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Friday, February 3, 2012

SWEET MEMORIES

Some of my “sweetest” memories of being in the classroom are of Valentine’s Day.  To see the delight in the children’s eyes when they opened up those little paper envelopes!  You can integrate many reading, writing, and math skills as you get ready for the big day.

Conversation Hearts – Conversation hearts are good to sort, count, read, and eat!  Estimate how many will be in a bag, then count.  Graph the ones that are the same.  Make a game by cutting paper hearts out of construction paper.  Write like phrases found on candy hearts (such as “Kiss Me, “Cool One,”  “WOW!”  “Cutie Pie”) on two of the hearts.  Children can visually match up the ones that go together, or they can play a concentration game with them.
*Use Valentine stickers or paper conversation hearts to make a memory game.

Love Is…  Do a language experience chart where each child completes the sentence, “Love is…”  You could also make a class book where each child completes the sentence “Love is…” and draws things that she loves.

Predictable Books – Have children make blank books using one of these titles:   Love is…  I love…  Happiness is…  A friend is…  My favorite things to love…  Things I love from A to Z.

Geometric Puzzles – Cut a 4” circle and a 4” square out of red paper for each child.  Name the shapes.  Encourage the children to describe the shapes.  Have the children fold their circles in half and cut down the crease to make two semi-circles.  Challenge them to create a valentine out of their shapes.