Transform Your Valentine’s Crafts into Educational Lessons

Most kids love crafts, but don’t necessarily enjoy “learning.” Instead of trying to fit Valentine’s crafts into your ordinary learning schedule, transform your Valentine’s crafts into educational lessons so your kids won’t even know they are learning. Here are a few ways to do it!

Make STEM Bots

STEM is a new learning approach that incorporates science, technology, engineering and mathematics into hands-on lessons. Instead of making simple Valentines mailboxes, have your kids make mailboxes that look like robots. This both incorporates science and engineering into a simple craft. Here are a few things you can use to make your STEM Bots:

• Kleenex boxes
• Toilet paper rolls
• Hot glue gun
• Googly eyes
• Bubble wrap

Write Your Own Valentine’s

It’s always fun to make your own Valentine’s, and when your child makes their own, they are not only using their creative skills, but working on handwriting, small motor skills, reading, and writing skills. You can have little ones make heart shaped cards with a cute little love you, be mine, or happy Valentine’s Day. However, a great idea for older kids is to incorporate poetry. Here are a few poetry ideas for your kids to make their own Valentine’s:

• Create an Acrostic poem. An acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first, last or other letters in a line spell out a particular word or phrase. The most common and easiest way to do this is when the first letters of each line spell out the word or phrase. So, you could have the kids write the word Valentine and put all the nice things about the person they are giving it to.
• Make a Diamante Poem. This poem is a little more challenging but just as fun. Here’s how you do it:
  • Line 1: Subject
  • Line 2: 2 adjectives about the subject
  • Line 3: 3 verbs ending in “ing” about the subject
  • Line 4: Short phrase or 4 synonyms of the subject (4 words)
  • Line 5: 3 action words about the subject
  • Line 6: 2 adjectives about the subject
  • Line 7: Synonym of the subject

Make Flowers for Valentine’s Gifts

If you want to add a little bit of science into your crafts, make some Valentine flowers. You will need some construction paper, paper cupcake holders, green construction paper, and some perfume (to make your flower smell). Teach your kids about the parts of the flower including the stem, the leaves, the stamen, and the petals.

Here’s a great YouTube video to watch. Talk about the different smells the flowers have, and why they smell. Let your kids wrap their flowers up to give as Valentine’s gifts.

Make Candy Heart Stories

Candy hearts are great for kids who are learning to read. Their short phrases are easy to remember and can be combined to make funny sentences or stories. One of my favorite activities is putting candy hearts into a Mad Libs story. Let your kids read their stories out loud. They can even copy the story to give to others for a good Valentine’s Day laugh.

When it comes to holidays, every craft can be transformed into an educational lesson for your kiddos. What are some unique ideas you have for turning a craft into a lesson? Share your ideas in the comments below!

>>Download our FREE Valentine’s Preschool Printable Pack!<<

Related Articles:

• Fun Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids
• Easy No-Bake Valentine’s Day Desserts
• Match the Color Word Heart Printable

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!