Valentine Countdown

I really enjoy the countdown to a holiday.  Every year at Christmas I make 24 brown bag surprises for each of my grandchildren.   Every bag has a little treat inside.  They get to open their bags after school each day from December 1st to December 24th.  They look forward to this every year and start reminding me about the bags sometime in October.   

I was thinking about doing a variation of this in the classroom for Valentines and came up with Valentine Countdown.

Download the FREEBIE by clicking on the picture.

 I created a file with print and laminate cards that can be placed in a bag or bucket.  Each card has an activity "treat" printed on one side and Valentine graphics printed on the other side.

 Easy preparation directions:
1) Copy the three card pages.
2) Cut the cards horizontally so that each long card has an activity and graphic- side by side.
3) Fold the cards in half and glue them together.  You now have double-sided cards.   
4) Laminate the cards and put them in a hat or bucket. 

The idea is to spend about 5-10 minutes at the end of the day (up until February 14th) enjoying a Valentine "treat" activity.   Just pull a card from the bucket and enjoy a fun Valentine activity.   Some of the activities cannot be finished in 5-10 minutes, but don't worry.  You can use the state of play to help with dismissal.  For example: "Everyone with both hands still in the circle may get your backpacks and line up."

The activities are fun and would also make for good Valentine party activities and games.  Oh and did I mention that this 15 page fun pack is a freebie? Just click on the Valentine Countdown image to download the packet.  I hope you and your students enjoy it! 

Also, be sure to head over to Nicki Thigpen's blog  Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten for her 100 Followers Give Away.  Her blog is great and she has some wonderful ideas to share.  The winner of her 100 Followers Give Away will get 10 great units from 7 different bloggers.  You can head right over by clicking her button below.

 
Have a great week!
Granny (Cindy)