Dry erase boards are one of our favorite classroom tools. When each student has their own small board, there are so many hands-on learning activities you can do! We’ve rounded up our favorite personal boards for kids, plus a whole bunch of ideas for using them in the classroom. Take a look, and don’t miss our Dry Erase Marker Showdown to learn which ones are the best investment!
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Best Dry Erase Boards For Kids
Whether you’re looking for simple but sturdy plain boards, or specially-designed options for teaching certain skills, this list has you covered. These boards erase cleanly and hold up to plenty of hands-on use.
Arteza Dry Erase White Boards 9×12 Inch, Set of 32
Arteza is well-known for its quality, so it’s no surprise these boards rate highly with users. They’re double-sided and very sturdy, plus they come with detachable marker holders. If that’s not enough, Arteza offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Dreamline Double-Sided Dry Erase Boards, Pack of 30
Reviewers note that these double-sided boards are thin but very sturdy, although a little prone to warping if not stored flat. They erase cleanly and come in a storage box worth keeping. You get 30 boards, which is enough for almost any classroom.
CLI Lap Board Class Pack of 12
If you’d like a set of markers, erasers, and boards all in one, try this option. They have overwhelmingly positive reviews, with just a few users noting they may not be as durable as some other boards. Do note that these are not double-sided boards.
Gamenote Magnetic Double-Sided Ruled Dry Erase Boards, Set of 6
Pre-K and early elementary teachers: these dry erase boards are for you! One side is blank, while the other is lined for writing practice. The boards are also magnetic, so you can use alphabet magnets with them. As a bonus, they come with markers and erasers!
Learning Resources Magnetic 10 Frame Dry Erase Boards, Set of 4
There are so many ways to use ten frames in the classroom. You can have kids draw their own on a blank board, or try these double-sided boards with pre-printed frames. Here are some of our favorite ten frame activities to try.
Really Good Stuff Long Division Dry Erase Boards, Set of 6
While you might not need one of these for every student, they’re ideal for stocking your math center. The pre-printed colored squares help students make connections as they work on long division. Reviewers praise these boards, saying they’re definitely worth the investment.
Scribbledo 12-pack Dry Erase XY Axis Graph Lap Boards
Older math students can definitely benefit from these cool dry erase boards! One side features an XY axis graph, while the other is blank, so they’re very versatile. You also get a set of erasers.
Flipside Mini Dry Erase Answer Paddle, Class Pack of 12
Paddleboards are a fun twist on whiteboards. The handles make them easy for kids to hold up during review sessions or other interactive activities. You get 12 double-sided boards in the set.
Dreamline Dry Erase Clipboard Sets, Pack of 30
Low on storage space? Try these dry erase boards which double as clipboards! We love using clipboards in the classroom, and the low profile on these makes them easy to stack and store. They come with markers that attach to a holder at the top. Reviewers love the fact that they wipe clean with no residue.
M.C. Squares Stickies 3×3 Dry-Erase Sticky Notes, 24-Pack
Want to make your classroom a little greener? Replace some of your post-its with these dry erase sticky notes! They stick firmly and remove cleanly from any smooth surface. Use them as exit tickets or for other sticky note teacher hacks.
20 Clever Ways to Use Dry Erase Boards in the Classroom
Once you have them, you’ll come up with all kinds of ways to use dry erase boards for learning. Here are some smart ideas to get you started.
General Ideas
- Give every student a chance to answer: When you pose a classroom question, ask all students to write their answers on their boards and hold them up. You can see at a glance who had the correct answer and who might need more help.
- Make a list: Challenge students to write a list on any topic you choose (countries, proper nouns, rhyming words, prime numbers, etc.). Set a timer and see who can come up with the most items!
- Invite questions: Let students ask questions by writing them on their dry erase boards and holding them up. This keeps them from interrupting you and empowers shyer students to “speak up” in a low-key way.
- Review with a trivia contest: Make pre-test review a lot more fun by holding a trivia contest. Break your class into teams and give each one a board. Ask a question, then allow each team time to discuss and write down their answer. Award points for correct responses!
- Play a game: Got some free time to fill, or need activities for indoor recess? Try one of these fun dry erase board games from Love to Know.
Math Ideas
- Write the number: For younger students, simply call out a number and ask students to write it on their board. With older kids, try asking them to write a prime number greater than 50, a number that’s a square of another number, or as many digits of pi as they can.
- Practice math facts: Replace flashcards with whiteboards. Call out a fact and ask kids to write down their answer and hold it up. Have them give themselves a point if they were correct. Review point totals at the end to see who needs more practice.
- Graph away: XY axis graph dry erase boards are the perfect way to practice all sorts of graphing activities and problems. You can use them to draw bar graphs, too.
- Show your work: If you’re demonstrating a new concept like long division or solving an equation, kids can follow along on their personal whiteboards as you complete the action on your own board. They can also use boards to make calculations during review sessions or group work.
- Combine them with manipulatives: Teach Me Mommy added Velcro dots to bottlecaps and combined them with a dry erase board for practice with basic math facts. So smart!
Language Arts Ideas
- Write the letter: Give kids practice learning their letters by calling one out and having them write it down. Add a twist by saying, “Write down the letter that comes after P” or “Write a letter that has no straight lines.” For early learners, write the letters on the board first, then give them cotton swabs to practice tracing by erasing each letter (learn more at Gift of Curiosity).
- Practice spelling: Call out a spelling word and have each student write it on their board. If they get it correct, they can erase it and get ready for the next one. If they’re wrong, have them write that word down (correctly) on a list for more practice later.
- Work on vocabulary or sight words: Ask students to use vocab or sight words in a sentence by writing them on their boards. You can also ask them to illustrate vocab words and even play Pictionary!
- Diagram sentences or edit text: Dry erase boards are ideal for sentence diagramming (if you’re still teaching that concept). You can also use them to practice punctuation and capitalization. Write a sentence that needs correction on the classroom board, and ask kids to write the correct version on their own boards.
- Use them during guided reading or read-alouds: Have students keep their boards handy during reading time. They can jot down words they don’t recognize, make notes about characters, themes, or plot, and write up any questions that come to mind as they read.
Science and Social Studies Ideas
- Draw a life cycle: Learning about the life cycle of a plant, butterfly, or frog? Let kids illustrate it on their board. It’s even more fun if they can use colored markers!
- Sketch a state or country: Draw a state or country and label the important cities, rivers, or other landmarks. See who can add the most detail to their map.
- Label the parts: Whether you’re diagramming the organs of the human body, the parts of a plant, or the planets of the solar system, kids will love drawing them out on their boards and adding the correct labels.
- Create a timeline: As students read or watch a video about a time in history, have them draw a timeline of the most important events on their whiteboards. Or, have each student write an event on their board, then ask kids to line up in the correct order to create a real-life timeline!
- Design an experiment: Getting ready for a science demo? Ask students to write their own hypothesis of what will happen on their boards. You can also have them plan out a complete experiment following the scientific method, like Science Lessons That Rock does.
What are your favorite ways to use dry erase boards in the classroom? Come share on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook!
Plus, be sure to check out School Supply Central for tips and deals on supplies of all kinds.
