How to Create a Light Academia Classroom in High School English (Engagement-Focused Ideas)
Imagine you’re in a Cambridge library—huge arched ceilings soaring above you, sunlight streaming in through huge windows, books lining the walls in multiple stories, students sitting at huge wooden desks. Sounds kinda… perfect? Right? It’s definitely one of my dreams for a perfect classroom aesthetic. It’s magical, dreamy, intentional, soft, quiet, and literary—a light academia classroom.
If you manage this design aesthetic, you’re making space for wonder in your classroom. It tells your students that you plan to move at a slower pace, to prioritize their learning, to give your all to make them feel comfortable, and to do your best to give them a year to remember.
Cambridge though? They’ve got billions and years of history to create that aesthetic. So we’ve got to figure out how to get the vibe within the constraints of your typical high school English classroom décor. Luckily, it isn’t too hard to create a lovely light academia atmosphere without breaking the bank.
Here are five ways to bring light academia energy into your classroom—without breaking the bank, and with students helping to co-create it every step of the way.
Related Posts: 5 Ways to Create the Dark Academia Classroom of Your Dreams (Without Spending a Fortune) and How to Teach a Light Academia Curriculum (Without Only Teaching the Classics)
1. How can I use student art to create a light academia classroom vibe?
Light academia calls for a handmade, delicate, and slightly whimsical environment. It thrives on the artistic and imperfect—which means it’s a perfect match for student-created decor.
Try this:
Ask students to hand-letter their favorite lines from class readings on scraps of watercolor paper. (Or, if their handwriting is atrocious… collect the quotes, print them in a pretty font, and have them glue the quotes to watercolored paper).
Have them draw objects or symbols from the text—pressed flowers, old keys, moons, teacups.
Go for a nature walk and collect flowers to press in your classroom dictionary! A few weeks later, take them out and hang them.
Set up a “gallery wall” that evolves with each unit.
If you need help getting started on some creative projects that you can use over and over again all year, I have a Creative Projects Freebie which includes five adaptable ideas for any text, from symbolic sculptures to literary dioramas.
2. What displays work best for a light academia classroom aesthetic?
Where dark academia leans toward gothic edges, light academia is all about softness, subtlety and creating the perfect tone.
Try this:
Create a rotating quote display—use linen-textured paper or recycled book pages.
Use a corkboard or string-and-clothespins display to feature student ideas.
Try my Light Academia Literary Elements Posters. They create an atmosphere on their own, while also gently reminding students of critical literary elements.
Preview the books of the year in your classroom so that students build anticipation for the books and are consistently reminded that books are at the forefront.
3. How do I bring nature and reflection into English class?
There’s something about pausing to notice—really notice—that resonates deeply with light academia. Reflection, natural imagery, and gentle detail take center stage.
Try this:
Take students on a ten-minute sensory walk. Ask them to write what they see and hear without naming anything directly.
Pair reflective writing with nature poems from poets like Mary Oliver, Ross Gay, or Ada Limón.
Start class with a grounding question: What color is today? What does silence feel like?
One of my favorite books to teach is World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. It’s full of nature metaphors, personal reflection, and poetic prose. I loved teaching it as an end of the year reflection with second semester seniors. I have a World of Wonders unit coming soon!
4. How can creative writing add to a light academia classroom?
Where dark academia might prompt students to explore shadowy themes and classic literature, light academia invites them to daydream. It loves soft world-building, alternate perspectives, and imagining lives that exist beyond the text.
Try this:
Assign fun creative writing prompts. A letter from one character to another. A missing scene. A walk through the woods with a secret. If you need more ideas, I have a Fan Fiction Prompts Freebie that works with any text.
Encourage students to create mood boards or playlists that reflect tone, not just content.
Combine analysis with creation: how do symbols and themes shift in student versions?
Creative writing rooted in literature is a beautiful way to give students voice and agency while reinforcing analytical skills.
5. How do sound and poetry enhance the light academia vibe?
Think about the sounds that are in your classroom and, if you can, leave some space for silence. Believe me, I know that silence is nearly impossible for some classes, but finding a captivating podcast, reading aloud to your students, or instituting a quiet reading time can give a beautiful sense of relaxation and awe.
Try this:
Begin class with a short poem (something you really like—really short is good!)
Use a poetry podcast so your students hear from a voice that’s not yours.
If things feel wild, throw all plans to the wind and read aloud something fun.
Pair soft music with journal time: lo-fi piano, rain sounds, or an instrumental film score.
If you like the idea of podcasts and poetry, I have a Poetry Unbound Mini Unit, which contains five of my favorite episodes, discussion questions, and a final project of creating a podcast episode.
Related Post: The Easiest Way to Teach Poetry To High School Students (That They Will Actually Love)
Final Thoughts
A light academia classroom isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s a way to approach your classroom and teaching. It invites you and your students to move more gently through literature, to write more thoughtfully, to speak more softly.
So open a window. Start with a poem. Let the light in on a sunny day.
Looking for more ways to bring softness, creativity, and depth into your teaching?
Grab the Creative Projects Freebie
Check out this post for curriculum picks: How to Teach a Light Academia Curriculum (Without Only Teaching the Classics)
Explore the Poetry Unbound Mini Unit
Check out the Light Academia Literary Elements Posters
Keep an eye out for the World of Wonders Unit
Light Academia Classroom FAQ
What is light academia classroom décor?
It’s an aesthetic rooted in softness, literature, and natural beauty—think pressed flowers, quotes, student art, and sunlight.
How do I make my classroom aesthetic without spending money?
Focus on student-created projects, recycled materials, and natural elements like leaves or flowers.
What’s the difference between dark academia and light academia in teaching?
Dark academia leans gothic and brooding, while light academia is airy, hopeful, and nature-centered. Both can inspire creativity.
Can I use these ideas in homeschool English?
Absolutely! Most of these activities—like nature walks, fan fiction prompts, or podcast projects—work beautifully in one-on-one or small-group homeschool settings. And I have a special Poetry Unbound unit especially for homeschoolers, if you want to start there.