Here are the best ideas for Classroom Valentine’s Day Party!
Valentine’s Day is always an exciting time in the schools. As a teacher and a mom (and even when I was a kid), prepping for and planning the Valentine’s Day party was super exciting. I decided to share the best Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities with you here in one place so you can pick and choose what works for you. These ideas are also great for a home Valentine’s Day party or a celebration with your clubs or scout troops.
Exchange Valentines
It may seem as though it’s obsessive to give cards to every kid in the class. Furthermore, your child may even complain about giving cards to kids he doesn’t like. However, the reasoning is simple enough. Giving cards to every student is the best way to avoid hurt feelings. If your child expresses concern about giving cards to everyone, don’t dismiss them. However, make sure he understands that it is not negotiable.
Here are five great reasons to support Valentine’s Day in the Classroom
- Giving cards to all classmates creates an opportunity to practice kindness.
- Also, making Valentines and making boxes reinforces creativity.
- Working with kids to create their Valentines is a great way to connect and talk with children about friends and classmates.
- Plus, It is FUN.
- Writing names and signing cards is great for developing fine motor skills.
Here are some free ones that you can download and print! They are fun to put in A2 sized envelopes or can be folded and closed with stickers.
Write Kindness Notes
Put all of the students’ names in a jar. This could also been done with staff member or girls in a Girl Scout troop. It could be done with any group of humans really. Draw names. Each person writes a note to the person whose name they draw telling them all the things that make them special. This can be done in the classroom or as a send-it-home activity.
Have a Valentine Box Contest
Creating and making Valentine’s Day boxes is such a fun time to bond with kids while crafting. Whether you keep it simple or make it crazy complex, the process of making the box is the opportunity for teamwork and connection. This is one of the Best Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities because there can be prizes and awards for every single box, including the participation award! Here a few of my favorites.
Monster Valentine Reusable Bag – Great for Library Books after the Party!
Puppy Dog Valentine Box with Free Printable Notes
Robot Valentine Box for Collection Canned Food Donations – GREAT for a schoolwide community project!
Read Valentine’s Day Books
Reading is always amongst the very best of ideas when it comes to kids, school, home, and all the people everywhere. Here are some of my favorite books for Valentine’s Day! It is important to be inclusive and ensure that there are stories and books that make all children feel like they matter!
- The Day it Rained Hearts
- Harvey the Heart Had Too Many Farts
- Amelia Bedilia’s First Valentine
- Listening With My Heart
- Love Monster and the Last Chocolate
- I Am LOVE
- The Invisible String
- The Biggest Valentine Ever
- One Love
- Love from the Crayons
Make Valentine’s Day Sparkle SLIME
There is a whole post on Valentine’s Day crafts, including this one. Here are the deets for you again.
To make Sparkle Slime, you will need the following:
- ½ Cup Clear Glue
- 1 Cup Warm Water
- Sequins (or Glitter)
- ½ TSP Borax
Instructions:
- Mix the glue and ½ C water in a bowl.
- Add sequins or glitter.
- Activate into slime. Mix Borax into the other ½ C of water and stir. Add the mixture to the glue and stir stir stir. Drain any excess water that does not absorb into mixture.
- Knead it and play with it. The more you do, the smoother it will become.
- Store in an airtight container.
Make Marbled Clay Jewelry
This is a super fun idea for kids to make something that they can take home and give to mom or keep for themselves. The marbled clay pieces are made with kid friendly Sculpey Bake Shop. Get all of the directions here on the blog.
Make an Estimation Jar with Candy
Fill a clear jar with Valentine’s Day candy and let each student (or staff member if doing as an adult activity) guess the number or pieces. Have a prize for the closest guess. For younger kids, use larger sized candy pieces and in a smaller quantity. For older kids and adult, the more and the smaller the candy – the better!
Here is a fun printable sheet to cut into entry forms.
Make a HEART Collage
Ask every kid to bring in a cut out heart that measures less than 8 inches wide. Encourage them to find something with a fun texture when deciding what to use for their heart. Put all of the hearts together into a collage. Here is a fun photo of a mini heart collage with hearts that measure less than 3 inches in width.
Have a HEART Hunt
Create hearts to hide around the classroom, school or campus. Get all of the necessary deets to create a successful heart hunt here on the blog along with free directions.
MORE Valentine’s Day Ideas
There are so many ways to celebrate the magic of love and kindness with kiddos. Here is a round-up of some of my favorite ideas.
Cheers to Spreading Kindness and Love,
Laura
