Valentines Activities and Lesson Ideas
Find all of our Valentine’s Day crafts, activities, and lesson ideas in one place. Just click here for a complete listing.
Crafts
DIY: Art Turntables for the Classroom
While looking for an inexpensive way to make turntables for classroom use, I stumbled onto using two plastic cups, one inside the other. The two key components to making this work are dead simple.
Self-Hardening Clay
Self-hardening clay is available in five pound boxes at hobby stores, dries on its own when left uncovered in about a week, and is paintable. This clay is great for a first-time art project if no kiln is available, and dividing the five pound cube into eight equal sections gives students a large enough piece to make a small coiled pot.
Forgot To Buy Valentines? Make Them!
Between assessments and planning a party and fighting a headache, who can blame you for forgetting to buy valentines for your students? Well, print your way out of the doghouse with this tangram valentine.
Applesauce “Cookie” Ornaments
A simple dough that dries to create aromatic hanging ornaments. Please note that these items are not intended to be eaten, even though they smell good enough!
Burn Off Energy in a Positive Way
Introduce younger children to the concept of Assisted Living for elderly citizens. After a discussion, create artwork to share with an elderly community near you.
Have a Mobius Christmas
When your class is cutting up strips of paper to make Christmas ornaments, it’s a perfect time to introduce them to the Mobius strip. Take >>>
Recycled Christmas Ornaments
For something different, try making Christmas ornaments out of recycled materials. Brainstorm with your art teacher how that might be accomplished in an aesthetically pleasing way, or tackle it on your own with bits of plastic, paper, aluminum foil, string, wire, etc.
Making Storage Boxes
Encourage students to be a little more organized by using recycled boxes or cans in this art project. A little creativity is in order in guiding students in assembling materials into a storage unit. Nearly any student will benefit from this fun process of creating, then organizing.
I Made It Myself: Creating Custom T-Shirts
Creating custom t-shirts with your students is a rewarding experience and a great way to wrap up the year. Take the opportunity to say something special about each student or commemorate the “graduation” from your grade level. Maybe your class had a theme or a project that they were very involved in throughout the year – these can also work towards great designs. Whether each student creates a unique shirt or you decide on a universal pattern for the group, you’re assured an afternoon of fun and a group of satisfied artists when it’s all over.
Jack o’ Lanterns… Sans Knives
Try acrylic paint instead of traditional knives to decorate your pumpkins. You can work with traditional faces, or go for off-the-wall designs, even abstracts. Or, >>>
Orange Peel “Pumpkin” Containers
One of my room helpers brought this treat for our Halloween party. Take an orange and cut the top off as you would a pumpkin. >>>
Gumdrop Spiders
Cut two black pipe cleaners into eight pieces. Buy black licorice gumdrops. Insert four pipe cleaner spider legs on each side of a gumdrop. Alternatively >>>
Paper Plate Spiders
Paint paper plates black using finger paints. Let the paint dry. Using white paint, add eyes. You can also use the round paper reinforces used >>>
Paper Plate Pumpkins
Paint paper plates orange using finger paints. Let the paint dry and using yellow paint, add eyes, nose and a mouth. Cut a stem from >>>