Valentine Writing
By Caroline Wyman
Objective: The students will be able to use Valentine's Day candy hearts to prompt them to write sentences, paragraphs or stories. Grades 2-3
Initiation: Read a Valentine's Day book to the class and have a discussion about Valentine's Day. Talk about past Valentine's Days and tell stories about your favorite Valentine message.
Development: After the class discussion, explain that you are going to pass out a few candy hearts to each person and that they are not allowed to eat them. They will be used as part of a sentence. Make sure you pre-read all of the candies and pick out the most appropriate and good sentence prompters. For example "I love you" every day of the year! or We will be "friends forever!" or I "miss you" when you are away from me! Come up with some fun sentences that everyone can share with one another. Trade candies as students finish their sentences. As an extension, see if some students can use more than one candy heart to make up a sentence or paragraph.
Closure: Use the new Valentine sentences to make Valentine's Day cards for friends and family.
Materials: Candy hearts, paper, card supplies (crayons, markers, glue...)
Time: 30 min.
Caroline Wyman has a degree in Sociology and a Masters in Elementary Education and is the administrator for TeacherNet.com.