I always wanted to do a classroom transformation, but with all my responsibilities, I JUST DON’T HAVE TIME! Anyone else???? I really, really wanted to do something that was simple and yet would make impact in my classroom. Sooooo…….I came up with an inexpensive, easy to make plan to welcome my students and bring some joy and fun to our learning. I made a cozy fireplace for my students to read by and to display some of my winter decorations my students have given me over the years.
Supplies needed: 5 copy paper boxes, brick bulletin board paper, scissors, packing tape, regular clear tape, and about 45 minutes!
If you don’t want to make your own, I have a pre-made fireplace option you can purchase on Amazon below! Scroll down.
Step 1: Beg your custodian and secretary to save 5 copy paper boxes for you (or a box of similar size). As you can see in my picture, I also used a Scholastic book box and another box that just happened to be almost the same size. Also gather all the above supplies so you don’t have to stop and look for them as you create.
Step 2: Lay your boxes flat on the floor in the fireplace shape you desire and go crazy with the packing tape (or masking/duct tape). No one will see the tape, so use a lot and don’t worry about the wrinkles. You want to make sure that your pieces are all sturdy enough to hold up your decorations later on, so especially wrap a LOT of tape around that top middle piece. I flipped my boxes around as I taped to make sure I taped ALL 4 sides generously.
Step 3: Lay your boxes flat on the floor again and lay the brick bulletin board paper on top making sure that it drapes over both sides, and all the excess is at the top of the boxes
Step 4: Set your fireplace up and use packing (clear) tape to tape the sides around the back of the boxes and the bottom. Now you are ready to fold the top of the paper down on top of the fireplace mantle. Just fold it like a present. I didn’t do any extra cuts. Just fold and tape down in the back and on the sides. (where the “mantle” is).
Step 5: Now you are ready to cut out the fireplace area! I simply found the center and cut a slit in the paper up to the “mantle” box. Then I slid my scissors under that middle “mantle” box to cut it so I could tape the two flaps on the “inside of the fireplace.” I did not worry about covering the bottom inside of the “mantle” box.
Step 6: Bam! Finished! You can see in the picture with my sweet 10 year old son helper that the paper wrinkled a bit in spots, but I seriously didn’t worry about it. I did smooth out a few spots and taped them down in the back, but since I will just be leaving this up for a few months, I didn’t stress over a few wrinkles (much like I don’t stress over a few wrinkles on my face now either)!
You can see that I had a HUGE air conditioner unit in my classroom, so this worked out perfect because I won’t get in trouble for covering up the vent! Haha! (Even though I really don’t know why it would matter since we aren’t running our air conditioners right now…..)
To make the fake fire and logs, I used one paper bag from the grocery store to make 3 quick logs. I cut the bag into 3 pieces, rolled them up and stapled them. I wadded the paper a bit to make them look more rustic, stapled the three logs together and threw in some red, orange and yellow torn construction paper. I just simply stapled the three colors to the middle of the “logs” here and there. They aren’t beautiful, but it looks so cute!
Here’s to a fun new tradition in your classroom!
