Non-Traditional Activities For Valentine's Day For The Classroom Party
Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010
by Stephany Springer
Who is sick of making hearts out of doilies? I think one more year of doing a craft with doilies will have me organizing a protest on the streets.
I love taking a break from the normal routine to celebrate Valentine's Day in the classroom. But seriously, there has to be better activities and crafts then the traditional hearts made out of doilies.
Valentine Science
Well, I have to acknowledge the master of science, Steve Spangler for this fun activity. Tell your students that they get to be secret spies this Valentine's Day and are going to make spy Valentines for someone they love. Anytime you can bring science into Valentine's Day, you motivate the boys to participate. Check out http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/and purchase goldenrod paper. You are going to hand out the paper to the kids and allow them to cut, decorate with a yellow crayon, etc. to their paper. Then have them come up to the sink one at a time to spray "love potion" which is ammonia on the paper. It will turn the paper red leaving the message in yellow. The ammonia is a bases that causes the dye in the paper to change to red. Here is a video of the experiment.
Sorting Conversation Hearts
Pull out graph paper and allow the kids to create a graph to sort conversation hearts. Give each kid a box of hearts. Allow kids to choose how to graph and sort. It can be by color, saying, etc. Let them use some of their own creativity and decision making skills.
Scavenger Hunt
Have your students practice reading and following directions. Take them out to recess or special. When you pick them up give them their first "heart clue." Each clue will lead the class closer to their party. It will be fun to watch the kids try to figure out the clues and work together to find their party.
Cookie Cutter Art
How often do you really get the paint out in class? Just because kids are not in preschool or first grade, doesn't mean they don't love to get out the paint. Live adventurously and let the kids dip cookie cutters and make cool valentine outlines from everything from bears to hearts. Let them be creative.
Start a Story
Have your kids write a valentines story together. Start them out with, "On Valentine's Day, Ms. blank class and then leave it blank. Have the children go around the room and give a sentence to the story. You will be amazed to where these stories can end up. Write it as you go or have the kids take turns writing their sentences, then post in the hall for all to read the great story your budding authors came up with.
Read Aloud
Here are some suggestions for some books to read during the month of February for your read aloud. Abby's Un-Valentine by Ann Martin, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, Nate the great and the Mushy Valentine by Majorie Weinman Sharmat are just a few books that my kids have seemed to love.
These are just a few suggestions to get away from the norm and place focus on learning instead of eating sweets and forcing kids to pick Valentines. Please feel free to leave any other suggestions in the comment section below.
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