Is there a Valentine Grinch—a grouchy Cupid who rolls their eyes at classroom holidays? If so, I have to admit that early in my teaching career, that was me. Valentine’s Day felt like a distraction from real learning, not something I wanted to build lesson plans around.
Over time, my grouchy Cupid heart softened. I realized that Valentine’s Day classroom activities don’t have to interrupt instruction. With the right approach, a holiday like Valentine’s Day can actually increase student engagement and support meaningful learning—especially when activities are simple, purposeful, and easy to manage.
If I were planning the perfect, learning-rich Valentine’s Day in the classroom, I’d focus on three things.
💗 First, a fact hunt or doodle poster activity to get students moving and thinking. I'd hide different facts around the classroom for students to find and use to fill out a super engaging doodle infographic all about Valentine's Day. (DOWNLOAD HERE.)
💗 Next, a quick Valentine-themed brain break to spark creativity without losing focus. Something like a timed writing prompt or jumbled joke is the perfect way to get kids thinking while still celebrating Valentine's Day. (CLICK HERE.)
💗 And finally, a low-prep Valentine’s Day craft that students will actually use. These FREE Candy Heart Corner Bookmarks make the perfect gift to give to students or serve as an awesome activity to celebrate reading and the holiday. (GRAB FOR FREE HERE.)
It took me a while, but I’ve finally found a way to embrace Valentine’s Day in the classroom. With a few low-prep, meaningful activities, the day can be both fun and focused on learning.
P.S. Surprise! Here’s another Valentine’s Day freebie—just call me the Cupid of the Classroom.
