How to Survive Valentine’s Day in Your Classroom: Roundup

    One really fun way to incorporate art and reading into your Valentine’s Day celebration is to have your students color these printable Valentine’s Day Zentangle bookmarks.  My class loves anything Zentangle-related and it is the perfect thing to have them do as morning work and actually use! I printed ours on cardstock and they held up really well.  If you are really motivated, you can laminate them for your class (I’m not usually that motivated).  You check them out here
Valentine Bookmark Coloring Printable from Balancing Home

Another really fun way to incorporate math into your Valentine’s Day is to grab this free printable and a few packs of Conversation Hearts.  Your students will love to strengthen their “approximating measures” skills while having a sweet treat! 

Measuring with Candy Hearts Free Printable from Buggy and Buddy

During the holiday hubbub I try to give my students as many academic activities as I can squeeze in! I know… I am a mean o’l teacher…but seriously, there is never enough time as it is, so I can’t afford to completely skip the academics, even for a day!  I have a no-prep Valentine’s Day Math Packet in my TpT store that I love to pull from.  I included a lot of different math skills like graphing, telling time, place value, problem solving, fact practice, and more!  You can check it out here
Valentine No Prep Holiday Math Packet

I found these treats in my search and they fit the bill!  The look cute and delicious.  They are also easy to make and the kids will LOVE them.  There are really two options: 
1. Make them at home and bring them in for the class to have during snack 
2. Bring in the supplies and let the kids try to make the treat themselves (if you are feeling ambitious).
The jury is still out on what I will do.  I have a well behaved class this year, so I might give it a whirl and have my students make the cookies in class.  Stay tuned to see what I decide!

I was looking for something Valentine’s Day related to do for science and came across this wonderful activity that I think my third graders will love!  Not only does it look amazing, but it is FREE!  I love Curriculum Castle and I am sooooo looking forward to doing it with my class this year!  I have already downloaded and printed!   

I usually give out a “Free Homework Pass” as a Valentine to my students, but this year I am thinking about switching it up!  One of my least favorite parts of winter is the chapped lips third graders get.  You know what I am talking about, crunchy cracked lips, and the rosy red “double lips” that eight-year-olds get when they lick their chapped lips all day long!  This year for Valentines I am planning on making a version of these Chapstick Butterflies from Beth-A-Palooza.  Then I will force them to leave the chapstick in their pencil boxes so that they can use them anytime their need.  I may regret it, but it pains me to see those sore winter lips all day long!  

Since I  do NOT have time to to sit around and cut little hearts out of fruits and veggies for a fun Valentines Day snack, I needed to find a quick and easy snack that I can make by opening and dumping things into a bowl!  This seems to be just want I need.  Three bags at the grocery store and finished!  I can have the kids grab a fancy brown paper towel and give them each a handful to much on! 

I love to start the day off with a fun craft as you all know.  Maker’s Monday is my favorite part of the week.  I love to pass out the materials before my kids get to school, put up a quick sample, and let them be creative as soon as they walk through the door!  I am going to start off our Valentines Day by letting them complete these painted newspaper hearts.  I have this love for the “newsprint” look and I think that they can be creative with it!  

So I hope you found a few fun things in our Valentine’s Day Roundup!  Here’s hoping that your day is full of love and fun!
~Heather