As teachers, we are always thinking ahead. Thinking of the next month, the next theme, and the next holiday. So, obviously, I’ve now got Valentine’s Day and our exchange party on my mind. For the last 5-6 years, I’ve had my students make paper bag valentine card holders. Well, this year, I’m throwing it back and going “old school”. Check out these pocket valentine holders!
These were once a staple of my February curriculum, and now I remember why. Not only are they cute, but they are big! Big enough to hold all of the children’s cards and treats/trinkets; with the paper bags, my kids struggled to fit everything in. Also, with these pocket holders, students have a larger area to express their creativity, and that’s what is really important.
Simply staple together two pieces of 12″ by 18″ pieces of construction paper. Leave a two-inch margin at the top, and fold that front piece of paper down. Provide each child with a holder, a name tag, some glue, some decorative goodies, and watch the fun begin. Students who are developmentally ready should be prompted to cut out their own tags and write their own names.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
MATERIALS USED:
– Construction paper
– A stapler
– Puffy heart stickers
– Foam heart stickers
– Heart doilies
– Glue
– Markers and crayons
– Our valentine name tag
Love is in the air! This fun-filled, printable Valentine’s Day Math and Literacy pack contains 10 worksheets and 7 learning center activities that strengthen the following skills:
– Counting
– One-to-one correspondence
– Number recognition
– Number order
– Ordinal Numbers
– Measurement ( nonstandard height)
– Patterning
– Set recognition
– Upper and lowercase letter recognition
– Beginning sound recognition
– Association
– Visual discrimination
– Phonological awareness
– Fine Motor
– Following directions
Please note that the center activities in this packet are designed to be printed (on cardstock) and laminated, and to be used and enjoyed for many years to come.
HEART LINK UP – LETTER/SOUND ASSOCIATION (COLOR A-Z 26/B&W A-Z 26)
Use a hole punch to punch out the marked areas on the cards and supply children with plastic learning links. Students will then link the upper and lowercase letters along with their picture sound cards.
VALENTINE HEART PATTERN PUZZLES (COLOR 8/B&W 8)
Cut these cards in half. Learners will use their visual discrimination skills to match the heart patterns.
Cut out the spinner card and attach a paperclip spinner with a round head fastener (brad).
Provide vase gems, mini erasers, pom poms, or some other small manipulative for students to use as markers. Students will spin, identify the picture, and cover it on their game cards. Continue until the sheet is completely covered. When using this activity in small group, children will take turns spinning. First player to cover his/her sheet wins. Trade cards and play again!
Encourage students to say each picture name and clap and count each word part. They will then use a clothespin to clip the correct number of syllables.
VALENTINE’S DAY NUMBER STRIP PUZZLES (COLOR 2/B&W 2)
Cut the puzzles into strips. Learners will complete the puzzles by placing the pieces in numerical order.
COUNTING HEARTS 1-10 (COLOR 2 SHEETS & 10 NUMBER CARDS/B&W 2 SHEETS & 10 NUMBER CARDS)
For small group use, print out multiple copies. Cut out the number cards. Prompt younger students to practice one-to-one correspondence while counting the hearts. Older children may utilize their set recognition skills. Once the number of hearts in a picture has been determined, learners will identify the corresponding number card and place it under the picture in its designated box. Students will continue until all of the hearts on the sheet have been counted.
HEART NUMBER QUANTITY TASK CARDS (COLOR 10/B&W 10)
Provide students with candy hearts or some other small manipulative. Learners will place a numbered group of items on its corresponding heart. Encourage younger children to use one-to-one correspondence while counting. Older children can use this activity to practice set recognition.
BE MY VALENTINE ORDINAL NUMBERS (COLOR 2 SHEETS & 5 CARDS/B&W 2 SHEETS & 5 CARDS)
Working with a small group, give each student a sheet and a set cards. Instruct learners to place a certain card in a certain position. For example, ”Please put the girl with the pink valentine in third place.” Once all the cards appear in the lineup, you may ask your students, “Who is in 2nd place?” And so forth…
MATH AND LITERACY WORKSHEETS (10)
Number Love – Sequencing – Have children cut and glue to complete the number order.
Valentine Sisters – Measuring Height – Instruct students to cut out the heart ruler and use it to measure each sister. They will then write the numbers on the designated lines.
Heart Roll & Color – Number Recognition – Learners will roll the die and color the number shown. Continue until all of the numbers on the paper have been covered. When using this activity in small group, have the children take turns rolling the die.
Valentine Goodies – Patterning – Prompt students to cut and glue to complete the patterns. Discuss the patterns, and encourage young learners to describe and identify them.
Colorful Hearts – Counting/Following Directions – Children will use the code to count the hearts and color them accordingly.
Valentine’s Day – Association – Learners will study the groups of pictures and cross out the ones that do not belong. Discuss the different attributes of the items and why they do or don’t belong together.
Love Letter – Uppercase Letter Recognition – Children will dot or color the uppercase letters. Depending on the child’s ability, a sheet of paper may be used to cover the other pictures as he/she works one row at a time.
Love Letter – Lowercase Letter Recognition – Children will dot or color the lowercase letters. Depending on the child’s ability, a sheet of paper may be used to cover the other pictures as he/she works one row at a time.
All Things Valentine – Visual Discrimination – Young learners will study the rows of pictures and cross out or color the one that is different from the rest. Depending on the child’s ability, a sheet of paper may be used to cover the other pictures as he/she works one row at a time.
Love Is in the Air – Beginning Sounds – Students will say each picture name and color or dot its beginning letter sound.
“I’m the Cat in the Hat, and we’re off to have fun. We’ll visit the planets, the stars, and the sun!” These are the captivating first words of the book There’s No Place Like Space!. Written by Tish Rabe and beautifully illustrated by Aristides Ruiz, this wonderful book takes children on an exciting ride through the solar system, and teaches important basic concepts about space.
After being introduced to this book, preschoolers will enjoy making their own “planets”. Have students place cut up or torn pieces of bleeding tissue paper onto white construction paper circles. Instruct them to wet the tissue with a water filled spray bottle (supervision is important here). Once the tissue is sufficiently wet, gently remove and allow the “planets” to dry.
This activity encourages creative expression. The children love to choose their colors, and always get excited when they see the beautiful and varied works of art they have created. In addition, using a spray bottle improves fine motor skills and helps to build strength in small hands and fingers. Finally, cutting skills can be practiced, by encouraging the children (who wish to do so) to cut out their own circles.
Note: This revised edition of the book includes a glossary of space terms and excludes mention of Pluto, which is no longer considered a planet.
We're Gigi and Zoey. We teach a two-year program (preschool and pre-k), and we're passionate about Early Childhood Education and the philosophy that children learn through play. Our goal is to prepare children for kindergarten while making learning fun.
We hope that our resources inspire you, and that you will share them with your little ones.
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