DIY CLIP BOARDS

“Ownership” is important to children. They like their own space and materials. Yes, you can buy clipboards, but don’t you think that children will find it more meaningful if they get to decorate their very own clipboard.

Note!When I made things like this for my class I would also remind them that I made it special – just for them! They seemed to take pride in this.

What? 9” x 12” piece of corrugated cardboard, 1” butterfly clip

Why? writing, science observations, sight words, surveys

When? Learning center, independent, partner work

How? Attach a butterfly clip, insert paper, and let the writing begin!

Use the clip boards for:

Observations  (weather, nature walk, clouds, etc.)

Surveys (favorite food, ice cream, animal, sports team, etc.)

Write the room  (2 syllable words, seasonal words, nouns, shapes, letters, etc.)

Read the room (check off words they find, shapes, letters)

Note taking (write or draw pictures as they listen to a book or watch a video)

Interviews  (parents, grandparents, friends)

What I learned (record what they learn as you do a unit of study)

Lists
And here's a LIST of lists children can make on clipboards.

     List of what they are thankful for.

     List of their favorite books, songs.

     List of their favorite foods.

     List of their favorite subjects at school.

     List of their favorite animals/pets.

     List of their favorite sports or games.

     List of what they can do if they finish their work early.

     List of things that make them happy.

     List of how to be a buddy/friend.

     List of “cheers” and “goals.”

                                                              

Wipe Off Boards
Many lumber companies will cut shower board into 9” x 12” pieces that you can use like clipboards.

    

Hint! Plastic plates or laminated white card stock are great substitutes for white boards.

Hint! For morning work at the beginning of the school year a teacher told me that she had her children use clipboards to settle down in the morning. Initially, she asked them to practice making shapes each morning. Then she started to play my “Chant and Write” song to work on numerals. Later they listened to alphabet songs and practiced writing letters of the alphabet.