Quite honestly Valentine’s is not my favorite holiday – all of the pink,
chocolates and warm fuzzy words just isn’t for me. So when I was trying to
think of what we would do for our February Preschool Playgroup I was a bit stumped
until my mom was chatting with me about making heart bird feeders. I then knew
that “Love Birds” would be the theme and got quite excited! If you read Gail
Gibbons Book Valentine’s Day Is, you will see that some people believe that birds
choose their mate this time of year so I thought it was a quite fitting theme
for Valentine’s!
*You may want to have the kids start their Birdie Valentine when
they arrive so the stamped hearts can dry and they can have time to decorate
the rest of their bird.
Check out the ideas for a
Love
Birds (Valentine) Event for
Sprouts
and Seedlings (toddler/preschool and elementary age)...
Valentine Circle Time
Our Speech Therapist mom, Jen led circle time and always has
great ideas!
The Stuff
|
The FUN!
|
Heart stickers
Hearts in
several sizes and shapes
Valentine’s
Day Is.. by Gail Gibbons
|
1.
Jen started off with having the kids separate the sounds of some Valentiney
words (l-o-ve, h-u-g, k-i-ss, V-a-l-e-n-t-i-ne) and then blend them into
words.
2.
Jen had stickers all over her body and asked the kids to name the body part
(ankle, forehead, etc) that the stickers was on. If they named it, they got
the sticker.
3.
Then the kids looked at hearts in various sizes and colors. They compared them
by saying what was similar and different.
4.
With more hearts getting gradually bigger the kids said that heart is big,
bigger, biggest and then small, smaller, smallest.
5. One of my favorite things Jen did with the kids was discuss the word "compliment". She then had the kiddos give each other compliment - they were a little shaky with this but got better with practice. When they gave a compliment she gave them a bird sticker (to go with the love bird theme).
6.
To finish off circle time and introduce the crafts and snack I read the book
Valentine’s Day by Gail Gibbons. I like the book because it discusses the
history of Valentine’s and some fun ways to celebrate!
|
Birdie Valentine
If you don’t want to use paint you can cut out hearts instead of
doing heart prints.
The Stuff
|
The FUN!
|
Sponges (cut
into hearts – easiest to cut if sponge is damp)
Paint (we
had pink, purple and red)
Paint
brushes
Paper folded
in half or blank cards
Markers (or
crayons)
Googly eyes
Glue
Paper
Scissors
|
1.
Use paint brushes to paint heart sponges.
2.
Stamp heart (see pic) to make bird body and head. Let dry.
3.
Cut pieces of paper and glue down for nest. Glue googly eyes down. Color beak
(and legs if you want). The beak really turns it into a bird - it kind of looks like a fish until the beak!
Write
a message on the inside and give to someone that is loved!
|
Heart Bird Feeders
I have seen various different versions of this idea but think
this is the easiest to do with younger kids.
The Stuff
|
The FUN!
|
Bread slice
Heart cookie
cutter
Peanut butter
Butter knife
Bird seed
Chop stick
or straw
String (we
used hemp)
|
1.
Use heart cookie cutter to cut a heart out of a slice of bread.
2.
Spread peanut butter on one side of heart.
3.
Dip peanut butter side in bird seed.
4.
Repeat on other side if you want.
5.
Poke hole with chop stick or straw.
6.
Put string through hole to hang. Tie knot.
Find
a branch outside to hang for the birds to find!
|
Strawberry Heart Shortcake SNACKYou can't tell from the pic but the shortcake is cut into hearts and their is one little birdie shortcake to the right - can you see it? :)
The Stuff
|
The FUN!
|
Shortcake
recipe (I used the Bisquick one)
Heart cookie
cutter (we also had a tiny bird cookie cutter)
Strawberries
Whip cream
|
1.
Make a batch of shortcake cut into hearts (and birds if you have a cookie
cutter)
2.
Add strawberries and whip cream!
Yum!
I was also going to make berry smoothies but I forgot. Kids were still happy!
|
More ideas…
Please BRAINSTORM your
ideas/suggestions in the COMMENTS below for the Love Birds (Valentine) Event!
Happy Crafting
~Sara
