1-2-3 Come Make A Mother's Day Craftivity With Me

My Y5's enjoyed putting puzzles together.  Since it was one of our report card standards, I made time for them to work on puzzles for a few minutes at the end of the day.  With this in mind, I thought I'd design some "paper love" using puzzle pieces.

While I was diddling around with the puzzle idea, I wondered if there was some sort of easy & inexpensive gift my kiddos could make to give their mom to go along with their card.  Since the card was all about pieces, Reese's pieces came to mind. 

You certainly don't have to include them with this craft, but it's a simple way to add a little something to their creations, so you don't have to make something else.  Thus, there are several options for putting this activity together.  

Take a photo of each of your students and then have them cut it into puzzle pieces.  You can make them look more like a puzzle by placing my puzzle template over the photo and then cutting on the lines, or you can use carbon paper and trace the template onto the photo for easier cutting.

If you think this is too difficult for your students, they can simply cut their photo into several pieces.  Remind them to cut their photo into only 3-6 pieces, or you can bet that they’ll snip away, with no chance of gluing things back together. 

For preschool kiddos, have a room helper do this for you and then put each photo in a snack Baggie for students to put together.  They'll be surprised to find that it's a photo of them.

Students can glue their photo puzzle together onto a sheet of construction paper, so that all of the pieces fit snuggly together, or you can have them trim a bit from the edges so there is a gap between the pieces.  

I like the effect of this better, but I made sure that I cut my puzzle, so that it did not slice up the facial portion of my photo. If you're going to have your kiddos glue their puzzle this way, make sure you show them a sample, and explain the importance of not cutting through the center of their face.

Have students sign their picture puzzle and then glue it to the “I love you to pieces” paper and trim. 
I’ve included a template for mom, as well as a blank one for students who don’t have a mom, or if you wish to use this card for Grandparent’s or Father’s Day.

It's nice to give children color options, but I chose orange and yellow construction paper, because I wanted to include some Reese’s Pieces as a gift, with a double play on words. 

To keep the cost down, you can buy small packages of the candy and staple the little bag to the bottom of the photo puzzle, or you can buy it in bulk and fill mini snack bags.

Brainstorm with your students why they love their moms, and make a list on the board, so that students can refer to it as they complete their writing prompt.

Run off the large puzzle template and have students write six reasons why they love their mom (special person) to pieces (one reason in each of the six puzzle pieces). 

Have them glue their photo puzzle to the side of their writing prompt.

I mounted the writing prompt to a sheet of construction paper as well.  You could also attach it to the back of the picture puzzle and not trim that down.

I’ve also included an “I love you to pieces” header in two sizes.  Have students color the word with a yellow marker.

You can add the larger one to your Snack Baggie, or use the smaller one and glue it to the corner of the writing prompt for that finishing touch. (This is what I did for my sample.)

I forgot to do it in my photo, but have students outline their puzzle pieces with crayons or markers.  As I was working on my sample, I thought this would also make a sweet end-of-the-year gift for your students.  Have a helper take a photo of you with each of your kiddos. 

You cut up the puzzles and put them into a Snack Baggie that you attach to a box or bag of Reese’s Pieces, then complete a puzzle note for each child. 

Tuck them into their backpacks the last week of school, or they can put them together at the end of the day, while they eat a few pieces of candy.  Make sure none of your kiddos has a peanut allergy.

Click on the link to view/download the "I love you to pieces" packet.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"A mother's hug lasts long after she lets go." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For Mother's Day With Me

The "Something to Tweet About" Mother's Day "craftivity" Friday, was such a hit that I decided to dream up a few more writing prompts that double as a great gift-card for moms.

Since students are learning about time, I thought it would be fun to design something around a clock. 

Children draw a self-portrait on the poem-circle page and then "hinge" the clock to the front of their card. 

Have them add their school photo to the center for that finishing touch.

Here's the poem:   "Mom I love you for all the times you picked me up when I was down.  For all the times you traded your sweet smile for my frown. 

For all the times you brushed my hair and tucked me into bed...or needed something for yourself and put me first instead.

For all the times that we have shared, the tears and laughter too.  I love you Mom with all my heart.  There's no one quite like you!"

Older students can write about some of their favorite times that they've shared with their mom on the back of their card.  I've included a template for them to write on .

Click on the link to view/download the Special Times With Mom Mother's Day activity.

Another Mother's Day writing prompt craftivity has a bee theme.  "My mom is 'bee-utiful' because..."  is the writing prompt. 

Students can either choose to make an adorable bumble bee and write why their mom is beautiful on the yellow stripes of the bug,  or they can choose the beehive and write on each section of the hive. 

For that extra bit of pizzazz, I used wax paper for the bee's wings and then attached some pipe cleaner antennae.

Make the beehive even more of a keepsake by having students dip their finger in yellow paint to make the bees.  When the paint dries they can add details with a black marker. 

Click on the link to view/download the My Mom Is "Bee-utiful" Mother's Day writing prompt craftivity.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." -Abraham Lincoln

Mother's Day Gift Ideas:

If you're like me, you're probably wondering where on earth April flew off to, and thinking what should I do for Mother's Day that will soon be here!

I wanted to help children realize all the things busy mommies do for them, so that they could truly understand and appreciate their mom and why Mother’s Day is such a special Day; so I designed an easy reader with that idea in mind and followed it up with a blue ribbon-"craftivity" that students can make for their moms as a special card.

Start by having a discussion. Ask your students what things their moms do for them and what are their favorites.  Make a list of them on the board and see if they can think of a symbol or picture that would represent that task.

From a 5-year-old's point of view, here are some of the things my Y5's thought of: cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry (washing & ironing), helping with school work, taking me places, taking care of me when I’m sick or hurt, buying me things, doing things with me (listening to me), reading stories to me and my mom loves me (hugs me and kisses me goodnight!)

After the discussion, pass out the booklets.  

Students TRACE the words.  They find the matching pictures and CUT and GLUE them to the correct numbered boxes in their booklet. 

When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group a few times, ‘til everyone is able to read it independently, so they can take it home and share it with their moms.  What a wonderful gift that will be!

You can make the booklet even more of a keepsake by including their school photo; have students glue it over the clipart boy or girl. 

When you’re done with the reading activity have students make the blue ribbon card for their mom. Remember to have them sign their name under the “I love you."

Click on the link to view/download the Mother’s Day: Thanks For All You Do booklet and blue ribbon activity.

Scroll down for another Mother's Day idea: Teaching your students how to sign "I love you!"