Ready for Valentine's Day?? + FREEBIE

I love Valentine's day with kids!  When I was little, I always loved making the valentines, carefully spelling out everyone's name on each valentine, and sealing the envelopes.  Most of all, I loved delivering the valentines into everyone's "mailbox" at our Valentine' Day party.  Clearly, I was always into school and creating.  Not much has changed :)

Sooo... when I came across these little mailboxes at the Target dollar section, I could NOT pass them up! 

 Students can deliver mail into the slot in the mailbox and then open the top when they are done.  I decided that I wanted to use 5 of these mailboxes for a short vowel sort.

I created "Valentine Vowels".  I made a heart for each vowel.  I laminated and cut out the hearts and put them on my mailboxes.  You can use any container.  Below, you can see a small paper cup, a cup of plastic containers (all ones I found from the dollar store), and a tin bucket (possibly from the dollar section at Target or Michaels).  You could even fold down the top to a paper bag and paste the hearts to the front.

This activity can be introduced to the whole group or small group.  Students will look at the picture on their envelope, say the word, and identify the short vowel sound.  I have included 5 CVC words for each vowel.  Students will sort the envelopes into the "mailboxes" and then complete an extension activity.  I have included 3 typed of extension activities.

For each type of extension activity, I have included an "I can" picture directions card.  Students can use this in the center to keep them focused on the order of the tasks.

 

The first extension activity, includes some of the CVC words.  Students will say the picture and use a bingo dabber to stamp the correct short vowel sound.  There are 3 different worksheets to practice this skill.

Here is a friend sorting the valentines!  This is an example of the second extension worksheet.  There is another "I can" picture card.  In this activity, students will say the pictures, and write or stamp the correct vowel sound in the middle of the word.  It reinforces that they are listening for the medial sound in the word.  They can use the beginning and ending sounds as a reference to find the missing sound.  There are two different versions of this extension activity.  One has 9 words and the other has 15 words.

Here is the third extension activity.  Students will look at the picture, say the word, and listen all of the sounds.  Students will write or stamp the CVC word in the boxes next to the picture.  This requires students to listen for each sound in the word.  There are two versions of this activity.  One has 9 words and the other has 15 words.

 Here is one of the printables from the "Valentine Vowels" pack for FREE!  Try it out and see how it works for you :)   Click here to get your freebie!

That is "Valentine Vowels"!  It is an easy center to put together, but has the potential for tons of fun!  You can differentiate with the extension worksheets you give to your students to complete. 

 Here is another great differentiated game that I came across!  This is a math game, from My Fabulous Class.  This comes from her Valentine's Day Math Centers.  I love it!  It has three versions of Roll and Cover games.  Two are meant for one dice.  In these versions, students will roll the dice and identify the number or match the dots and then cover the matching numeral or dots.

 

In the version with two die, students will work on addition.  They will Roll, Add, & Cover.  Fun!  It is also such an easy center to set up!

Thanks for visiting my page!  I would love to hear what you are planning for Valentine's day!  I love to see your comments.  They always make my day :)