Teachers Have Class! Issue #15/February 2011 February and Valentine's Day Teaching Resources and Ideas
Welcome to the 15th newsletter of Teachers Have Class from Unique Teaching Resources!
This month's newsletter is filled with ideas and lesson plans for February and Valentine's Day. There are 4 Valentine's Day teaching resources that I have designed to match each other. They have similar heart shaped templates, matching fonts, and bulletin board display banners with similar color schemes. I hope that these complimentary resources provide you with some ideas for lesson plans to use this month.
During January, I was finally able to get back to work after being occupied with my move from Bahrain to Florida during the past few months. I added 4 new book report sets to my website this month. You can view example photographs of these new resources at the end of this newsletter.
After living in Bahrain, in the Middle East, for the past 12 years, I am finding the weather back in the United States a wee bit chilly this winter. I shouldn't say this because I am now living in Florida, which most people would not consider "cold." I know many schools up north have had to close for snow days recently, and we do not experience snow days in Florida!
As we enter February, a month of hearts and love, wherever you live, I hope that even if it is cold outside, that your students' hearts are "warm."
During the next few months, I am going to spend the majority of my time working on resources that have been designed for specific read aloud books and novels.
As the epidemic of bullying is rising in schools today, I want to create unique projects for read aloud books that emphasize the themes of bullying and accepting and appreciating the unique qualities in all children.
It is important as educators that we teach our students reading, writing, and arithmetic. But, I feel that our most important job is to teach and model to our students how to be good citizens of the world and to be kind to everyone.
Often the best way to introduce a classroom discussion on bullying or appreciating each person's individual qualities is to read aloud a book.
Since February is a month that focuses on hearts and love, this is a good month to read aloud books that contain these themes in them. Below are some of my favorite read aloud books that cover the themes of bullying and appreciating each person's unique qualities:
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf
The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neil
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
During the coming months, I plan to develop unique student projects for the above books.
If you have a favorite book that deals with these themes, I would love for you to tell me about it. You can use the Contact Me Form that is found below to write to me about your favorite book that addresses bullying or appreciating other people's differences.
As I start to work on these new teaching resources for picture books, I will begin by creating project activities for the books that receive the most teacher recommendations.
Happy and Warm Hearts, Happy Valentine's Day,
Heidi McDonald
Special Reminder:
Reminder: The links to download the free teaching resources that are found in this edition of Teachers Have Class will only be available for 5 days.
After 5 days, the links to these free Valentine's Day teaching resources will be removed. Then, I will post this newsletter on my website so that teachers who visit Unique Teaching Resources will be able to read old editions of Teachers Have Class.
Although teachers who visit my website can read all of the previous editions of my newsletter, I only provide these free monthly resources to the teachers who have signed up to receive Teachers Have Class. These free resources are my small way of thanking these teachers for their support and interest.
So, be sure to download your free February resources promptly!
We Love These Books! Free Valentine's Day Teaching Resource
February and Valentine's Day is a perfect time for your students to fall in love with reading! I use Valentine's Day as an opportunity for my students to each share a book that they recommend (and love!) reading to their classmates. This set of Valentine's Day reading resources will also make a great bulletin board display that promotes reading in your classroom.
This free set of Valentine's Day teaching resources is a reading response activity. Students write about the topic: I Love This Book! You can use this set of resources for students to write a short description about their favorite books.
On Valentine's Day, you can have your students prepare short oral presentations about the books that they love and recommend. When students listen to book recommendations by their classmates, they will also be inclined to want to read those books.
This I Love This Book! teaching resource set contains a 5 page bulletin board display banner for your classroom.
This I Love This Book! teaching resource set contains a first draft worksheet for your students to use to begin this assignment.
Even though this is a short reading response activity, I still like my students to complete a first draft of this assignment. Since these reading hearts will be displayed on my classroom bulletin board, I like to minimize careless errors on student work that is posted in my classroom.
There are 2 copies of the first draft on each paper to save space and copying paper. Cut the page in half and give one first draft to each student.
After my students have written their first drafts and proofread and edited them with a partner or myself, I give my students their final draft heart templates.
There is a black and white heart template for you to give to your students and a color heart template for you to use as your example that you show to your students.
Valentine's Day Card Templates: Free Valentine's Day Teaching Resource
There are two different sets of Valentine's Day card templates to choose from in this free set of teaching resources. The first card is a heart shaped writing template that matches the I Love This Book! heart templates above. The second is a traditional rectangular card that has a cover and opens up to reveal the message written inside.
This Valentine's Day card teaching resource set contains a 5 page bulletin board display banner for your classroom. I have my students complete 2 final drafts of their cards, one card they give to the person and the second copy of the card is for our classroom bulletin board display.
This Valentine's Day card teaching resource set contains a first draft worksheet for your students to use to begin this assignment.
Even though this is a short writing activity, I still like my students to complete a first draft of this assignment. I do not want my students to take home cards to give to their parents that contain careless errors written on them.
There are 2 copies of the first draft on each paper to save space and copying paper. Cut the page in half and give one first draft to each student.
After my students have written their first drafts and proofread and edited them with a partner or myself, I give my students their final draft card templates. There are two different versions of cards for you to choose from.
The first set is a heart template that matches the I Love This Book! hearts. There is a black and white heart template for you to give to your students and a color heart template for you to use as your example that you show to your students.
The second set of card templates is a two page rectangular template. There is a black and white card template for you to give to your students and a color card template for you to use as your example that you show to your students.
February Sticker Charts: Free Valentine's Day Teaching Resource
During the month of February, use these heart shaped sticker charts to motivate your students to reach a goal that you have set for them.
These heart shaped sticker chart templates match the hearts in the previous two free Valentine's Day teaching resources. You could use these sticker charts to record homework, reading, acts of kindness from the heart, behavior, or for a topic related to your curriculum.
This February Sticker chart teaching resource set contains a 5 page bulletin board display banner for your classroom.
There is a black and white heart sticker chart template for you to give to your students and a color heart sticker chart template for you to use as your example that you show to your students.
After your students have completed their February sticker charts, reward them for their achievements by presenting them with an award certificate.
There are color and black and white copies of this award certificate in this set of teaching resources.
Valentine's Day Poems: Free Valentine's Day Teaching Resource
Valentine's Day is a good opportunity for you to present a poetry lesson to your students. For this creative writing assignment, I have my students write a poem about something that they love.
These heart poetry templates match the previous Valentine's Day teaching resources and I have designed these 4 sets of resources to compliment each other. These 4 resources have heart shaped templates that match, the same font is used throughout the 4 sets, and the bulletin board display banners contain similar color schemes.
This Valentine's Day poetry teaching resource set contains a 5 page bulletin board display banner for your classroom.
This Valentine's Day poetry teaching resource set contains a first draft worksheet for your students to use to begin this assignment.
Even though this is a short poetry activity, I still like my students to complete a first draft of their poems. Since these poetry hearts will be displayed on my classroom bulletin board, I like to minimize careless errors on student work that is posted in my classroom.
There are 2 copies of the first draft on each paper to save space and copying paper. Cut the page in half and give one first draft to each student.
After my students have written the first drafts of their poems and proofread and edited them with a partner or myself, I give my students their final draft heart templates.
There is a black and white poem template for you to give to your students and a color poem template for you to use as your example that you show to your students.
February Calendar and Monthly Writing Prompt Ideas
Each month I provide a free calendar set in my newsletter. These free calendar sets could be displayed on a bulletin board or placed inside a pocket chart. Below each calendar set, you will find a list of writing prompts for that month that may spark an idea that you could use with your students.
Below is my February Calendar Set and the link to download it. The February title is a 2 page banner that should fit in most standardized monthly pocket charts that many teachers use. I have designed large February days of the week that you may find useful. The calendar number dates also fit in pocket charts, and I have included a blank square and a birthday square to use. There are 11 pages in this free PDF February Calendar Set.
Valentine's Day and February Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of February?
Below, you will find a list of general February writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for February with corresponding creative writing ideas and topics.
I have created this list of Valentine's Day and February writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students, but many of these creative writing ideas and topics would also be appropriate for other grade levels.
You will find February writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:
You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas for this writing prompt idea.
You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to this writing prompt idea.
General Valentine's Day and February Writing Prompts:
Valentine’s Day letter Dear Valentine Someone special to me How do you show people that you care about them? Create a Valentine’s Day card for a character from your favorite book. Imagine a world where everyone loved their neighbor as much as they loved themselves. What would it be like to live in such a world? How would families and communities be changed? In my spare time I love to …. What would George Washington like about America in the 21st Century? What wouldn't he like? You have been selected to give President Lincoln a tour of your city. Where would you take President Lincoln? If I were President ... Who is your favorite President? Explain why. If you could interview any U.S. president, which one would you choose and why?
February Celebrations, Events, Holidays, and Dates in History:
Black History Month Black History Month is celebrated in February in the United States. Since 1976, Black History Month has been celebrated annually in recognition of the achievements made by black Americans and the important role of African Americans in U.S. history.
Choose a famous African American to research and write a biography about this person.
National Snack Food Month February is National Snack Food Month.
What is your favorite snack food to eat? What would be a healthier choice to eat instead of your favorite snack?
What healthy snacks should you pack in your lunch box and eat for lunch at school?
February 2 Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to the legend, if the ground hog sees his shadow, that means that there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring will arrive early.
Use your imagination to create a new legend about an animal holiday and why this holiday is celebrated.
February 8 The Boy Scouts of America was founded by Chicago publisher William Boyce on February 8, 1910. The Boy Scout program is designed to develop youth who have a high degree of self-reliance, initiative, courage, helpfulness, integrity, resourcefulness. This program teaches boys to have respect for the rights of others and to be positive leaders, role models, and citizens.
Clubs and organizations are a great way to learn important skills. What types of clubs and/or organizations do you belong to? What are some of the skills that you have learned in this club?
If you don’t belong to a club, which club would you like to join?
February 11 In recognition of the great contributions that inventors have made to the world, National Inventors Day is celebrated on February 11. This date was chosen because Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847. Thomas Edison invented more than 1,200 items, including the light bulb and phonograph.
Thomas Edision said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” What do you think Edison’s quote means?
How important is Edison’s invention of the light bulb in your every day life?
What do you think is the most important invention of all time? Why?
February 12 Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky. He was the 16th President of the United States. President Lincoln was against slavery and believed that all people should be free. The Gettysburg Address is a speech that was made by President Abraham Lincoln and it is one of the best-known speeches in United States history. It was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19. In his speech, President Lincoln calls on the people to ensure the survival of America's representative democracy.
What were President Lincoln’s greatest accomplishments?
Ask students to imagine that they were alive at the time the Gettysburg Address was delivered. Ask them to explain the speech in a letter to a friend, describing the effect that the speech had on them when heard President Lincoln give it.
February 15 Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 in Massachusetts. She fought for women’s right to vote. Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. Woman suffrage in the United States was achieved gradually, at state and local levels, during the 19th Century and early 20th Century. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed and it stated: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The Presidential election of November 1920 was therefore the first occasion on which women in all states were allowed to exercise their right of suffrage.
How would you feel if you were a woman in the 1800’s and you did not have the right to vote?
Which countries provided women the right to vote prior to the United States?
Third Monday of February Presidents’ Day is celebrated the third Monday in February. During the month of February, the birthday of two great Presidents takes place. George Washington was born on February 22 and Abraham Lincoln born on February 12.
Design a venn diagram to compare and contrast George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
What were these Presidents’ greatest accomplishments?
Split your class into groups and assign half of the groups reports to complete about George Washington and the other half reports about about Abraham Lincoln.
For these President reports, groups could complete a Biography Newspaper about their President. Click here to go to my web page that contains ideas and teaching resources for a Biography Newspaper Book Report: http://www.uniqueteachingresources.com/biography-book-report.html
February 22 George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He served as the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783. George Washington was the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Because of his significant role in the revolution and in the formation of the United States, he is often referred to by Americans as the "Father of Our Country.”
What would be the advantages and disadvantages to being a country’s first President?
What were President Washington’s greatest accomplishments?
See report ideas above under Presidents’ Day.
February 26 Levi Strauss was born on February 26, 1829 in Bavaria, German. He sailed to the United States at the age of 18 with his family. Along with Jacob Davis, Levis Strauss invented the blue jeans in 1873, and they were used by the California gold miners. These denim pants were originally called waist overalls. This clothing invention has become the most popular clothing product in the world.
Why do you think his creation is still so popular today?
How often do you wear jeans? Why do you choose to wear jeans so often?
What is your favorite brand of jeans? Explain why.
February 29 February 29 occurs once every four years and is this called a Leap Year. A leap year is a year containing one extra day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year. In the Gregorian calendar, which is the common calendar, February in a leap year has 29 days instead of the usual 28, so the year lasts 366 days instead of the usual 365. Adding an extra day to the calendar every four years compensates for the fact that a period of 365 days is shorter than a solar year by almost 6 hours. A person born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or a "leaper," and people born on this day usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28 or March 1.
Would you like to be born on February 29? Why or why not?
If your mother was born on February 29 and was 40 years old, how many birthdays would she have celebrated? How many candles would you put on your mother’s birthday cake?
If you are interested in viewing teaching resources that are related to February and Valentine's Day themes, please click on the teacher below.
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to my newsletter. Remember to download your free resources within 5 days of the date that it was sent.
Please be sure to check out the other pages on my website for a large variety of other teaching resources that will engage your students in learning and save you valuable time.
Sincerely, Heidi McDonald
Creator and Site Manager Unique Teaching Resources
P.S. My next newsletter will be my March Issue.
I plan to send out this newsletter around February 26, 2011.
Welcome to the 15th newsletter of Teachers Have Class from Unique Teaching Resources!
