Music teachers know that March means one thing: Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM). Created by the National Association for Music Education, this annual celebration highlights the importance of music education in schools. If you’re looking for a Music In Our Schools Month bulletin board idea, this interactive project helps students discover the musical backgrounds of their teachers while building community across the school. While it’s perfect for March, this activity can easily be adapted for any time of year.
This year’s MIOSM theme, “United Through Music,” highlights how music brings people together, fostering connection and shared experiences in school communities. “Music unites us, reminding us of our commonalities even when they seem hard to find,” says NAfME President Deborah A. Confredo. “It speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, transforming, inspiring, and connecting us through joy, expression, and shared song.”
The Big Idea: Creating a Music In Our Schools Month Bulletin Board
Almost everyone has some kind of musical story. This project invites students to discover the hidden musical backgrounds of faculty members while contributing to a Music In Our Schools Month bulletin board that celebrates how music connects our school community.
- Best for 4th–5th grade
- Timeline: 3–4 class periods
Project Timeline
Day 1: Introduce the project. Discuss musical experiences and generate interview questions.
Day 2: Assign student pairs a “mystery teacher.” Students conduct interviews, begin writing scripts, and print the teacher’s photo.
Day 3: Students finalize scripts and record their clues using Mote, Vocaroo, or Voice Memos to generate a QR code.
Day 4: Test QR codes and assemble bulletin board cards.
Students will need:
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- Tablet
- clipboard/pencil
- Mystery Musician Interview Questions
- Mystery Musician Script
- Cardstock Template
- scissors, glue stick, velcro dots
Step-by-Step Guide: Music In Our Schools Month Bulletin Board
Step 1: Create A Questionnaire
- Collaborate with students to design a questionnaire about teachers’ musical experiences. (Or use this one.)
- Ensure questions are engaging and easy to turn into statements later (like this one)
Step 2: Conduct Teacher Interviews
- Assign faculty members to student pairs.
- Students use the questionnaire to interview their assigned teacher.
- Students photograph the faculty member after the interview using a tablet. (They could also record themselves conducting the interview, but encourage them to write first and then use the recording to follow up for reinforcement.)
Step 3: Transform Answers into Statements
- Guide students in turning the interview responses into clear, engaging statements.
- Use a provided template like this to help flip questions into statements.
Step 4: Record Voice Memos or use Mote/Vocaroo
- A school IT coach visits the class to teach students how to convert voice memos into scannable QR codes, OR how to use Mote or Vocaroo.
- Students record themselves reading their statements.
- Each student generates a unique QR code for their recorded clues. Here are two easy QR code generator tools:
- Canva QR Code Generator: https://www.canva.com/qr-code-generator/
- QRCode Monkey: https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/
Step 5: Print & Prepare Materials
- Students print their faculty member’s photo and the QR code they generated for it.
- Gather materials: colored paper (8.5” x 11”), scissors, glue sticks, and velcro dots (both fuzzy and scratchy sides).
Step 6: Assemble the Mystery Cards
- Fold the colored paper in half.
- Glue the teacher’s photo inside the folded paper.
- Attach one side of the velcro dot to the inside where the photo is placed.
- Place the cut-out QR code on the outside of the folded paper.
Step 7: Set Up the Month Bulletin Board
- Display the finished cards on a bulletin board outside the music room.
- Arrange them so the QR codes are visible, enticing passersby to participate.
Step 8: Engage the School Community
- Students and staff scan the QR code to listen to the mystery clues.
- After guessing which faculty member the clues describe, they lift the flap (undoing the velcro) to reveal the teacher’s identity.
Step 9: Celebrate & Reflect
- Enjoy the excitement and buzz around the school!
- Encourage students to observe how their project engaged the community.
- Discuss what they learned about their teachers and music’s role in people’s lives.
Why This Project Works
This Music In Our Schools Month activity helps students see that music connects people across the entire school community. Teachers, administrators, and staff members all have unique musical experiences, and students love discovering these hidden stories.
The project also encourages:
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- student collaboration
- listening and writing skills
- technology integration through QR codes
- community engagement across the school
In my experience, this bulletin board was a huge hit, sparking curiosity, engagement, and school-wide participation, showing us all that through music, we are more alike than different! Please reach out for any questions or adaptation ideas.
Teaching Materials:
