!  I will post pictures of it later I guess...

All my students desks are grouped together in "cabins". I need to craft some sort of cabin like structure for the tower of storage drawers at the ends of the desks.  It needs to look more "cabin-ish".  PROJECT!

A view of the classroom library. Shelves were purchased at K-Mart.  I get them on sale for around $25 before school starts.  Very durable and have lasted me 4 or 5 years now. 

A Whole New Room

I have been teaching in the same room in the corner of the second floor for the past 3 years.  Before that, I spent 7 years in the room directly below on the first floor.  So in a nut shell I have had 2 rooms in 10 years.  What is interesting is that both of these rooms are huge, hot and are exactly. the. same. shape.  Everything about these rooms was the same.  The size, the windows, the walls, the doors, the storage and the cabinets.  So when I moved from one room to another it was no big deal.  The furniture all fit the same and lucky me...the new room had some primary colors painted on the trim.  Cool! Easy peasy!  Here is a picture of my primary colored, second floor, hot third grade room.

This past June lots changed.  Teachers lost jobs, budget was kaput, blah blah blah...things were stressful.  So, imagine my reaction when I read an email from the boss that said in a nut shell to pack your class like you are leaving the school.  For good.  GULP.  I cried.  My classroom was all I had known for 10 years.  And I LOVED IT.  It was simple.  It was organized. It was my home away from home.  Well after a good chat with "the man" I accepted it.  This classroom was not going to be mine for much longer. I packed, I purged, I got excited. How fun! A fresh start and a clean slate to create in.  During the summer my things were moved into my new room (still on the hot second floor) on the other end of the building.  As soon as my stuff was moved I ventured upstairs (I was teaching summer program there anyway) to take a peek-a-roonie.  Excitement turned to "omg" in a split second.  This is what I walked into.

 It is a little scary seeing all your stuff, that you organized so perfectly in your old room, and then packed up meticulously for the move, ALL OVER THE PLACE!  Sigh.  It stunk.  SO MUCH.  The walls were white, my curtains would no longer fit the windows and I had little storage compared to the last room.  I was going to have to get creative!  And that is where the camping classroom theme was born.  Here is a quick peek-a-roonie at my new roomy!

Ta Da!!!! Welcome to Camp Anderson.  This summer has been spent poured into this room.  Out of 7 days I spent at least 4 of them per week at school organizing, beautifying, crafting and scheming so that everything was in its place for the kiddos.  Organization is key to a classroom that runs smoothly.  Now after 2 months of hard work it is finished.  I love it so, so much and so does everyone that stops by.  Stay tuned for more information on how I did it (and to see more photos of the best part...the inside!).  Hasta la pasta my friends...for now.