Love & Literacy: Valentine's Day Ideas, Resources and Read Alouds for Early Elementary Students
Hey there, fabulous teachers! Get ready for a super fun journey into the world of early literacy mixed with all the sweetness of Valentine's Day. If you’re planning literacy rich activities that also celebrate the holiday, look no further! Below is a resource list of Valentine’s Day picture books you can read aloud with your early learners, Valentine’s Day language arts no-prep printables AND some fun Valentine activities and ideas to inspire your next great lesson. All activities, ideas and picture books embed literacy instruction and Valentine’s Day celebrations!
The Magic of Valentine's Day Picture Books
As a former second grade teacher and elementary librarian, I know the importance of engaging read alouds during special class celebrations- like Valentine's Day! Instead of rushing and randomly picking out a Valentine’s Day read aloud (I’ve done it on those busy days with little planning time!), let me make the book search easy for you! As a second grade teacher and elementary librarian, these are my TOP 10 FAVORITE VALENTINE’S READ ALOUDS! Scroll down to find your next great read aloud!❤️️
Love is my Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark
Meet Plum, the super happy pup, who just loves everything! She's all about family and sometimes gets into a bit of trouble. But you know what? Even when she messes up, her family still adores her.
Bananas for You! by Sabrina Moyle
Get ready for a wild ride of declaring love in a board book that's full of humor. It's got eye-catching illustrations, funny jokes, and a whole lot of silliness that'll have the little ones giggling non-stop.
How to Catch a Loveosaurus by Alice Walstead
Kids in this story are on a mission to catch a Loveosaurus, a dinosaur spreading love everywhere! This book is all about excitement, traps, and a whole lot of chaos that will make your little readers laugh and maybe even spread some kindness.
Moo-Moo, I Love You! by Tom Lichtenheld
Get ready for a moo-ving story about the love between parent and child, but with a whole lot of silly moo words. It's a funny bedtime story that'll have the little ones joining in on the fun.
Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! (Doreen Cronin)
Little Duck decides to throw a Valentine's Day party on the farm, and things get interesting when a fox shows up. It's all about love, friendship, and maybe a little unexpected guest.
Love Is by Diane Adams
Follow the sweet story of a girl and a duckling, learning about the challenges and joys of love. With beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming message, it's a perfect read for young readers.
Love You by Heart (Peter H. Reynolds)
Peter H. Reynolds celebrates unconditional love with a poetic and joyful tribute. It's all about loving every little thing, from smiles to toes, and it's perfect for sharing with the people we cherish.
The Love Letter (Anika Aldamuy Denise)
Follow the sweet story of a girl and a duckling, learning about the challenges and joys of love. With beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming message, it's a perfect read for young readers.
Be Kind (Pat Zietlow Miller)
Dive into a New York Times bestseller that explores kindness. It's a story about spilled grape juice, new friends, and the impact of small acts of kindness.
Crocodiles Need Kisses Too (Rebecca Colby)
Even prickly porcupines and roaring tigers need hugs! This offbeat, upbeat story is all about the not-so-cuddly, yet lovable creatures that deserve kisses too.
Early Phonics Activities with a Valentine's Day Twist
Are you looking for NO PREP Valentine’s Day printables for your literacy centers, morning work or independent practice to reinforce short vowel sounds? Look no further than these two resources that will cut your planning time down and get your students excited for phonics! With hands-on activities that allow students to use pop-its, dice and student made spinners (you just need a pencil and paper clip!), your next phonics worksheet will capture student engagement. Now, let's make phonics a blast with a sprinkle of Valentine's Day magic. Here are some hands-on activities that'll get your kiddos excited:
FREE Valentine's Day NO PREP Printables:
K-2 Phonics Worksheets Focusing on Short a Vowel Sounds
Get ready to infuse Valentine's Day with literacy magic! Our NO PREP, Science of Reading-aligned phonics activity for K-2 students is here to make the season both festive and educational.
Valentine's Day NO PREP Printables:
K-2 Phonics Worksheets Focusing on Vowels
Teachers, get ready to infuse Valentine's Day with engaging activities for your K-2 students! This NO PREP resource offers 38 pages of engaging, Science of Reading-aligned activities that seamlessly blend celebration and learning.
Simple Valentine’s Day Celebration Activities with Early Learners
Not sure how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kindergarteners, first graders or second graders? No worries- I have you covered! Check out these 10 HANDS ON VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITIES you can do with your early learners (that have a literacy connection!)
❤️️ Heart Scavenger Hunt ❤️️
Transform your home into a love-filled scavenger hunt! Cut out colorful paper hearts, hide them around the house, and let your little ones embark on a heart-hunting adventure. As they find each heart, encourage them to read or create a simple word related to love or friendship written on it.
🧡 Cupid's Bow and Arrow Craft 🧡
Channel your inner Cupid with this crafty masterpiece! Grab some paper, markers, and craft sticks. Help your kiddos draw and cut out heart-shaped arrows. Attach them to the craft sticks, and voila! They've got their very own Cupid's bow and arrow. Bonus points for aiming at hearts with sight words!
💛 Lovey-Dovey Story Stones 💛
Create magical story moments with Lovey-Dovey Story Stones. Gather smooth stones, paint them with vibrant colors, and draw love-themed images on each one. Ask your little storytellers to pick a few stones and weave a heartwarming tale using the images they selected. Storytelling skills? Check!
💚 Sweetheart Sight Word Cookies 💚
Turn sight word practice into a baking extravaganza! Whip up some simple cookie dough and cut out heart-shaped cookies. Write different sight words on each cookie using edible markers or icing. As your mini bakers decorate and devour their creations, they'll be mastering those sight words effortlessly.
💙 Valentine's Day Card Making Station 💙
Spread the love with a card-making party! Set up a crafting station with paper, markers, stickers, and glitter. Encourage your little artists to design heartfelt Valentine's Day cards for family and friends. It's a fantastic way to blend creativity with the joy of giving.
💜 Valentine Bookmarks 💜
Transform ordinary bookmarks into love-infused treasures. Provide cardboard or sturdy paper, and guide your kiddos to create heart-shaped bookmarks. They can decorate them with colorful designs and their favorite love-themed quotes. Now, they're ready for some bookmark-worthy reading adventures!
❤️️ Heart Hopscotch ❤️️
Take traditional hopscotch to a love-themed level! Using colorful tape or chalk, create a heart-shaped hopscotch grid. Instead of numbers, write sight words or simple spelling words inside each heart. Your little hoppers can jump from word to word, reinforcing literacy skills while having a blast.
🧡 Love Bug Story Puppets 🧡
Craft adorable Love Bug Story Puppets using paper plates, markers, and craft sticks. Assist your kiddos in drawing and coloring love bugs on the plates, then attach craft sticks for puppetry magic. Let them invent heartwarming stories starring their Love Bug Puppets and watch their creativity soar!
💛 Cupid's Arrow Alphabet Hunt 💛
Turn letter recognition into an epic quest! Cut out arrows from paper and write different letters on each one. Hide them around the house, and let your little cupids embark on a mission to find and identify the letters on Cupid's arrows. Learning the alphabet has never been more exciting!
💚 Lovey Literacy Tic-Tac-Toe 💚
Spice up the classic game of Tic-Tac-Toe with a literacy twist! Create a tic-tac-toe board on paper and fill the squares with sight words, simple sentences, or rhyming words. Players must read the word or sentence aloud before placing their X or O. It's a playful way to reinforce literacy skills while having a friendly competition.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Let's make this Valentine's Day not only a celebration of love but also a feast for young minds! Dive into the enchanting world of Valentine's Day picture books with your little ones, fostering their love for reading and language. Explore the FREE Valentine’s Day resource provided to infuse literacy magic into the season, offering engaging activities that incorporate short vowel phonics. And why stop there? Try out the fun and educational literacy Valentine's Day activities, turning the day into an adventure of learning and laughter.
As you embark on these literary and hands-on experiences, you're not just celebrating a holiday; you're nurturing a lifelong love for language in the hearts of your early learners. Click, read, and play your way to a Valentine's Day filled with stories, laughter, and the magic of literacy! Don't forget to download your FREE phonics resource, explore my TOP 10 FAVORITE VALENTINE’S READ ALOUDS, and embark on an educational journey full of love and letters with your little ones! Happy Valentine's Day, and happy reading! 📚💖
