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For a creative writing prompt for Valentine's Day, have students choose a friend to make some "paper love" for.  Children complete the prompt: Why do I like you?  Let me count the ways... When they are finished, they color the picture. 

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

I had so much fun making things with candy hearts on Monday,  that I thought I'd make a few more things for today.   If you missed the article, simply scroll down.  As usual, my brain was going a zillion miles an hour of what other things I could do with the candy heart generator.

One of the things I made was a set of candy heart color cards.  The colors are just the 7 in the box, but sometimes its nice to limit things, especially for younger children.  The favorite color and favorite flavor candy heart graphs from yesterday, will compliment these activities. 

Print; laminate and trim to make Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has" games.  I've also included a cover, if you want your students to make an Itty Bitty Candy Heart Color booklet.  Click on the link to view/download the Candy Heart Color Cards.

Contraction activities are often requested, so I thought I'd make a set of those, using 61 contractions. 

Students match the word cards to their contractions.  You could also have children choose several cards and then write what the contraction or words are, depending on which ones they picked.  Click on the link to view/download the Conversation Heart Contraction Cards. 

Switching gears, I wanted to design a few quick Daily 5 word work activities with a valentine theme. 

How many words can you make using the letters in the word valentines?  Challenge your students to work independently or in small groups.  Set a timer, or let teams work on their lists throughout the day. 

I came up with a whopping 312 words!  When everyone has shared their list, share mine and highlight any that students don't know.

Give some to each team and have them look the words up, and then share their results with the class. I've also included several certificates of praise. Click on the link to view/download the Valentine Word Challenge. 

A Valentine Word Search is also a fun way to practice spelling, and build vocabulary.  This one has 22 familiar words associated with Valentine's Day, an answer key, plus several links for students to play valentine word searches online, as well as a list of quite a few sites for them to do valentine crossword puzzles. 

Including a site where they can make up their own crossword puzzle to share with their classmates.  Click on the link to view/download the Valentine Word Find packet.

Finally, I enjoyed making a list of 100+ ways to say "I love you!" in different languages. Challenge your students to each learn 1 or 2. 

These would be fun to include in a valentine card students make for their families, or as a jumpstart to having students do some computer research and find 3-5 facts about one of the countries listed.  Click on the link to view/download 100 Ways To Say "I love you." 

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"Study without desire, spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in." -Leonardo da Vinci

Last Minute Fun:

I know Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but I just had to post a few more things for people who still need a couple of finishing touches for their parties. 

These Valentine Wands are super easy, and your students will LOVE finding them on their desk as a special surprise tomorrow.

Here's how to make them:

Run off the master on red/pink construction paper.

Cut out the hearts.

Cut the smaller back heart out of old file folders so that the wand is sturdier and won’t flop over.

Insert skewer into straw.  This will make it sturdy so it won’t bend. The point will stick out about two inches.  I don’t like to just use a skewer, as little ones wave their wands and I don’t want to chance them poking each other accidentally.  

Glue the heart on the back on top of the skewer point. Tape the skewer in place.  I’m big on finishing touches so I added two stickers to cover the tape.

Cut 3 pieces of 15-inch long curling ribbon. Use one strand to tie all of them to the end of the heart and curl the ends. I think metallic really gives it that extra sparkle.

You can simply write a student’s name on the back, leave it plain or really add pizzazz by writing their name in glitter glue.  It’s worth the extra effort for the “wow!” effect you’ll get.

Lay them name up on your students’ desks on party day.

Click on the link to view/download the Valentine Heart Wand

Whatever you’re doing I hope it truly is magical!

Scroll down for article #2 - another quick surprise for your kiddo's.