4 Ways to Create Dynamic Wall Displays
When elementary students use wall space to track their progress and their questions, they take ownership of their learning.
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In every classroom, wall displays have the potential to be more than just decoration; they can be powerful tools that actively engage students in their learning journey. When I rethought how I used classroom walls in my first year of teaching, everything changed: My students didn’t just notice their progress—they started to own it. They were proud of our space, and you could feel that energy.
Rather than merely showcasing final outcomes, dynamic displays can highlight students’ ongoing progress, facilitate collaboration, and support a culture of growth and learning. I work to design wall displays that invite interaction, make learning visible, and inspire students daily, and here are four ways I’ve done that in my classroom.
1. Prioritize Student Participation
When students filled our Wonder Wall with sticky notes of their burning questions, it didn’t just become a colorful corner, it became the heartbeat of our classroom curiosity. Every week, we’d pick a few questions to dive into together. Sometimes, it was a quick search during a unit lesson; other times, a pupil might come back after the weekend with a story about how they’d explored the question with their family (those moments were truly gold).
One day, a sticky note asked, “Why is the water salty?” and let me tell you, that question sparked an entire class experiment. We explored evaporation, made “salt water” in jars, and even debated how animals survive in salty oceans. By the end, the student who asked the question was beaming as they presented what they learned to the class. Here are two ways to get students involved in your displays right away:
Interactive learning walls: Dedicate a section of your wall to key themes or units, where students can add facts they’ve learned, questions they’re curious about, or personal reflections. This encourages students to actively engage with the material and contribute to the class’s collective knowledge.
Celebrating growth and effort: Instead of highlighting only the “best” work, focus on progress and effort. Show a timeline of student drafts, revisions, or learning goals to demonstrate how much growth they’ve achieved over time. In one of my writing units, I posted a Before and After board where students proudly displayed their messy drafts next to polished final pieces. It was a game changer for their confidence.
2. Make the Display Dynamic
Static displays can quickly lose their appeal as students stop noticing them over time. Make displays dynamic by updating them regularly with new content, student contributions, or interactive elements. Think of your walls as being like an Instagram feed: Students are excited to see what is new.
Rotating highlights: Set aside a space for rotating displays that change based on the current unit or weekly theme. Students can look forward to seeing new content, whether it’s a new set of unit words, a math challenge, or a spotlight on a famous figure from history. For example, I use three pink pegs on my whiteboard where students feature their favorite project or drawing. Seeing their work on display builds confidence and encourages others to contribute.
Choosing which pupil gets to hang their work on one of the pink pegs is one of my favorite moments of the day (yes, every day). Sometimes, it’s as simple as inviting students who are particularly proud of a piece to volunteer (after asking them: How proud are you of your job?). Other times, I’ll rotate through the class to make sure everyone gets a chance to shine. When it’s their turn, the joy on their faces reminds me why these little moments matter so much.
Flexible tracking: I’ve used movable elements like sticky notes, magnetic labels, and laminated speech bubble cards that students can write themselves to track their own work, almost like a work-in-progress document displayed on the wall. Displaying progress on the wall instead of keeping it tucked away in a folder makes it feel alive; it becomes part of the classroom culture (inclusivity, belonging). When students can see their work and their friends’ progress right there on the wall or whiteboard, it creates a shared experience. They walk by, stop to admire, and cheer each other on. It’s a constant, visual reminder of their growth.
As for making space, it’s all about scaling. We don’t put every single detail up; instead, we focus on snapshots of progress (and I make sure everyone has something on the wall). It’s about keeping the wall dynamic and accessible, not overwhelming. A dynamic display that evolves along with your curriculum keeps students engaged and creates excitement about ongoing learning opportunities.
3. Showcase Process, Not Just Product
One of the best lessons I learned as a new teacher was this: Students care more about their progress than a perfect outcome. I remember a student who struggled with writing finally feeling proud when we showcased her drafts alongside her final essay; it was a moment of real growth. Research by Carol Dweck, a psychologist known for her work on motivation and mindset, emphasizes the value of fostering a growth mindset in students.
For example, in my second-grade classroom, we used a Literacy Wall for writing. Students posted their drafts, ideas, and even brainstorming lists, from left to right. By the time they added their finished stories, they were so proud to see how far they had come. One student told me, “I didn’t know my ideas would look this good in the end!”
To translate this research into classroom practice, consider dedicating space on your wall displays to showcase work in progress. Here are two examples:
Work-in-progress boards: Reserve a section of the wall for drafts, sketches, or initial attempts at projects. In my classroom, students have used this space during writing assignments to display early drafts alongside final essays, helping them and their peers to see the evolution of their ideas. This could be as simple as a “rough drafts rock” area, where students can pin up their work before polishing it.
Reflection: Encourage students to track their goals and post reflective notes or exit tickets about their learning journey. A simple “What did you learn today?” or “2 stars and 1 wish” card can make their learning visible. For example, after a math challenge, my students filled in exit tickets like this: “Today I learned to divide!” or “Next time, I’ll try….”
4. Connect Displays to Real-World Learning
To really grab students’ attention, classroom displays need to go beyond just the four walls and connect to the world outside. Kids love seeing how what they learn relates to real life, and it’s easier to do this than you might think. One of my favorite displays was a Planet Earth board. Each week, my students brought in stories from the news or their own observations about our planet. I’ll never forget one student pointing to a news clipping about floods and saying, “We talked about that during dinner—it is happening in my country!” That was when I knew the display was making a difference.
We also used displays to tackle real-life problems. Last year, my students worked together to reduce classroom waste and water. They brainstormed ideas like starting a paper-recycling station and using both sides of the paper before putting it in the trash. We tracked our progress on a display (as always), where students posted solutions, updated their goals, and celebrated, saying, “All of us used all the recycle paper from the trash before putting it away.” By the end of the term, they were proud of their efforts and couldn’t wait to share them with their families.
Getting Started with Dynamic Wall Displays
For new teachers, classroom displays might feel like one more thing on an overwhelming list. But keep in mind: They don’t have to be perfect or Pinterest-worthy. What matters is that they’re meaningful for your students. A display that sparks curiosity, encourages interaction, or celebrates growth can create a positive classroom vibe right away.
That said, it’s important to find a balance. Too much on the walls can feel overwhelming, especially for students with ADHD or those who find it hard to focus. A little intention goes a long way; choose meaningful, purposeful displays that enhance the space without overcrowding it.
One of my colleagues tracks acts of kindness with a Helping Board wall. Every time someone helps a friend or cleans up, they add a handprint. I find it a fun way to build community. I can’t wait to give it a try.