Sheryl Place —
Valentine’s Day, observed annually on February 14th, celebrates love and affection. In education using Valentine’s Day digital learning tools, there are opportunities to create meaningful learning experiences while fostering a positive classroom culture. Beyond traditional lessons, educators can engage students in activities from exploring cultural traditions to incorporating STEM/STEAM elements with a Valentine’s twist. Discover over fourteen fun and inclusive Valentine’s Day activities for students of all ages in this blog post.
Want to use these free Valentine’s day classroom activities?
Here’s how: ⬇️
All of the Valentine’s day lesson plans in this blog post can be duplicated and are ready to use in your classroom, for free by making a copy of the activities in your BookWidgets account or by navigating to the Valentine’s Day group folder which has even more ready-to-use creative Valentine’s Day ideas for students. New to BookWidgets? BookWidgets is a content creation and evaluation tool for teachers. With BookWidgets, teachers can create an endless number of interactive activities and auto-graded assignments using 40 unique activity types and 35 different question types. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, give it a try yourself and create your first digital Valentine’s day activity.
Without further delay, let’s jump into the heart ❤️ of it!For quick navigation, click on the headings below to navigate to the grade level you want to use with your students.
- Valentine’s day elementary school activities
- Valentine’s day middle school activities
- Valentine’s day high school activities
- Alternate Valentine’s Day Activities
14+ Fun and Engaging Valentine’s Day Activities for Students of all Ages 👇
Elementary School Activities
Check out these age-appropriate Valentine’s Day Activities for elementary students. Some of these Valentine’s day activities are also perfect for kindergarten students.
1. Wildlife Wonders
This innovative Valentine’s Day teaching strategy showcases various animals in their natural habitats, each decorated with a Valentine’s theme. This Hotspot activity reveals a fun fact about each animal, such as their habitats, diet, or unique characteristics.
This interactive Hotspot image is designed to engage and benefit learners of all ages. With a particular emphasis on its effectiveness for young learners, it supports the students’ learning and provides valuable additional support for emerging readers.
2. Pair Us Up!
This Valentine’s Day activity is perfect for early learners. Fun meets foundational knowledge for young learners with this educational Valentine’s Day Pair Matching activity. Students match the color of the heart with the corresponding color word. A pair matching word and color recognition activity lends itself well to student engagement on Valentine’s Day whether utilizing a teacher-led Valentine’s Day project on an interactive board for collective participation or encouraging individual exploration in a 1:1 classroom setting. Discover the versatility of this activity that caters to different learning environments, making the learning experience both interactive and personalized. For those emerging readers or students who may need additional audio support check out this Audio/Image Pair matching activity. With all of the customization tools in BookWidgets you can create the perfect activity tailored to your learners’ needs.
3. Letter Recognition
For emerging readers, letter recognition plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for literacy skills. Recognizing letters is a crucial step towards unlocking the world of words and reading. It’s essential to make this learning process engaging and enjoyable with educational activities for kids. One fun suggestion is a Whiteboard drawing activity that not only enhances letter recognition but also adds a festive touch to the learning experience. Here, students can identify and then circle letters related to Valentine’s Day for a creative elementary (or kindergarten) activity - perhaps filled with fun and laughter. This hands-on and fun approach not only fosters letter recognition and fine motor skills but also cultivates a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards learning.
4. Heartfelt Creations
This activity is a fun classroom craft for Valentine’s Day! Build on fine motor skills and let imaginations soar as your students craft and create. Check out this fun, no mess craft activity suitable for even the youngest learners. I used a Quiz widget for this craft activity to present each step separately. This way, students can focus on one step at a time, enhancing their understanding.
Paper, a pencil and scissors are all you need to get started. Of course, you can add markers, paint, crayons to decorate depending on the age level. As a teacher-led activity, students can take a photo of their finished project and upload it in the widget. Want to get even more creative? Save all of the student images and use the image carousel widget to create a slideshow of their finished projects!
I have also used this activity with my older students. They enjoyed decorating and adding a thoughtful, inspirational Valentine message to share with a friend, family member or teacher.
Middle School Activities
Engage middle school students with these five Valentine’s day projects.
5. Break the code 🔒 and win my heart ❤️
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this interactive classroom game! Rebus puzzles have a valuable place in our classrooms as they promote literacy, critical thinking, creativity and are fun! When used in an educational context, rebuses engage students in decoding and interpreting language in a playful and interactive way. They enhance language skills, vocabulary, and problem-solving abilities, making learning enjoyable and fostering a deeper understanding of linguistic elements. Rebuses serve as effective educational tools that encourage students to think creatively while reinforcing language concepts in a visually stimulating manner. Duplicate this Worksheet widget and solve the Valentine’s Day rebus puzzles. You can use this activity individually or whole-group. Don’t forget to share your favorite rebus with us.
6. Crafting Connections
Let’s create some Valentine’s Day friendship bracelets! Have some fun with this friendship-themed classroom activity for Valentine’s Day. Weaving these two-tone heart bracelets is a creative activity that your students will love. Maybe they will even want to turn their bracelet making into a community service project. Check out this Video Quiz widget which has the complete video guide on crafting friendship bracelets.
I enjoy creating and sharing content using the Video Quiz widget in my classroom because it allows the students to progress at their own pace. You can use this type of activity in a flipped or blended classroom. If you are interested in learning more about flipped learning, check out the recommendations at the bottom of this blog post.
7. Experience the Magic
Ah love is in the air. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day themed video or movie to watch? Perhaps “The Notebook”? Check out this fun Video Quiz widget where Cupid has a very bad day. No spoilers here, but I will mention that one of the characters is Narcissus!
I think animated shorts are great videos to use in my classroom. I use video quizzes for review, remediation and introducing new topics. They engage students, and there is often a surprise or twist. Also, my language learners don’t struggle with the dialogue in many animated shorts. Videos are no longer just for entertainment.
🎬 Bonus VideosMy colleague Dimitri shared two dark romantic videos with me. Preview them and see if they might be a good fit for your French class.
J’attendrai le suivant
Le Grand Jeu
This is the perfect time to remind you that our BookWidgets blog group has a variety of widgets that you can copy and share. Make sure to join the group and begin exploring content.
I hope you find the fun in this romantic animated video quiz.
8. It’s a Match!
This Valentine’s Day creative writing activity is inspired by the spontaneity of online dating and matching. Let BookWidgets be your online matchmaker with this Split Worksheet writing activity. Using a randomness widget to determine which two characters are destined for love, students spin to reveal the pair- star-crossed perhaps. Then, the challenge begins as they write a compelling love story that unfolds between the randomly matched couple. This creative middle school activity not only hones writing skills but also encourages students to think outside the conventional writing narrative, fostering imagination. It’s a literary journey where randomness sparks creativity, and the unexpected love stories that emerge showcase the limitless possibilities of storytelling. Students can share their creative writing and character images when they have completed their work.
9. Be Grateful
Hetre’s another Valentine’s day writing activity. Immerse your classroom in the spirit of Valentine’s Day with a quick and enjoyable activity that fosters the social-emotional aspects of learning. Utilize a Worksheet widget to craft personalized thank-you notes, employing the “annotate picture” question type to add a touch of uniqueness. This engaging middle school activity not only celebrates the essence of Valentine’s Day but also promotes connection and expression of gratitude in the classroom. Strengthen the bonds among students as they share heartfelt messages against a backdrop of creativity, creating a memorable and inclusive Valentine’s Day celebration. This activity is perfect for the world language or ELL classroom.
High School Activities
Here are some Valentine’s day activities for high school students. As you now, you can adapt all the activities to go for different ages as well.
10. This is Your Brain on Love
A Valentine’s Day informational text is a great activity for high school students! Do you believe in love at first sight? What happens to our bodies when we are in love? The American Heart Association and Boston University Researcher, Andrew Thurston have attempted to answer the question of what happens when you fall in love - or break up. Check out this Split Worksheet widget synthesizing the text from two scientific articles which explore the ideas behind the science behind falling in love. This Split Worksheet widget is designed to help with reading comprehension, critical thinking and creativity as students unravel the mysteries in these two informational texts. Join us in deciphering the blend of emotions and biology that constitute the fascinating science of love.
11. You’ve Got Curves - math activities with a Valentine’s Day twist
Looking for math activities with a Valentine’s Day twist? The Active Plot widget allows you to create an interactive Valentine’s Day activity using math formulas. Students manipulate and experiment with parameters like ‘a’ and ‘b,’ providing an immediate visual representation of how changes impact the plot. This creative high school Valentine’s Day activity can help students develop an intuitive understanding of the underlying formula and create some great Valentine’s Day shapes and images. Want more digital Valentine’s day classroom activities for math? Check out this bonus blog post.
12. Love in Literature
This is a fully tech-integrated Valentine’s Day lesson for high school students. Embark on a BookWidgets WebQuest centered around the timeless works of Shakespeare. The purveyor of courtly love makes this activity a perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day lessons - infused with literary romance. Immerses students in the world of Shakespearean love stories and sonnets as well as exploring his life with this engaging, educational Valentine’s Day activity. Students can navigate the included activities fostering reading comprehension, critical thinking and creativity. The webquest offers an educational yet delightful age-appropriate Valentine’s Day experience as students explore the complexities of love in Shakespeare’s world. Leave the Valentine’s Day lesson planning to us. Click below to preview the activity. 👇
13. The Ultimate Love Song
We know that “All I Want for Christmas is You” is a record breaking Christmas song for Mariah Carey. She holds THREE Guiness World Record Titles. But what about the ultimate Valentine’s Day Love song? It depends on who you ask. The BookWidgets team has these suggestions.👇 Use them to create a playlist for class - better yet - encourage your students to create school appropriate playlists to share with you.
Ultimate BookWidgets Valentine’s Day Playlist 🎧
- Taylor Swift - Love Story
- Nick Cave - Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart
- Chris Stapleton - More of You
- Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love
- The Beatles - When I’m 64
- Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Wave”, also known as “Vou Te Contar” in Portuguese featuring Frank Sinatra
- Etta James - At Last
- Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
- Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
- Bon Jovi - Hallelujah
So many great choices - we selected the music video “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran to create this Video quiz.
⚠️ Remember, always preview videos and listen to lyrics thoroughly to ensure that they are appropriate for your grade level and students.
14. A History of Valentine’s Day
The history of Valentine’s day is an easy lesson plan for high school students. While we don’t possess exact dates for every moment in its evolution, we can trace the roots of Valentine’s Day back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which later underwent Christianization into Valentine’s Day. Explore the history of Valentine’s Day with this Timeline. It unfolds with the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, a mysterious figure associated with love and compassion. Students will see that as centuries pass, various cultures begin to embrace the celebration, each adding unique touches to the tradition. The commercialization of Valentine’s Day gains momentum, transforming it into a global phenomenon marked by expressions of love and affection. Join us in exploring the evolution of a day dedicated to love, even if some details remain veiled in time. Click on each milestone to uncover details, and consider the broader impact of love on history and culture. Let the timeline be your guide to unravel the layers of Valentine’s Day throug the ages.
Alternate Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities
Valentine’s Day, typically associated with love, can be challenging for students with diverse perspectives or cultural reasons for not celebrating. As educators, it’s essential to recognize that not all students may feel inclined to celebrate or may have reasons as to why their religion or culture does not celebrate. To foster inclusivity, educators should acknowledge this and offer alternatives like interactive classroom games, crafting sessions, friendship-building activities, or expressing gratitude. These activities cater to various preferences and create a supportive environment, ensuring all students feel valued. By fostering an environment that embraces different perspectives, educators can ensure that all students feel valued and supported, irrespective of their view on Valentine’s Day.Here are two activities perfect to use. 👇
15. Let’s Celebrate Friendship
In the spirit of fostering friendship, creating community and inclusivity in the classroom, consider incorporating a creative and engaging Snowman widget as an alternative to traditional snowman Valentine’s Day celebrations. This activity not only adds an element of fun but also emphasizes collaboration and communication among students. As they guess letters to reveal the word or phrase, students can share laughter and build a sense of camaraderie. This easy-to-create activity can be implemented 1:1 or the whole class. Oftentimes, I place a snowman activity on the interactive board for students to complete collaboratively during the change of classes.
This alternative celebrates the joy of friendship, creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere where every student can participate, regardless of their social-emotional needs or family background. It’s a wonderful way to promote a supportive classroom environment while steering away from romantic themes or holiday celebrations.
16. Random Act of Kindness - heartwarming classroom experiences for Valentine’s Day
Here is an additional alternative classroom or individual activity. February 17, 2024 is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Since this year it falls on a weekend date, let’s get a head start on being kind!
For an even more inclusive alternative to Valentine’s Day festivities, consider incorporating a “Random Act of Kindness Day” Randomness spinner into a classroom activity. This approach not only shifts the focus away from romantic themes but also highlights the importance of kindness and empathy. Students can spin the wheel to reveal a thoughtful and kind gesture or task to complete for a classmate, friend or community member fostering a sense of collegiality and compassion. This alternative accommodates students who may not participate in traditional celebrations or holiday activities. By promoting acts of kindness, the classroom becomes a space where every student can contribute positively, irrespective of their individual circ*mstances. Celebrate friendship and inclusivity while respecting diverse preferences and restrictions.
If you are looking for more Random Acts of Kindness Day Activities, check out this Bingo board activity.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are a lot of innovative, tech-integrated Valentine’s lessons you can bring to your classroom for heartwarming classroom experiences on Valentine’s Day. Establish a positive environment, create memorable experiences and have inclusive celebrations for all - no matter the content area or age group of your students. I hope you found some innovation, inspiration, and imagination in this post. Which of these ideas is your favorite?
Let us know on Twitter - @ibookwidgets. You can always connect with me there as well. Join our Facebook community to share your fun, creative Valentine’s Day BookWidgets activities with other teachers.
Continue to be awesome. 🎉Let’s Learn Together! 👩🏻🏫~Sheryl
