Activity ideas for Valentine's Day

By the end of January, teachers are well into the swing of an every day work schedule post tinsel holidays. We are planning lessons, fun activities and educational games. Among all of the copying and laminating comes preparing for another holiday: Valentines Day fun with our students! In the preschool world, that means making garland of hearts, decorating classroom doors, reading those Valentine's themed books and party prepping. Yay!

As Valentine's Day comes upon us, I thought I'd share a couple of fun activity ideas for the classroom.

For starters, picture frames are always a good idea. What parent doesn't want to see their cute child's face in framed artwork? Have the children make special handmade frames of paper or foam sheets for mommy and daddy using their handprints in the shape of hearts as decor. Finger-paints work best and the kiddos love the cool feeling they get when you brush the wet paint onto their hands. It is a great sensory activity. Don't forget to ask them open ended questions as you work, such as, "what does the brush feel like on your hand?" Or, "how do your hands feel with paint on them?" Use scented paints and ask your little learners to smell their medium.

Trace their little hands while teaching left and right and then, cut out the tracings. Help the students make accordion strips out of paper and have children attach them to each set of hand cut outs with paste. Write, "I love you this much" on the hands as a personalized valentine to parents and grandparents.

For classroom decorating, have the children help you decorate the bulletin boards and door. Children can make snow flake cut outs, and color and cut out hearts for the bulletin board and door of your classroom as you prep for Valentine's Day in conjunction with teaching a winter theme. Help students write their names and year on hearts and flakes and laminate before pinning up so as to ensure durability. This activity helps very early learners with cutting skill and holding a pencil/crayon as well as helps in teaching early writing skills.

Last, get some ribbon or thick necklace style cord. Make color copies of those paper hearts previously made (before laminating) and punch holes in them. Have children practice the fine motor skill of lacing the ribbon/cord through the holes to make the heart garland to decorate with.

Now your classroom is ready and your kiddos have progressed a little in their learning all while having fun and you'll enjoy watching their little minds grow.