VALENTINES SEVEN UP
I found a game played like "Seven Up". You have 7 decorative hearts that you pass out instead of pushing thumbs down. When ready you say, "Who would be so nice to give me this valentine?" Game for grade K.

VALENTINE POST OFFICE BAGS
Cut a dark blue square to fit the bottom half the width of the bag. Top that with a red half circle the same width as the square. Put a narrow white rectangle into the middle between the red and blue. You can write U.S. Post Office or their names on this white strip. You can also use hearts etc. to add embellishments if you want. Also be sure you have the children turn the bag so they don't glue the stuff on the folded flap side of the bag. It won't stand up if they do. This is a very fast and easy project for the kids to do.

VALENTINE BINGO
Cut out large heart shapes from pastel paper and write messages on each one just like the candy conversation hearts. Then play Bingo (use a set of alphabet cards for letter recognition). Use conversation heart candy as markers. The children love to eat them after they "Bingo"!

ESTIMATION
We plan to estimate "Red Hot Hearts" to see which jar they think has 100 red hots in it. Jar A, B or C. Each child will complete a "recording sheet" to tell which jar they guessed and then (after counting the red hots) which jar actually had the 100 red hots in it. This could also be done with the Valentine heart candies.

VALENTINE ACTIVITIES
Submitted by Susan
I always make a post office center from our puppet theatre/store front at this time of year. I include old cancelled stamps, stickers, pens, pencils, a small scale, envelopes (lots and lots) paper, paper clips, clipboards, a telephone, junk mail, small baskets, a few date stamps and whatever else I can think of. The kids love playing here.

At the writing table I put a list of children's names with their pictures for easy identification. Lots of envelopes again, the words "I Love You" "Valentine" "Mom" "Dad" ETC mounted on the wall, paper in trays, an assortment of colored pens/markers, old cards, scissors, stickers and I have an old wooden soda bottle holder (with 12 small squares) I put up on it's long end and put some identifying mark (name, picture, symbol) in each square. This is a mini mailbox to mail valentines to each other.

We make a special Valentine for mom and dad with glitter, sequins, feathers, all the fancy stuff and then put in an envelope. We then walk to the post office (very close by) and mail them just before Valentine's Day. We also get a tour at this time. (I live in a very small rural town, so this is a great resource and opportunity for us)

In a circle, we sing "Skinnamarink" at this time every year, and "You are My Sunshine." We have "partner chats" where two by two the kids have mini-discussions (one minute or so) with each other, then they each report back to the group what they learned. At Valentine's Day, I ask them to talk about someone they love. Afterwards, Mitch would say "Grace loves her dog because she gives her kisses" and Grace would say "Mitch loves his mom because she reads him stories." This is a great activity! Social, emotional, literacy.

Post Office Activity for Valentine's Day
Submitted by Marilyn
I will be taking my class of 3's & 4's to the post office. We have coordinated this particular trip with Valentine's Day. We have set up a post office in the classroom with a desk, real old phone, a working typewriter, old envelopes, clipboard and paper, pencils, maps, American Flag. The children have painted "their" mail box and every day they put mail into it and someone takes it out and carries it in a pouch to another painted mailbox at the other side of the room. We asked a postman for an old shirt and hat, too.

As an art activity, I had different house shapes and the children water colored them. Then I wrote their names in large letters on top, along with some numbers. (Rachel 1`23). I then did the same on white envelopes. I contact papered all the houses and put them up on the wall at a low level. At circle time, I take out an envelope and see if the child can recognize any letters in their name. Then they walk to "their painted house" (I made a large slit in the center) and deliver their envelope to their house. Later, after circle, I have all the envelopes out on a table for the children to do a one-on-one match game of name/number/house. They love it. We made mail pouches for our Valentine cards by using two styrofoam dinner plates. I use one whole one and cut another in half. Then staple around the edges to make a pocket. Make two hole on top and put yarn through to make a strap. The children then collaged with red, pink, purple paper.

We are not just focusing on Valentine's day, but we are talking about neighborhoods and people in our community. I am tying in the fact that the postman brings the Valentine's cards. We will make our own and then mail them on the trip to the post office. I have been saving all odd shaped boxes and have covered them with brown wrapping paper. The children will then glue and decorate them on a large piece of cardboard as a group activity. This will be "our neighborhood". We will add paper towel rolls, small boxes, chunks of wood and just about anything that will add to the interest. This is their interpretation of what a neighborhood is. We have used old road maps to cover the tables and little matchbox cars. We also have available the play mats with road ways for the floor play.

Books
House and Homes - Ann Morris
The House I Live In - Isadore Seltzer
This is My House - Arthur Dorros
One Afternoon - Yumi Heo
My Perfect Neighborhood - Leah Komaiko

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