8 Valentine's Day Classroom Ideas and Activities — Creatively Teaching First (2024)

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days to celebrate in the classroom! My students are always full of excitement and smiles! I want to share with you some of my favorite Valentine’s Day classroom ideas and activities. I have used these activities over the past couple of years, so please don’t think I do them all in one day. I spread them out throughout the week or I pick and choose a couple do on the day and will save the rest for another year.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #1 - Valentine’s Day Jar Craft and Writing

I always love doing a cute writing craft for Valentine’s Day and this one has been my go to for many years. It is simple, yet engaging for many grade levels. I have used this with first and second graders. This Valentine’s Day classroom activity is perfect for students to think about they can fill other people’s hearts with love.

The valentine jar is very easy to prep! Simply print the jar and hearts on colored cardstock or paper. I usually print the jar on light blue and the hearts on pink and purple. Then I select the writing page I would like for my students to use and print the number of copies I need. Last, I cut pieces of ribbon to tie around the jar. This isn’t necessarily something that needs to be done, but I think it provides an extra special touch.

Students glue the hearts to the jar and staple the writing page to the back. It makes a great bulletin board!

You can download the Valentine Jar HERE.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #2 - The Biggest Valentine Ever

These Valentine’s Day stations and activities go right along with the bookThe Biggest Valentine Everby Steven Kroll. It is one of my favorite valentine books! My class and I have so much fun having a Biggest Valentine Ever Station Day. We read the book, eat a snack, and have a ton of fun with these Biggest Valentine Ever stations and activities! There are 10 station signs and differentiated station activities included. The stations and activities are engaging, fun, and full of literacy skills, math skills, and STEM skills! I love using these stations before a break or on a holiday.

I can usually get all the stations and activities done during a literacy and math blocks. I keep the students in their literacy or math groups. This way it makes it super easy to plan for the day. The activities are math and literacy related, so it is perfect for keeping students engaged!

Below are a few pictures of the activities we do, but you can read much more about it on the blog HERE.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #3 - The Valentine Sweet Shop

This is one of those activities that will keep kids engaged for quite a while. My students loved celebrating Valentine’s Day by visiting The Valentine Sweet Shop! Students can select and buy their favorite treats from the shop. I had my students select 5 treats.

To prep, I folded 18x24 pieces of construction paper. I chose to use pink. You will want to fold it so the paper will open up like a shop. Then I printed off the papers by students were going to use. You could print in color or print in black and white and have students color.

First, students glued on the title and sweet shop picture to the front of the paper. Then students selected their 5 treats and glued them in their treat bag. They wrote the name of their treats and the price in the table under the bag. This paper was glue to the center section inside the folded paper. Next, they glues the selected treats to the outer sections of the paper. I reminded students to just glue the top section so they could lift the flap up. Finally, students glue the correct set of coins on each treat’s flap.

It was very helpful for my students to have a visual as they completed this project. I do recommend putting one together before the students do. :)

You can download the Valentine’s Day activity HERE.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #4 - Valentine’s Day Read Alouds

If all else fails, read a book. This is my motto I will always live by. I keep our read alouds for the month in a small basket by our library. I place a few extra books in there for times when we just need a break or if we have an extra 10 minutes. There are many adorable stories to read on Valentine’s Day!

My Favorite Valentine’s Day Read Alouds

Love Is by Diane Adams

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #5 - Valentine’s Day Student Bookmark Gift

I don’t feel the need to give my students something every holiday, but my students do participate in a card exchange, so this was a fun alternative to cards. I give each of my students a personalized bookmark. My students love anything personalized and a bookmark was the perfect little gift! You could pair it with a book too!

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #6 - Valentine’s Day Play-Doh Student Gift

This is another great alternative to a traditional card for your students. These Valentine Playdough Mats are very simple and cost friendly! My students love anything to do with Play-Doh and these are super fun for Valentine's Day! They can decorate a cookie or cupcake, and fill a jar with candies or cookies.

I simply print a playdough mat and treat tag for each student. I place the playdough mat and party size Play-Doh in the bag. The mats and treat bag topper fit perfectly with basic sandwich bags. Finally, I sign my name and tape the treat tag on top.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #7 - Valentine’s Day Math Centers

I like to sprinkle in some Valentine’s Day math centers into our days leading up to the holiday. I place the math centers in our math tubs that we use during our daily math workshop. The math centers add a bit more fun to our daily routine.

Valentine’s Day Classroom Idea #8 - Fill Your Heart with Love

My youngest daughter was born right before Valentine’s Day and I wanted to do something special with my class before my leave began. I wanted my students to remember our time together and all the special moments we shared. I draw a jar on a large piece of white paper and printed out some hearts. The students wrote things they wanted to remember from our time together on the hearts. I taped the hearts to the jar and hung the poster in our classroom. It was a very special project to complete on my final days with my students.

8 Valentine's Day Classroom Ideas and Activities — Creatively Teaching First (11)

I also gave my students a little bag filled with candy hearts on my last day. I placed a jar printout with the same title as our poster and candy hearts into a bag and tied with a ribbon.

You can download the jar printout HERE.

I hope you found some fun and engaging ideas to do with your students on Valentine’s Day!

If you have any questions, need an explanation, or would like to bounce ideas off each other, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Happy Teaching!

8 Valentine's Day Classroom Ideas and Activities — Creatively Teaching First (13)

Winter, Valentine's Day

Emily Piatt

Valentine's Day, winter

8 Valentine's Day Classroom Ideas and Activities — Creatively Teaching First (2024)

FAQs

How can I be creative for Valentine's Day? ›

Shower your better half with all the love and affection they deserve this year.
  1. DIY Workshop: ...
  2. Go Dancing: ...
  3. Wine Tour: ...
  4. Private Tour: ...
  5. Themed Dinner and a Movie: ...
  6. Shopping: ...
  7. An Escape Room: ...
  8. Karaoke:

How do you teach kids about Valentine's Day? ›

Describe the day as one of sharing love for all people, not just romantic interests. Remind the child that gifts can come in other ways besides being wrapped, and that love can be shown through acts of kindness or words of encouragement–not only in gifts or candy.

What do we do on Valentine's Day at school? ›

Fun Valentine's Day Activities for Elementary Students
  • Have a month-long kindness challenge. ...
  • Exchange notes of kindness. ...
  • Have a door-decorating contest. ...
  • Read some Valentine's Day books. ...
  • Make a heart collage. ...
  • Craft up some Valen-slime. ...
  • Set up a candy heart estimation jar. ...
  • Do a crystal heart science experiment.
Jan 29, 2024

What is the most popular Valentine's Day activities? ›

Best Valentine's Day Date Ideas for Her
  • Take a Romantic Dance Class. ...
  • Revisit a Sentimental Spot. ...
  • Write a Love Letter. ...
  • Make a Delicious Dinner. ...
  • Go to the Ballet or Opera. ...
  • Attend a Local Festival. ...
  • Provide a Day of Pampering. ...
  • Give Her a Handmade Gift.
Mar 21, 2024

What is Secret valentine's? ›

Celebrate Galentine's Day with a Valentine's Secret Santa for the true loves in your life: your besties! Draw names online and find the perfect gift for your Secret Cupid. Who will be your Valentine's Secret Santa? Start a Secret Valentine gift exchange, spread the love and find out.

What is a fun fact for kids about Valentines day? ›

Here's some Valentine's Day facts to make the holiday more fun. 1) Over 8 billion candy hearts are produced for Valentine's Day every year! Don't worry if you still have last year's box — they have a shelf life of five years. 2) Nearly 250 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine's Day each year.

Why do we teach children about Valentine's day? ›

Valentine's Day is a special time of year, not just for couples and loved ones, but for families with children too. Valentine's Day offers an excellent teaching moment for parents to share with their kids the importance of being loving, kind people, and to teach them how to be caring to others.

What is Valentine's day in simple words? ›

What is Valentine's Day? St Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends.

What do school children in the United States do on Valentine's Day? ›

School children often exchange Valentine cards and candy with their classmates. Sometimes students make their own Valentine cards in class, which are usually decorated with images of hearts, red roses, or Cupid.

What to sell on Valentine's Day at school? ›

When planning a Valentine's Day fundraiser, you likely think of chocolates and roses. Flowers are a staple of this popular holiday. Roses are arguably the most popular flower you can start selling at your school. Nearly 28% of adults purchase flowers for a loved one or partner on Valentine's Day.

What are some interesting Valentine's traditions? ›

6 Valentine's traditions from around the world that we love
  • The United States – Go all out. ...
  • South Korea and Japan – Pamper the men. ...
  • The UK – Go on dream dates. ...
  • Finland – Celebrate friends. ...
  • Peru – Opt for orchids. ...
  • Brazil – Celebrate in June instead.

What is the best idea for Valentine's Day? ›

Make Valentine's Day mug cakes together, go for a walk, read romantic quotes and poems out loud, or simply watch the sunset. You can even plan a day that includes enjoying both of your favorite things!

What do some people do on Valentine's Day? ›

Whether you want to do something in the spirit of Valentine's Day – buy yourself some chocolate, watch a romantic comedy – or just do something that you love – read a great book, play video games, go for a walk — choose something that will feel emotionally restorative.

What do some people do on Valentine's day? ›

Whether you want to do something in the spirit of Valentine's Day – buy yourself some chocolate, watch a romantic comedy – or just do something that you love – read a great book, play video games, go for a walk — choose something that will feel emotionally restorative.

How to propose a girl on Valentine day in school? ›

Top 10 Ways to Propose Her on Valentine's Day
  1. Plan a particular date: ...
  2. Cook her a special meal: ...
  3. Write a love letter: ...
  4. Take her on a scavenger hunt: ...
  5. Propose in a unique location: ...
  6. Plan a surprise proposal party: ...
  7. Create a video proposal: ...
  8. Plan a romantic getaway:
Feb 6, 2023

What should a girl do on Valentine's day? ›

The Single Girl's Guide to Surviving Valentine's Day
  • Treat Yo Self. This still applies even if you say this every other day of the year. ...
  • Galentine's Day. ...
  • Wine About It. ...
  • Tell Your Friends You Love Them. ...
  • Binge Watch. ...
  • Let Yourself be Bummed. ...
  • Buy Yourself Flowers. ...
  • Don't Text Your Ex.

Do middle schoolers give Valentines? ›

Sure, middle schoolers sort of “date” and the school markets Valentine's Grams. There are a few gifts given, yet they are mostly for friends, nothing more. “It's kinda fun to be with my friends because I don't have a valentine,” said 7th grader Cailani D.

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