If you are looking for a fun theme for a birthday party, a service activity for a large or small group, or a church activity, you’ll love this “Kindness is My Jam” theme. I helped my dear friend Melissa to decorate our church gym in the coolest theme for a group of girls aged 8-11 for an activity that included the theme: Kindness is My Jam! Jimmy Fallon would be proud. {giggle}
Here’s how to decorate a gym on a budget using cute and inexpensive wall decor incorporating the theme! Psst….the secret is using bulletin boards!
What are activity days? Activity days are held twice a month in the LDS faith for the girls aged 8-11. They are designed to be be fun and entertaining activities for children that build testimonies, strengthen families, and foster unity and personal growth. You can find out more about them over on LDS.org. So, when this activity was planned, it had deeper meaning behind the theme than just fun and games.
Now, if your activity is held in a church building or large area, you’ll need to decorate on a budget! Here are some easy ways to decorate a gym!
Decorate a Gym
Free Printable File:
Kindness is My Jam ~ Decorate a Gym (640 downloads )
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DIY Strawberry Red Balloon ~ Leaf Template (1182 downloads )
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A-Z Alphabet Outline Template (44363 downloads )
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1-9 Number Outline Template (8718 downloads )
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Use butcher paper, free templates, and cut things out yourself! Here’s how to make all of the bulletin boards including lettering pictured. It took a little effort, but it wasn’t difficult and it was totally worth it. The templates are free! Download them above!
The step-by-step tutorial for how to Make DIY Strawberry Balloons can be found here! They make such a statement, and the attendees LOVED them, so the strawberry balloons are a MUST for this theme!
Wall Decor
Kindness Is My Jam
Materials Needed:
- red butcher paper
- green butcher paper
- template for lettering
- white butcher paper for lettering
- grey butcher paper
- black dots
- strawberry balloons (see tutorial here)
- white picket fence
Most gyms have some sort of sound barrier on the gym walls to help with the acoustics. Wrap sound wall in red butcher paper, line the top with a strip of green and then cut the bottom edge of the green in a zig zag top look like grass.
Add a white picket fence that can be made out of paper. Add black dots to look like strawberry seeds. Using the template that is a FREE download, cut out the words KINDNESS IS MY JAM and then place them on the middle of the bulletin board. We made sure to put them on a solid piece of paper so that they popped! Adding strawberry balloons to each corner of the board added the perfect embellishment.
Bulletin Board
Spread the Love
Materials Needed:
- red butcher paper
- green butcher paper
- template for lettering
- white butcher paper for lettering
- grey butcher paper
- black dots
- strawberry balloons (see tutorial here)
- white picket fence
Decorate other sound walls or bulletin boards in the same way as the first wall! We used different lettering on this bulletin board. This time we said, SPREAD THE LOVE and we did not back the lettering with a contrasting color.
Bulletin Board Ideas
Be Kind Whenever Possible
Materials Needed:
- White felt bunting
- Yellow sun
- Round Medallion
- Yellow crepe paper
- White crepe paper
- red butcher paper
- template for lettering
- white butcher paper for lettering
- strawberry balloons (see tutorial here)
Wrap the sound wall in red butcher paper, then add the crepe paper sun {white and yellow, yellow medallion} and white banner. Next, layer on the large letters! Easy!
It’s Always Possible
Materials Needed:
- White felt bunting
- Yellow sun
- Round Medallion
- Yellow crepe paper
- White crepe paper
- red butcher paper
- template for lettering
- white butcher paper for lettering
- strawberry balloons (see tutorial here)
Wrap the sound wall in red butcher paper, then add the crepe paper sun {white and yellow, yellow medallion}. Next, layer on the large letters! Easy!
Decorating the Stage
Decorate the stage with strawberries on pedestals. You’ll need the following materials.
Materials Needed:
- Red and white balloons
- Green paper {for balloons}
- DIY White wood stands
Making the strawberry balloons is super fun! Just print the leaf template onto green paper and then cut along the black lines.
Use permanent, clear glue dots to attach the “leaf” to the red balloon. For more detailed instructions, go to DIY Strawberry Red Balloon ~ Leaf Topper Template.
We covered round tables with red butcher paper and one of the activities the girls participated in was making homemade jam. They also participated in kindness games and activities. Fun, right?
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