"Have
a contest where students decorate a shoebox to receive their
valentines in. Some
stores like Shopko display shoes without boxes so you can get
multiple boxes that are the same size for free.
A great party game is a memory game. Put valentine or red items on
a tray. Show to class
for a few minutes (depending on age of kids reduce number of items
and adjust time) Cover tray and ask them to write down what they
remember. For older
children you can even play another game before writing them down.
See who can remember the most.
Change the color or theme of objects for each holiday.
This game never gets old and is good brain exercise. This
game can be prepared literally at the last minute by gathering
items in the classroom!
Ball
pass-active game for small space.
Divide into teams then line up all facing same direction
and pass an object over one student’s head and between the legs
of the next student. Object
can be related to the holiday (empty Valentine candy box) or
simply a ball or balloon. For
older children they can do multiple objects or objects that are
hard to handle such as a glass of something that can’t spill or
they lose, large object that barely fits through their legs or
teeny tiny object that is hard to keep track of and grab. Fun to
alternate objects and 'surprise' them by hiding the objects until
it is time to pass it down the line.
Need identical objects for each team. Another variation is
that they must do something to the object before passing it
on-sign the Valentine, eat a piece of chewy candy from the box and
show that their mouth is empty, make a wish on a four leaf clover
(St. Pat’s day), sing one line of a Christmas carol when passing
Christmas item, etc
The prizes for this contest and others can be free things like 'good
for first place in the lunch line,'
'good for first person dismissed for recess'
and other classroom privileges that work for the teacher.
Businesses love to sponsor educational projects if you will just
ask. They might give away coupons and other items to be used as
game prizes. Even buy one get one coupons help them generate
business and can be a prize.
Shop for next year’s holidays this year. I work in Activities
for a nursing home and we buy next year’s Valentine’s supplies
on the post holiday sales this year.
It requires planning ahead but once you start in this
mindset it is easy to maintain. Review what worked at the party
this year, the age of the kids next year and buy accordingly.
Label your storage well and store in date order so it is
easy to find. Buy on
sale paper supplies in red or white-they can be used for most
holidays and stickers can be added to the white for the pastel or
Halloween/Fall holidays.
Ask businesses what they are doing with their holiday decorations
after the holiday. Many
will throw them away and buy new so they are happy to donate if
you will pick them up promptly.
" ~ Christy
