18 pages

Here are some public domain vintage valentines for you to print for your students or that special someone. Various sizes included to conserve ink.

3 pages.

"Blow A Kiss" is a quick, easy and fun "craftivity" your students can make on Valentine's Day.  It's sure to become a keepsake.

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Valentine Activities With Me

I had a special request from Iesha, in Michigan, for some 10-frame cards with hearts on them.  Since this was also on my "to do" list, I got right to it.  

All of the new 10-frames packets include extra tiles, so that students can use them as manipulatives to make groups/sets to match the number on the cards, sort the tiles or pattern with them.  Click on the link to view/download the Valentine 10-Frames packet.

1-2-3 Count Valentines With Me compliments the cards, as this easy reader booklet is based on a 10-frame and covers all sorts of standards. 

Students read, trace and write the numbers and number words, circle the number in the sequence, dot that many spots on the 10-frame, then cut and glue the appropriate picture showing a group of that many. 

The new "Count With Me" booklets, also have students add end punctuation to the simple sentences.  Each packet also includes several worksheets. Click on the link to view/download the 1-2-3 Count Valentines With Me packet. 

When I'm diddling around designing, an idea sometimes happens because of the adorable graphics done by really creative artists, like Laura Strickland (mycutegraphics) and DJ Inkers. 

Why Do I Like You?  Let Me Count The Ways... was one of those ideas. D.J. Inkers clip art of a  little boy and girl holding a huge heart, simply begged to be filled with something. 

When I taught high school, my students enjoyed a variety of poetry that I shared with them.  How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning,  was a personal favorite. 

I thought this would make an interesting writing prompt for students. Just incase you'd like to share the original poem, I've included it in the packet.

Instead of love, I substituted the word like.  Students can choose to complete the prompt for someone they are close to, or to promote friendship and build self-esteem within your class, have students choose a classmate.  Students write things they like about that person, or things that person does that they like etc. 

To jumpstart your students' creative minds, make one about your best friend, sister, brother, husband or wife to share as an example.  I've also included a bookmark in color, that teachers can fill out for each student.  Write the child's name on the heart and then list a few things of why you enjoy having them in your class.  Click on the link to view/download the How Do I Like Thee? Valentine Writing Prompt packet. 

I didn't have much time to design more valentine crafts this year, but I did want to make a few valentines that your kiddos could make and take home to their families. 

Moms especially LOVE the cute "paper love" keepsakes that their child makes at school.  With that in mind, I designed the "Blow A Kiss!" keepsake card. 

The original idea came from "Life Is Sweet."  She painted her baby's hand and pressed it on some paper for grandma and grampa.  Here's my version:

Run off my template on white construction paper, or for more pizzazz, print it on regular copy paper and then have students trim and glue their card to their favorite color.

Students pick a partner and take turns tracing each other's hand.  For PK kids, have a room helper do the tracing and cutting.

Draw a little tab at the base of the palm, so that the hand has a "hinge" and then cut out.  Glue the hinge to the back, of the bottom of the card, so that it flips down, to reveal the sentiment. 

I made a page of lip tiles (kisses), so that students can glue their "kiss" to the middle of their flopped over hand.  For that finishing touch, add a school photo and some glitter.  Click on the link to view/download the "Blow A Kiss" Keepsake Valentine Card.

Another quick valentine craft is a simple positive-negative reverse picture.  My Y5's were always amazed when they folded the half-heart template, cut on the solid line and then unfolded a whole heart!

Most of them didn't even realize that they were cutting a heart out, and I didn't spoil the "surprise."   I loved their excited exclamations over this scissor "magic."  

Turn this into an interesting writing prompt for older students:  "Half of me enjoys _______ and half of me enjoys ____________."  I had a lot of fun writing a sample for you that will help to explain the lesson. 

For more pizzazz, I cut my photo in half and arranged it on my "heartwork."

To get in some keyboard practice, have students write their rough draft, and then type up their final copy and mount it on construction paper.  Completed projects make an awesome February bulletin board. 

Click on the link to view/download the Folded Heart Writing Prompt Packet.

Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to PIN away.  I hope you have a simply spectacular Valentine's Day! 

"The educated differ from the uneducated, as much as the living from the dead." -Aristotle

2 pages.

If you celebrate 100 Day in February, you may want to include some conversation candy hearts in your activities.  I have all sorts of candy heart packets and made this one especially for 100 Day. 

3 pages.

100 ways to say "I love you."  Have your students choose one, and find that country on the map.

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.

Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

I LOVE melted crayon art.

You can do these black-framed templates each month using a different theme (shamrocks for March) and your students will never tire of them.

They have an outstanding stained-glass look, when hung in the windows or make an eye-catching bulletin board, by sprinkling them kitty whompus on a white or aluminum foil background with a paper lace border. Caption: Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

They are quick and easy, with terrific results; who could ask for more? Plus, peeling crayons and manipulating a sharpener, make for wonderful practice with fine motor skills.

Follow the project up with a mini lesson on secondary colors, as your students watch the crayons melt into each other and the yellow and red shavings blend to make a vibrant orange etc.

Here’s how to make a stained-glass crayon melt valentine heart:

Make heart templates from my master out of old file folders.  Students trace them on a sheet of black construction paper.

Make sure to tell them to keep their paper folded in half.

Children cut on the lines, open their paper and are always amazed to find a heart.

If you have a Duplo, simply run off my master on black construction paper, fold the paper and have students cut on the lines.

As children finish, call them up to the melting table.

Lay a towel on the table and put down a sheet of wax paper.

Students have already selected the color crayons they wanted on their heart from the broken crayon tub and have removed the paper wrappings.

Children insert the crayon into the sharpener and twist it once.  Make sure they sprinkle their filings on different spots of the wax paper.

You may want to have them swirl their pile of shavings with a Q-tip before you melt them.

Lay another sheet of wax paper over the top.

Set the iron on the lowest setting and lay it on top of the wax paper for a second.  Lift and put on another spot.

I have experimented with “ironing” the sheet , rubbing it gently back and forth, instead of just pressing it up and down, but found that the colors run too much and smear into a big mess, sometimes ending up to have a  “brownish” color instead of a nice melted many-color effect.

Practice does make perfect here, so you may want to experiment a bit before you start on your students’ projects.

Children brush Elmer’s glue on their black heart frame with a Q-tip and lay it on top of the wax paper.

Press with palms.

Let dry and then cut off the wax paper edges.

Since the backs are lovely too, these look great dangling from the ceiling as well.

Simply punch a hole in the top, make a yarn or ribbon loop and hang.

For another interesting look, have children put tissue paper squares on the wax paper using Elmer's glue. I really like the new CLEAR Elmer's it's perfect for this type of project. 

When dry, brush lightly with Modge Podge and then mount the black heart frame on the top.  They look cute sprinkled lightly with opalescent glitter too!

Do NOT hang in the window, because the sun will fade the tissue paper colors.

Click on the link to view/print the Melted Crayon Valentine Heart directions & pix

These lovely melted crayon hearts made from waxpaper are from Martha Stewart. 

Do you have a valentine idea you could share with us? I'd enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com OR...post a comment, especially if you use one of mine! Thanks in advance.

Be sure and stop on in tomorrow for another fun idea.