Begin any science lesson on invention by introducing students to great inventors. Spark interest by selecting individuals responsible for inventing the things we use on a day-to-day basis, such as the microwave, television and refrigerator. Or design bulletin boards to highlight inventors and their inventions around a particular field of science. Feature Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen, who invented the X-Ray machine in an anatomy and physiology class, or design a bulletin board around the inventor of the Bunsen burner, Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, for a chemistry class. Use photographs of the inventor and his inventions, along with a brief description and timeline of the invention.
Have students collect and post various articles from newspapers and magazines that highlight new scientific discoveries and inventions. Leave a space where students can post their thoughts about discoveries or ways to improve on a particular invention. Designate a special bulletin board for students to post information about their own theories and inventions.
A bulletin board detailing the scientific method will help students remember and implement the steps involved in scientific observation. A simple board with each step listed in the correct order will serve as a good reference for a classroom. Design a larger, more detailed board catered to a specific experiment that allows students to add their own ideas and observations for classroom review. Include an area next to each step where students can tape note cards with their theories and observations to bulletin board.
Create a reference board to help students learn and retain new science vocabulary words. Display the various words and their definitions coupled with pictures and illustrations to demonstrate their meanings. Turn the bulletin board into an interactive word game by placing the definitions on the board and applying Velcro to word cards that students can put in the correct place. This technique can also be used to introduce students to the various science tools used in a lab. Bulletin boards are also a useful tool in reminding students about lab rules and safety. A bulletin board that details clean up procedures in case of an accidental spill will be especially helpful when working with chemicals.