Navigating the tricky terrain of February activities can be challenging, especially as the winter break haze fades away and we jump back into routine. You are likely bracing for the cold, dreary days of the season and may need to prepare for impromptu snow days. For a short month, February sure has a lot to offer. From Black History Month to Valentine’s Day, and Groundhog Day to Chinese New Year, there’s no shortage of holidays and themes we can weave into our lesson. These are some of my favorite February go-to activities.
Choosing February Activities for Maximum Engagement
Wondering how can we strike a balance between keeping our students engaged, practicing essential skills, and avoiding the inevitable post-holiday energy crash? I’ve gathered some of my favorite February activities tailor-made for elementary students. These activities will capture your learners’ attention while seamlessly integrating skill-building. I know they have with my students! Let’s make the most of February themes and turn it into a month of both learning and lively exploration!
1. February Activities for Morning Work
One part of the day that always seems overwhelming at any time of year is the beginning of the day. I have kiddos arriving at different times, resulting in constant movement from entering to unpacking. To smooth things out I highly recommend a structured and consistent morning routine. This will help learners settle in and get into the right mindset for the day!
In my room, this means morning work. My February Morning Work resource has helped turn chaotic mornings into moments of focused learning, without any extra effort on my part. This resource offers my learners daily ELA and Math spiral review activities. Each day they are exposed to these skills in small chunks to avoid being overwhelmed. I can rest easy knowing my young learners are receiving a well-rounded practice routine each morning that will help them keep their skill set sharp!
If you already have a morning routine in place, this resource can still benefit you. The beauty of this resource is the flexibility of it. I have pulled pages for fast finishers, literacy, and math center rotations, and even utilized them during one-on-one sessions. This February Morning Work is a versatile time-saver and a skill-building powerhouse. By embracing this routine at any point in the year, you streamline your mornings while empowering your students to master and retain essential skills.
2. Comic Strip Writing Literacy Centers
My kiddos always become giddy during the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. So, this Valentine’s Day Comic Strip resource has quickly become a big crowd-pleaser during center time in the classroom. Students are challenged to write or turn a Valentine’s Day joke into a comic strip.
Prepping this literacy center is rather simple. I make sure there are plenty of comic strip templates available for my students to dive into their creative process. I also have a laminated copy of the rubric posted at the station. This helps students keep in mind what’s expected of them while at the station.
My students find so much joy in crafting their jokes and revealing them in the dialogue between their characters. Depending on the level of my students, I encourage them to use color and details, illustrate different scenes, and even sprinkle a little onomatopoeia throughout. These expectations, of course, can be tweaked to suit the unique needs of your classroom.
Once they are finished, they immediately find a new home on our classroom bulletin board or out in the hallway. Let me tell you, the entire school has become avid readers of these joke-infused masterpieces. My colleagues always look forward to when they are posted. It’s a heartwarming bonus to witness the shared laughter sparked by each student’s unique take on the comic strip challenge throughout grade levels.
3. Valentine’s Day Writing Activities with Sight Words
Embark on a literacy adventure with my Valentine’s Day Sight Word Writing Activities. My students love using the secret code to figure out each of the sight words on the 24 task cards. Each card includes small images that represent a letter of the alphabet. I keep these coded activities in my back pocket to pull out for literacy centers, early finishers, and even small groups!
The holiday-themed task cards add an extra layer of fun to sight word mastery. Plus, I have magnetic letters available for my kiddos so they can spell the words as they decode them. This adds a tactile component to the activity that students love.
Scoot Game
I’ll even grab this set of decoding Scoot cards if I can tell my kiddos need some extra movement in our day with a Scoot game! It’s a fun way to get kids up and moving while learning.
I place a card on each student’s desk, hand out recording sheets, and let the decoding adventure begin. Your students can move once you call “scoot.” They move from desk to desk, decoding words and recording their decoded sight words. No matter how you choose to use it, this activity will be a favorite among your February activities!
4. Color By Number Sight Words
In my classroom, I’ve discovered a delightful February activity to sneak in some essential sight word practice. My students love practicing sight words with the Color by Sight Word Worksheets! In my TPT store you can find sets for Groundhog Day, the 100th Day of School, Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and even winter. These engaging and fun activities have become a staple in my February lesson plans, adding a touch of love to our learning routine.
These worksheets focus on beginning primary sight words from the Dolch and Fry sight word lists. The simplicity of the design ensures that students can easily work independently, making it a valuable resource that I can confidently leave for a substitute teacher if needed.
I simply print the worksheets I want to use, and we’re ready to go! As a teacher who values efficiency, the no-prep nature of these worksheets makes them a perfect addition to my February activities.
As my students immerse themselves in coloring, they unknowingly reinforce the reading and spelling of the target sight words. It’s a win-win situation. They enjoy the process, and I witness their sight word mastery growing with each stroke of the crayon.
5. February Vocabulary Activities
Get ready for some February fun with my Scrambled Up Vocabulary Task Cards! My students absolutely love the thrill of unscrambling themed words in this engaging activity. I’ve incorporated these task cards in many ways, making them a versatile and exciting addition to our February activities.
Sometimes, I partner up my students. They dive into unscrambling the words together, jotting down their findings on the recording sheet. Other times, it’s a whole-class adventure as we spread the cards around the room and play a lively game of Scoot.
When I want to add a touch of independent exploration to our literacy centers, these task cards become the perfect go-to! These cards aren’t just about spelling but also about building perseverance. Seeing my students tackle a challenging word and stick with it until they solve it adds a layer of accomplishment to our classroom.
Not to mention, their versatility makes them easy to incorporate into the lesson plan, no matter what the day holds! In my TPT store, you can find Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day Scrambled Vocabulary task cards.
6. Valentine’s Day Coded Riddles
If you’re looking for a surefire way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in your classroom without the hassle, let me tell you about my Valentine’s Day Coded Riddles. They’re a game-changer in keeping my students engaged and laughing, even on one of the year’s most love-filled and potentially distracting days.
Here’s how I roll with these riddles in my classroom. First off, they’re so simple to use! I hand out the sheets with the coded riddles, and we’re ready to dive into the fun. The beauty lies in the simplicity of it all. I don’t have to worry about spending precious time setting up, and my students are instantly hooked.
Sometimes, I end up laminating the sheets. That way, students can reuse them again and again. The laminated version creates a sturdy setup, ensuring the laughter and learning endure. If you’re pressed for time though, this isn’t a “must-do”! Make them fit your life and prep time!
Each riddle comes with its own code and the master decoder. As my students work through the activity, they decipher letters by finding the letter that matches the image. While doing so, they’re also practicing their printing skills, reading, and flexing those predicting muscles to guess the answer to the riddle.
My students’ joy in unraveling a Valentine’s Day-themed joke is the best part. The classroom fills with laughter as each code is cracked. It’s that perfect blend of festive enjoyment and meaningful learning.
If your students love jokes and riddles as much as mine do, then check out these math riddles. They are a great way to weave in some math practice.
7. Valentine’s Day Cootie Catcher
My students and I are huge fans of jokes, especially the cheesy ones! This Valentine’s Day Cootie Catcher brings joy and laughter into my classroom! My students adore cootie catchers, and when you throw in some hilarious jokes, it becomes the perfect recipe for a fun holiday activity or addition to my literacy centers.
I’ve made this cootie catcher super user-friendly for my students by providing clear directions on how to fold and play the cootie catcher. I love how hassle-free it is. I can easily incorporate it into our classroom routine without any fuss.
I’ve found that the interactive nature of cootie catchers engages my students in a way that’s both entertaining and educational. It’s a fantastic tool to keep the holiday spirit alive in the classroom while infusing a bit of light-hearted literacy fun.
Watching my students unfold the catchers, share laughs, and enjoy the jokes is truly a highlight in the classroom. It’s a simple yet effective way to create an enjoyable learning environment. Give it a try, and get ready for an atmosphere filled with smiles and giggles!
8. Literacy and Math Valentine’s Day Worksheets
I’m excited to share my Literacy and Math Valentine’s Day Worksheets that I incorporate into my classroom to help us celebrate Valentine’s Day! It’s become my go-to for engaging Valentine’s Day literacy and math activities that make February 14th truly special and achievable!
From word searches to word work, riddles, games, writing pages, and more, these worksheets cover both literacy and math. What’s awesome is that they’re differentiated, meaning I can cater to the varied levels in my class.
I’m all about versatility, and these activities fit right into my plans. Whether it’s a full-on Valentine’s Day celebration or a gradual build-up throughout the month, these worksheets seamlessly integrate into my routine. I love using them for February morning work or centers, injecting a bit of holiday fun into our daily activities.
Now, the best part is the minimal prep. I just print the activities I want to use, and that’s it! They’re crafted to be easily understandable so my students can work independently. The variety of these February activities ensures that my students practice important skills. The kids have a blast, and I know they’re gaining essential literacy and math skills.
Make sure to also check out the Groundhog Day mini-unit for more low-prep February fun!
9. Valentine’s Day Cards for Everyone!
Let me share a gem that’s become my secret for spreading joy in my classroom every Valentine’s Day. The Valentine’s Day Cards set has 66 punny cards that never fail to bring smiles to my students’ faces.
I initially created these cards for those students who forgot or couldn’t afford Valentine’s cards and were feeling a bit down. Valentine’s Day is all about love and happiness, and I wanted everyone to feel included! Printing off these pun-filled cards turned things around instantly, and now it’s a heartwarming tradition.
What I love about these cards is the play on words. As I mentioned, my students and I love cheesy jokes, so each one is a clever pun that was so much fun to create. My students get a kick out of them, and it adds a lighthearted touch to our Valentine’s Day celebration.
You can even add these to one of your writing center rotations. One year, I had some extras, so I decided to integrate them that way, and it was a hit! The students enjoyed picking their favorites and sharing these witty cards with their classmates.
Using Festive February Activities to Enhance Learning
As February unfolds and we navigate the unique challenges this eventful month presents, I’m reminded of the joy and learning that can fill our classrooms. The February activities I’ve shared are gateways to an engaging and lively exploration of skills. From streamlining chaotic mornings to fostering creativity in literacy centers, these activities provide both structure and excitement. So, embrace the spirit of February! Make it a journey filled with exploration, growth, and shared moments of happiness.
Oh, and if you’re looking for even more engaging activities to use in your classroom all year long, here are a few more posts to check out:
Save these February Activities for Later
Remember to save this post to your favorite classroom Pinterest board for when it’s time to plan out your February activities!
