On February 20th, the minnows at Fishtown Recreation Center had great time celebrating Valentine’s Day by learning all of the different animals they can create from the shape of a heart!
Project Title: Valentine hearts
Description: Students learn the many things they can create using the shape of a heart (mice, owls, penguins, lady bugs, fish, etc.)
Author: Mary Hager, Kristin Groenveld
Grade level or Target Age Range: Preschool
Materials: construction paper (color of choice), markers or crayons, scissors, 5-inch piece of yarn, stapler
Demo/Directions:
Target shape (Mouse)
- Take one piece of construction paper and fold it in half.
- Draw the shape of half a heart along the folded edge.
- Cut along this line. When completed, you should have a heart-shaped piece of paper.
- While the paper is still folded (like a taco), add glue to the inside fold of the round end of the heart, and place the end of your yarn on top of the glue for a tail.
- Cut small half circles out of the extra paper to create ears.
- Glue ears to either side of the pointed end of the heart.
- Draw eyes on either side of the mouse with markers or colored pencil. If students would like to color the body of their mouse, they should do so during this step.
- Finally, take whatever scrap paper is left over and tear it into small pieces.
- Staple half of your mouse body together, then fill it with the scrap paper to make it 3D.
- After stuffing your mouse, complete the body by stapling the other half.
If time permits, here are some other ideas.
Make an origami owl:
- Cut heart out of one piece of construction paper as described above.
- Fold the pointed corner up.
- Then fold the same corner down again to make a small beak.
- On each rounded part of the heart, add eyes with marker, crayons, or plastic googly eyes.
Make a ladybug heart:
- Cut 2 small hearts out of one piece of construction paper as described above.
- Glue the corners of each heart to one another to create wings.
- Color wings to resemble a ladybug.
Discussion:
What do you love? (create concept map for students)
Examples: I love my family, pets, art, Philadelphia.
Songs to sing if students need a break from activity:
“The Love Bug”
It begins with a grin (smile broadly).
It turns to a giggle (put both hands on mouth and giggle).
You start to laugh (throw head back and laugh out loud).
Your legs start to wiggle (put feet in the air and shake).
You look all around for someone to hug (move eyes back and forth).
You’ve caught the love bug (hug another child or yourself).
ACHOO!
“I’m A Little Valentine”
(To the tune of “I’m A Little Teapot”)
I’m a little Valentine,
Red and White.
With ribbons and lace,
I’m a beautiful sight.
I can say ‘I love you,’
On Valentine’s Day.
Just put me in an envelope,
And give me away.
“Counting Valentines”
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, count them with me.
I have red ones, orange ones, yellow ones, too.
I have green ones, purple ones, and some that are blue.
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Count them with me! 1-2-3-4-5……..
Give each child a red, orange, yellow, green, purple or blue heart. While adult says verse, children place hearts on flannel board at appropriate time. Count number of hearts and identify different colors when verse is finished.
Side note:
When I first arrived at class, the students were reading a book about penguins. Because of this, we made some last-minute changes to our project and made a penguin out of the heart shape before making our mouse!!!
Transforming Lives Through Art
~Mary
