In kindergarten classrooms, finding and arranging blocks, shapes and colors into patterns is a skill the young students perfect. Practice this skill with kindergarten students on Valentine's Day. Use conversation hearts on the Smart Board arranged in a definite pattern. Position the hearts in a specific color sequence with extra hearts along the border. Permit the students to come to the board to manipulate the hearts to extend the pattern.
By February, kindergarten students count up to 20 objects. Place hearts on the Smart Board for the students to count. Pose the question, "How many hearts are on the board?" Taking turns, students approach the Smart Board and write the next number on a heart of their choice. Use flowers or chocolates, instead of hearts, to vary this activity.
Students in kindergarten write stories by illustrating, dictating and writing, according to the Common Core Standards. As a class, the students write a Valentine's Day story. Begin the story with a story opener written on the Smart Board. For instance, "It was Valentine's Day, and Meg forgot her cards to share with her classmates." Let volunteers dictate, draw or write the next sentence. Write each sentence out on the Smart Board in sequence. When all volunteers have shared their sentence, read the story to the class.
Sorting and categorizing are skills kindergarten students practice. Place pictures of random items on the Smart Board. Include items associated with Valentine's Day, and items that are not related to Valentine's Day. Allow the students to come up to the Smart Board to remove the items that don't belong, and leave only items associated with Valentine's Day -- cupid, hearts, flowers and chocolates. Ask the students if they have any other ideas to add to the Smart Board. Draw the items with the pens on the board as students volunteer more ideas.