It is easy to create math activities centered around a Mother's Day theme.Teaching graphing concepts is one way to incorporate this theme and can be varied based on the grade level. Gather the students in a large group, and make a large blank bar graph on a chalkboard or whiteboard. Fill in the title and subtitles for both the x and y axis of the graph. Ask the students a question, and graph the results as a class. Depending on the grade you teach, ideas for the graph include the number of mothers who work at home or how many days per week the children go out with their mothers. In addition to the question you ask for the graph, adapt the discussion on the graph itself to include more or less detail based on the age of the child. For older children, discuss what the x and y axis are, titles, or even how to turn a bar graph into a pie chart.
Choose a variety of children's literature in which mothers play a key role in the story. Select books from your school or public library to use for these lessons. Some books may focus obviously on the mother as the main character, while others may be more subtle. Read these books with the class and discuss the mother's role. Lead a class discussion on how the student's own mother (or mother-figure) plays a role in his life. You can use these books in combination with any other writing or math activities to provide the child with a direct connection between the literature and other lessons.
There are many opportunities to combine a writing lesson with a Mother's Day theme. Ask the student to write a poem to her mother that expresses her feelings and gratitude. Have the child illustrate this poem or include a picture of the child and his mother on the page. Another option is to have the student write a story about her favorite moment with her mother. Each of these activities can be adapted for a child of any age. The older the child, the more complex the writing expectations should be. After you evaluate the writing projects, allow each student to give the writing assignment to her mother her mother as a gift.
Incorporate art projects doubled as gifts into your lesson plans. For younger children, make a hand print of the child. Paint the back side of the child's hand with washable paint and have him stamp it on heavyweight paper. Ask the child to write his name on the print and decorate it in any way he wants. For an older student, allow him to create a mosaic picture frame and place a photograph inside it. Encourage the student to use colors and patterns that his mother may enjoy. Another option is to have the student make a scrapbook of his favorite memories with his mother. Allow the student to bring in photographs and materials from home to complete the project, but be sure to have magazines available in case the student is unable to provide his own pictures.
With today's diverse family makeup, be sensitive to the fact that not all students have mothers at home. Any activity that you chose to develop for your classroom can be adapted to meet the home situation of each student. If someone in the class does not have a mother, ask her to consider a "mother-figure" when talking about mothers or making art projects. Discuss the differences in families with your class prior to starting the lessons on Mother's Day. This helps a student not to feel left out during the process.