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Home » Classroom Setup

How To Make An Everything Board

By Leslie Simpson · About 8 minutes to read this article.

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Here is a project that I saw pinned and brought to life using duct tape.

I call it our "everything board" and it's essentially our check-in and out system.

We use it to take attendance, lunch count and I use it to keep track of students leaving the room.

Here's how to make one and my personal confession about why I made it with duct tape.

{Yes, duct tape}

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}

Materials for An Everything Board

Grab a giant oil pan - as found in the automotive section of a big box store. Mine was under $12.

To separate the spaces visually I wanted to use something that would hold up - so I chose duct tape. Bright duct tape from the Dollar Tree (or maybe Big Lots) - the cheapo kind. It worked great with our classroom color scheme. Go for a neutral if you don't have a color scheme or don't want to change this up in a year or two.

I picked duct tape to bring the colors of my classroom together. It seemed like an easy choice to use it to create sections for this project too - and it worked!

Pick a few 12x12 squares of scrapbook paper if you want to create sections with a color background. I would recommend laminating the papers so that the magnets don't drag and create smudges. Learned that one the hard way. {wink}

Grab some magnets that protrude out, allowing little hands to grab and manipulate easily. I scored mine at the Dollar Tree (6 for $1). The flat face was going to allow me to put their student names on top. They lasted for more than a year.

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}

With materials in hand - it is time to make.

Decide Your Sections

I knew I was going to need a way for students to:

  • check in (essentially take attendance)
  • take lunch count (with a few options: hot, cold, sandwich)
  • sign out briefly if they went to the office, speech or to the nurse's office
  • check out when school was done

So, I needed to plan out sections for each of these to use with their magnets. The largest section needs to be when everyone is not at school - that will hold all of the magnets at the end of every day.

The next largest sections need to be for lunch options since those have to hold a large portion of magnets.

My kinders can only reach the bottom half of the oil pan since I mounted it onto half of my bulletin board, so I decided the top portions would work well as display space.

Create Your Sections

Lay out your scrap paper (to get sections the same size) or scrapbook paper and use magnets to temporarily hold the paper in place to help plan out each section size.

Place real-life objects into each space to be sure that it will hold what you need. Gonna display your lunch menu? Be sure the space is large enough.

I chose to display our lunch menu and our school's PBIS acronym.

You could easily use your spaces on top for posting other things like:

  • a sight word password
  • morning tub choices
  • classroom jobs
  • morning routine icons
  • daily folder papers

Once I laid out my sections and liked the spacing, it was time to lay down the paper (for the top display-only sections) and lay down the duct tape to both separate the sections and adhere the scrapbook paper backgrounds.

I had to cut the purple scrapbook paper at the top corners to fit the rounded corners of the oil pan. You may have to do the same. Adhere it with rubber cement, double-sided sticky tape or use the edges of the duct tape to hold it in place. I used the duct tape.

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}

Tip! Cut your duct tape in half length-wise to create thinner separations - like you see with my lime green and bright pink duct tape lines.

Add Labels

Once you have your sections finalized it's time to label them so students can use it independently as part of their daily routine.

When my kinders arrive at school, they will move a simple circle magnet with their name on it from the "at home" section to selecting their lunch choice.

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}


In our school, students can also order a sandwich from the cafeteria, so we have that third option. I added a strong clip to hold a bunch of class lists stapled together like a note pad. I also adhered a magnet to a highlighter to go in this space.

They highlight their name on the class list if they choose this lunch option. This list is given to the lunch staff by one of our students performing a classroom job - and it's also a classroom job that someone puts all the magnets back at the end of the day, signing everyone out.

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}


This board also helps me track who is in and out of the room and students can move their magnets to these other options.

Hence why I am now dubbing this my "everything board."

Now I don't have to second guess where so-and-so is when I can't remember that they left the room to go to speech twenty minutes ago. Because we all get busy and forget things like that. Right?!? Maybe it's just me.

Questions About the Everything Board

Have some questions about the board? Let me see if I can help!

Do you have the labels to share?

Do you want to make this too?

Here are my labels in case they are helpful in getting your project going. You agree to these terms of use upon downloading.

How did you make the name magnets?

I measured the magnets that I purchased.

I made round circle shapes in a program like Powerpoint to match the size and added colorful polka dots. (I was kinda going for a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom feel). I chose lots of colored backgrounds so it made it quick for students to identify theirs every day. Then I added my student names once I had my class list. I printed and laminated them and stuck them on with rubber cement. One year I used double-sided sticky tape.

At the end of the year, I pried them off and stuck new names on the following year.

KindergartenWorks :: brightly colored, fully functional {how to make an everything board}

Where did you buy the tape from?

I think it came from Big Lots and Meijer - but be sure to look for cheap duct tape at Walmart and the Dollar Tree too for your colors.

I've never tried making anything so crafty {yes seriously} but I'm loving how it turned out.

The cheapo duct tape really was forgiving as I moved it around and straightened out the lines... who knew?

What kind of oil pan is it?

I honestly can't remember if I bought it at Walmart or Home Depot - but it was that kinda store. I recommend shopping around a little bit to find one that is the size you need and one that has a flat surface.

A reader reminded me to get one without embossed letters is key - and she is right! Get one that has a flat surface to make all of your space useable and easy to mount.

How did you get it to mount to your bulletin board?

I was gifted some crazy strong double-sided sticky tape (in a huge roll like 12" wide) that I covered the entire back with. It was like from a wallpaper store or something.

But it didn't last all year long {sigh}

So, as a quick fix (albeit not pretty for the next few days) I simply used gorilla tape to make sure it didn't fall down again.

My suggestion is to talk to your school (and in my case the janitorial staff) about the best way to get yours up on the wall.

Another teacher recommended using heavy-duty Velcro to attach it to any smooth surface.

Remember to keep kid-friendly heights in mind!

Final Thoughts

Attendance, lunch count, headcount, display space... brightly colored and fully functional. I think that's my style!

So with some colorful duct tape, scrapbook paper and the oil pan we now have a colorful, shiny, mutli-purpose board.

Our "everything" board.

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.

More Classroom Functionality

  • Creating a System for Lost Materials
  • Creating a System for Using the Restroom
  • Responsibility in the Classroom
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About Leslie Simpson

Leslie is the teacher behind KindergartenWorks. She believes in teaching kinders how to be pretty incredible along with teaching them to read, write and think for themselves. She enjoys drinking hot tea, making mud pies with her three kids and sharing what she's learned with teachers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann Golembiowski says

    September 24, 2019 at 11:29 am

    I bought mine from Walmart about ten years ago. I used heavy duty Velcro to attach mine to the side of a filing cabinet.
    I used it as a math number of the day center. The students loved it!
    A. Golembiowski

    Reply
    • Leslie Simpson says

      October 02, 2019 at 8:23 pm

      Great suggestions - thanks for sharing what you used!

      Reply
  2. Lori says

    August 16, 2019 at 8:50 am

    A little hiccup for me was that the oil pans I found had embossed lettering on half of it. Does not make for a smooth surface. Might have to shop around a little. I think I got mine from Walmart.

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 16, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Oh - good point Lori to find a flat one! I'll be sure to add that to my hints in the post. Thanks for mentioning it.
      - Leslie

      Reply
  3. Andrea says

    July 22, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    Do you have the labels you used for this project posted somewhere?

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 06, 2019 at 2:18 am

      Hi Andrea,
      I added then to this post for you!

      Reply
  4. Hadley Griffenhagen says

    August 04, 2015 at 12:19 am

    Such a great idea! How did you make the name magnets?

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 04, 2015 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks Hadley! I measured the magnets that I purchased. I made round name labels to match the size. I printed and laminated them and adhered them on with rubber cement or double sided sticky tape.
      - Leslie

      Reply
  5. Brittany says

    July 25, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    This is awesome! Where did you buy the tape from???

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      July 26, 2014 at 9:14 am

      Hmmmm... I believe I got it from Big Lots and Meijer... maybe Walmart?
      - Leslie

      Reply
  6. Lymari says

    July 21, 2014 at 11:53 am

    Wow! great idea. I will be asking my hubby to search for an oil pan ASAP!

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      July 22, 2014 at 7:17 pm

      Awesome! Please share a pic on facebook - I'd love to see it in action.
      - Leslie

      Reply
  7. Leisa says

    June 22, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Love it! I bought my oil pan today! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      June 22, 2014 at 3:36 pm

      Awesome! Please share a pic on facebook - I'd love to see it!

      - Leslie

      Reply
  8. Erin says

    August 17, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    This is great! I am going to try this! Thank you! How did you get it to mount to your bulletin board?

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 17, 2013 at 8:15 pm

      Hi Erin,
      I used some really strong double sided stick tape. Best wishes if you try it!
      - Leslie

      Reply
  9. cynannwood says

    September 02, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    Love this idea. Maybe solid colored contact paper would work instead of the paper. Magnets would stick wonderfully. I think I will try..

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      September 02, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      I had thought of laminating it, but I didn't want the sheen - so contact paper sounds like a great solution! Thanks for sharing your idea!

      Reply
  10. beachliesl says

    August 19, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Looks great! 🙂 You are so creative---and though the oil pan isn't technically 'trash', you definitely made a treasure out of it! 🙂

    Liesl
    wildworldofkindergarten.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 19, 2012 at 11:00 pm

      Thanks Liesl! I thank Pinterest for the creativity! 😉

      Reply
  11. Ladybug Teacher says

    August 19, 2012 at 8:51 am

    So cool and functional!!

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      September 02, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks Kristen!

      Reply
  12. Mrs. McKown says

    August 18, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    Looks awesome! Can I ask how you attached it to your bulletin board??
    Where would the world be without duct tape? :o)
    ~ Julie

    Reply
    • Leslie @KindergartenWorks says

      August 19, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Thanks Julie! I have a humongous role of double sided sticky tape that I used... (it's at least 12 inches wide) But I think screwing it in would've worked too.

      Reply
  13. laughinbrunette says

    August 18, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Very cute! Love the bright colors!
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

    Reply

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