Holidays
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with me!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I thought I’d try something a little different today and give you a full picture of what my day looks like. Here’s how I’m celebrating the holiday all day long: We started the morning early because my girl was EXCITED. She’s old enough to remember past Valentine’s day celebrations and she knows that I always have some special gifts for her, and once she woke up there was no holding her back! We use these felt heart envelopes for Valentine gifts – ours are a few years old from the Target Dollar spot, but these are similar and available on Amazon (affiliate link). I love having this…
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February Holidays for the Classroom
February is my favorite month in the classroom – there are so many holidays and celebrations to explore in such a short time, it always seems to fly by! Here are the topics that I always make sure to cover: With all of this to cover we’ll definitely have a packed month of fun, and that’ll help this cold winter month pass quickly so that we can get even closer to spring!
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Valentine Party Themes
You know I love a good theme party, it can really help focus the event and narrow all of the ideas to pull things together. If you’re looking for a little more direction for your Valentine’s Day celebrations, then here are some ideas to work with!
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EASY Preschool Valentine Boxes
Over the years I’ve tried ALL of the different ways to make valentine boxes in the classroom – from the brown paper bag to over the top crafty cut-outs. There are pros and cons to all of these, so let’s talk through those as we work towards the absolute easiest option if you’re making preschool valentine boxes in the classroom. First, I like to use this as a class activity because families are busy! They don’t always have the time or supplies that they might need, and if I put out supplies for all of the children then they start with a level playing field. Making Valentine boxes also meets…
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Valentine’s Day Must Haves!
My love for holidays runs DEEP and when it comes to Valentine’s Day I have no problem talking myself into cute “must haves” because hearts work all year round! These are the things that I’ve been drooling over lately – just in case you need a little inspiration (all are affiliate links). Heart Zip Pouch – I never have enough little pouches, I swear they just disappear. This one is absolutely adorable, and would be perfect for tossing in the little heart caddy that’s coming up lower on the list. I also love that this is waterproof and wipe-able! Heart Pendant Necklace – This is exactly the kind of necklace…
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Valentine’s Day Language Activities
Valentine’s Day has a special place in my heart (see what I did there). January can be a long, dreary month and having something fun to look forward to can really change the mood. If you’re like me – looking forward to a holiday that’s all about warmth and love – and you’re planning what this will look like in your classroom, then I have some materials that might be just what you need! Here’s my Valentine writing center: I want children to get excited about using these materials, and I do that by making them inviting – adding decorations, related textiles, and touches that create a homey and comforting…
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Printable Valentine’s Day Math Activities
I’m back with some more Valentine’s day ideas! Math centers can be tricky because we want children to enjoy the activities and WANT to do them, while also being able to use the materials independently. Here’s what’s in my Valentine’s Day math center: It doesn’t get more exciting than chocolate! This game is one that your students will definitely want to play – although you might have to monitor the game pieces or they’ll disappear. To play, children pick a candy and match the number on the bottom to the number on their mat. It can be done individually or you can print two sets and have a partner game. The…
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Using Martin Luther King Junior’s Words in the Classroom
The “I Have a Dream” speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is iconic, and with great reason – but I can bet that many of us haven’t actually read or listened to the entire speech. There are of course the stand-out quotes, but to be able to hear the passion and heart behind the words adds humanism and connection that can’t be paralleled. The “I Have a Dream” book is a wonderful way to incorporate this speech into the classroom, and to help children identify with the power of the spoken word. I’m linking it here (and this link is an affiliate) because this particular copy actually comes…
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Activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
I’m re-sharing a post today that is full of amazing ideas for exploring diversity in the classroom – hopefully these will fill in your lesson plans for next week! We’re working on social studies standards, and the timing worked out particularly well because today’s standard lends itself to Martin Luther King Day. Remember, the Standards that I use every day, and am most comfortable with are Ohio’s Early Learning Development Standards – you can review them here, however I’ve found that even if your State’s standards differ, many of these activities can still be aligned similarly. I’ve rounded up some great ideas today! Domain: Social StudiesStrand: GeographyTopic: Human Systems Preschool standards are…
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Christmas Coloring Freebie
I’m working on a little something new, and while that won’t be ready until after the new year, I did want to share a little sample with you! Here’s my latest freebie, just in time for Christmas. Please enjoy these holiday coloring pages, made using my very own clipart. Go download your set here (scroll all of the way down and click on the coloring page image)! If you’re interested in the coordinating clipart please explore my Christmas Bright clipart bundle, and my Peppermint Wonderland clipart bundle.