How to Integrate Math into Valentines Day

If you're like me, you love throwing seasonal activities into your busy days! It makes everything a little more fun and engaging. I've always created Valentines mailboxes (or bags!) with my students in the classroom. I know the kids L-O-V-E having cute mailboxes to drop their valentines into. I also know it's so hard to find time for things like this because there's always curriculum to hit. I've got a few ways to mix the two for you, so you don't have to cringe and hide behind your desk if your principal walks in while you are making Valentines bags. ;)

Aren't these the cutest?! They're also no-prep Valentines mailboxes - just print the pieces off and you're ready!

Adding MATH to Valentines Day mailboxes:

Students get to "shop" for the pieces to create their monster. AND, let me make it even better for you...these menus are differentiated! The menus look identical except for the prices. This is a perfect way to meet the levels of all of your students.

One set uses simple two digit numbers, and the other uses three digit numbers (ex: $1.25). If neither of those options work for you, there is an EDITABLE menu included...perfect for customizing it just for your students.


You can differentiate it even further by providing different budgets for your students to follow. They will have a blast getting to shop for their monster parts.

If you're looking to "amp up" the math even more - you could give students money manipulatives and they can count out the exact change they'll need as they purchase the parts. I like to have them all laid out on my small group table. Students can even take turns being the shop owner. They will LOVE this and won't even realize all of the math skills they're practicing.

That's it! It's simple and fun, but it's great practice for students as they decorate their Valentines bags. I promise they won't even notice all of the math they're doing!! You can find this set HERE!

How else do you incorporate Valentines Day with the standards you have to hit?

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Adopt a Texas Classroom - FAQ

Hi all! I have been completely floored by the response to my “Adopt a Classroom” project. Between the sign-ups, emails, messages, comments…I literally can’t do it all. I have a 6 month old at home with me right now, and even if he wasn’t, there’s no way I could keep up with it all on my own! I have been very fortunate to have some great friends offer to jump in and help with matching classrooms and replying to messages.

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Project Based Learning: Plan a Snowman's Vacation

It's that time of year when students are getting antsy and a little *too* comfortable in your classroom. They tend to start slacking a bit here and there, and maybe complain about being bored. Well let's fix that, shall we?! These PBL Math Projects have been a HIT in my classroom, and I've heard wonderful things from other teachers as well!

These projects are jam-packed with Common Core math tasks to help your students review and apply these critical skills  It's not just any old worksheet, the tasks will really challenge and enrich your students as they apply them to real-world situations. Sound great for some of your high-flyers, but not sure if your on-level and struggling students will be able to keep up? Many pages are differentiated so that your students can still be challenged, but at a level appropriate to them!

Alright, here we go...

Engage your students right off the bat by telling them they're a travel agent who gets to plan a vacation for...a SNOWMAN!! They'll already be excited about the idea - maybe even let them chat a bit with their friends about what the vacation will be like. This really helps them buy into the project you're about to present to them.

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