Valentine's Theme Unit and Activities for Kindergarten and Preschool

Kindergarten and Preschool Lesson Plans and Activities to the Valentine's Thematic Unit

Preschool and Kindergarten Literature Activities

Printable Emergent Reader - Introduces Letter "Vv"

The book "Valentine Mice" by Bethany Roberts and Illustrated by Doug Cushman is a delightful book to read to the children.  It can be used to introduce the letter "Vv" and rhyme.

Follow-up Activities to Reading the Book

The emergent reader "Valentine Mice" is a simple retelling of the book.  It would be used to model the reading process.  It has a simple and predictable story line.  The reader could be made into a predictable chart or a big book.  A sample page is shown below.  Story line reads as follows:

Valentine Mice are skipping.

Valentine Mice are sliding.

Valentine Mice are delivering.

Valentine Mice are throwing.

Valentine Mice are looking.

Valentine Mice are pulling.

Valentine Mice are good friends.

Sample Page from the Reader

Sample Page from the Color Big Book

Emergent Readers, Large Pictures to Make the Big Book and All Craft Templates found in the Theme Book and Member's Area.

Valentine Craft Follow-up Activity

As a follow-up to reading the book and emergent reader, the children would paint, cut and assemble the valentine mouse as shown in the photograph on the left.

Valentine Card Holder Craft

Using the templates provided in the theme book or member's area, paper bag and paper plate the children could make the valentine holder as shown to the right.

Directions for the Valentines Holder Craft

Children paint the face red provided in the theme book or member's area

After it is dry, cut and paste it on a paper plate

Cut all the hearts

Glue the hearts on the paper bag and two of them on strips of red construction paper (arms)

Staple the paper bag on the paper plate

Glue the arms to the back of the paper plate

Another Preschool and Literature Activity

After reading the story Franklin's Valentines by Paulete Bourgeois/Brenda Clark a predictable chart could be made outlining who his friends are. This would be used to model the reading process.  Example:

Bear is a special friend.

Goose is a special friend.

Snail is a special friend.

Rabbit is a special friend.

Fox is a special friend.

Beaver is a special friend.

A valentine for special friends.

Photographs or black and white pictures from the emergent reader could be used to accompany the charts (found in the theme book or member's area).

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Letter "Xx" for Fox Recognition - Picture Mnemonics

Research has shown that children have better recollection of letter-sound associations when it is taught in conjunction with picture mnemonics.  This craft activity involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to letter and more effectively making this more meaningful to them.  The purpose is to have them associate the letter "x" to the final sound in "fox". There are more words that end with "x" being the final sound and for this reason that is why it was chosen.  The template is found in the theme unit and member's area.  The children would paint and cut out the letter "x" for "fox".

Connection to Science

In the theme book and member's area you will find photographs of the animals mentioned in the book and reader.  These photographs  could be used to as  a connection to Science to do further research.

Sample of Animal Photograph

 Follow-up Craft Activity

After reading the book and emergent the craft activity to the left could be completed.  The turtle (could be Franklin) is painted and cut. The valentine he is holding is designed for a special friend.

Letter "v" Sight and Sound Association Recognition - Picture Mnemonics

This craft activity involves children being actively involved in associating the picture to the letter sound. The purpose is to have them associate the letter "v" to the initial sound heard in "valentine" "or "victory".  Children would paint or color the letter  outline"v" for valentine heart.  They would paint the heart red.  The picture of the heart with the arms outstretched represent "v" for "victory".  This would be cut and glued in the center of the heart.

More Emergent Readers

Printable Emergent Reader 3 - Introduces Letter 'Ll'

Every theme unit found in the members' area offers emergent readers.  These readers are an outstanding resource to teach young children early reading skills.  They are designed specifically for young children.  Each of the printable emergent readers relate to a theme, provide a interactive component for the children to be involved in completing the book and often introduce an alphabet letter.  A sample page from the reader is found to the left called 'Looking for the Letter Ll'.  The main character Little Lyle looks for the letter Ll.  He finds it in books, soup, on blocks, signs and in the word LOVE.  Interactive component - the children are required  to find, cut and paste a picture in the booklet, if it begins with Ll, like shown in the photograph.  Text reads:  What begins with 'Ll'? and Little Lyle looks for the letter 'Ll'

Another Sample Page from the Reader

 Printable Emergent Reader 4 - Also Introduces Letter 'Vv'

This reader is called Valentine Hearts.  The main characters in this story are hearts that take on human characteristics.  They talk about where you will find this shape.  Interactive component - the children are required to color and add facial features on the hearts within the story.  This is printable emergent reader has a repetitive story line, which makes it perfect for young children to read it on their own (which is really pretend reading because most children at a young age are not  reading yet).  The text reads:  Valentine hearts, where do you see us?  We can be eaten. 

Another Sample Page from the Reader

These little readers are wonderful to add to your literacy centers.  They are also great for a Kindergarten or Preschool take home activity.  Parents are thrilled to receive a resource that assists their child in developing early reading skills.  This reflects on you as an educator!

 More Valentine Craft Activities and Ideas

Valentine Holder 2

• Make a large valentine tracer by folding a paper in half. Children trace and cut two copies on large red construction paper (or this can be pre-cut ahead of time). Hole punch the edges of both hearts and have the children weave yarn in and out of the holes  to hold the heart together (optional). The sides could also be stapled. 

Phonemic Awareness  Activity (helps children understand that letters must be in order to make a word)  

Have the letters of the children's names typed in squares and placed in the incorrect order.  They must cut the letters and glue them in the correct order.  Younger children can use a model to follow.  These are glued onto the holder.

Pictures on pages 4-6 in the Valentine's Theme unit can be cut around and glued onto the holder.  The use of pinking shears to cut around the pictures gives this project a nice finishing touch.

Another Valentine Craft Activity

After reading the emergent reader Valentine Hearts as a shared reading experience on pages 29-34 in the Valentine theme unit the children can make a valentine heart person.

• have children color the valentine face and hearts (in the link below)
• cut out the hearts
• accordion fold strips of red construction paper for arms and legs
• add the hearts to the legs and arms for hands and feet
• cut out the verse and glue it onto the back

Verse   

I made this valentine heart just for you

See the hands and the feet

See the eyes and nose too

and the smile looking so sweet

This is my special way to say

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!                      

Valentine Heart-Shaped Card           

• Copy the card off in the link below
• fold the paper in half
• have children sponge paint the heart outline (ensure a paper towel or paper is close by for the children to blot the extra paint off prior to sponging)
• Allow the paint to dry
• cut around the bold black lines to make a heart-shaped card
• Have children cut and glue on the verses on the outside and inside of the card

Heart-shaped Card

Heart Card Verse 

Math Heart Activity - Learning the concept of biggest to smallest

Note:  This could be glued onto their valentine holder

Math Activity

The children can stamp, or add stickers to represent the numbers found in the heart booklet found on pages 23-25 found in the Valentine's thematic unit.

Another Math Activity

The children could place the correct number of heart-shaped candies on the valentine number card as shown in the picture (1-20).  These cards could also be placed in the correct sequence order.  Sorting - the candy hearts could also be sorted by color or words written on them .

Dot to Dot Valentine Number Heart

Dot to Dot Number Heart

 All the templates and emergent readers are found in the members' area or the theme book.

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus