Valentine's Day Project-they LOVED it:)

Over the past 3 years I have done the same poster project for Valentine's Day. It is SO much fun and could easily be a great end of the year project too! After the first year I did this the parents and the students told me how much it meant to them. Also, some students I had 3 years ago still have their posters! Let me show you what I am talking about:)

As soon as we got back from Winter Break (January 3rd), I told the students about this Valentine's Day project and that they are not to go out and buy Valentine Cards. They always get so sad at this point! They don't realize what I have them do is a lot more fun!

I give each student a bag of index cards and a class list. They were to write a compliment about each student in the class. When they were all done, they needed to turn the cards back in to me. Then I separated the cards into a new bag. One bag for each student. So every student had 24 compliments.

Then today was the fun part! I put all the bags into a a bucket. Each student pulled one bag out, and it couldn't be their own bag.  So Ben pulled out Izzy's name and created a poster for Izzy. They had 2 hours to decorate a poster for that person using all the compliments and...this fun stuff 


Stickers, foam shapes, paper, stamps...you name it, it was there. I always ask for donations and have had a TON left over from year to year!
Their first set of instructions was to write the person's name somewhere on the poster and the glue the compliment cards on. 


Once all the cards and name was on the poster, they could start decorating. It was SO awesome to see how each poster was different. How creative these kids got! 
Here are some pictures of them starting to decorate

 
 
 Here are some final posters



I also made a poster for one student and a student made one for me!
Students were very secretive about who they did because it wasn't until the afternoon when we were going to present them.  

During the afternoon, we played bingo, enjoyed from friendship fruit salad, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, and cookies. Once the parents got there every student presented the person their poster they made for them! 

Here is my poster that was presented to me:)
   
At the end I had a parent take our pictures holding the posters! Don't mind the 3 year old twins in the front. Those are siblings of a student:)
  
I am one tired teacher today! SO glad tomorrow is a teacher workday! Best Idea ever! haha!

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!  

13 comments:

  1. Love the idea! Now...how can I remember that for next year? ;)

    Kathy

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  2. This is a fabulous idea! If I ever teach self contained again, I am doing this.

    Elizabeth

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  3. I've done something similar to this, but rather than making posters the kids created Wordles. They ended up with awesome, heartwarming keepsakes at the end of the year!

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  4. I like that idea for an end of the year project.

    Deniece

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  5. OMG that is such an incredible idea, I LOVE everything about it. I especially love the idea of having students decorate someone else's poster. I am pinning it now and posting a link to it on the blog Endless Pinabilities. I'm hosting a linky for people to share their Valentine's Day pictures, I'd love for you to link up this post if you have time. Enjoy your weekend.

    ✰ Stacy

    Simpson Superstars

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  6. That is such a sweet idea! It looks like your students really get into it too! I like how you put a different spin on Valentine's Day.
    Laura
    Enchanting Elementary

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  7. Thank you for this truly great idea!
    Peggy

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  8. How CUTE is this!! Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to do this with my resource center students next year.. they could always use extra practice with giving other people compliments and it definitely wouldn't hurt for them to hear a bunch of compliments either =) I love the end product!

    Ashley
    The Resource Room Teacher

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  9. HI Tonya! Thanks for leaving me a message. I thought I emailed you earlier in the week, but I must have mistyped your email address or something... I'm sure whoever got my email was thoroughly confused! HA!! I appreciate it that you didn't give up on me though! :) My email is angelanerby (at) hotmail (dot) com.

    Thank you SO much!!
    Angela :)
    Hippo Hooray for Second Grade!

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  10. I absolutely love this idea, Tonya!! I hate store bought Valentines... this is so much more meaningful! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Kate
    EduKate and Inspire

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  11. This is a real treasure. When my son broke his leg in second grade his class did something similar - but he was the only one who got it. What a great way to boost self esteem!

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