When it comes to Valentine’s Day, students love to celebrate it in the classroom. But I get it, we need it to be academic as well. That is why I do Valentine’s Math Activities in my classroom.
Students are engaged because the activities are Valentine’s themed, plus they are getting the math practice they need. I’m sharing 5 Valentine’s Math Activities that my 2nd grade students love.
Make math around Valentine’s Day fun for your 1st grade or 2nd grade students. Incorporate Valentine’s Math Activities into your lesson plans.
When it comes to math, students need a good foundation in knowing their basic math facts. It can be tricky to get every student to math fact fluency. But it is possible and so worth it!
So I have something special for you.
I have a free workbook for 1st and 2nd grade teachers: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency. Download your free copy here.
Okay, let’s get started on the 5 Valentines Math Activities I use in my classroom.
Valentine’s Math Activities
Valentine’s Math Craftivity
Getting students to create with their hands is so fun for them! That is why my students love this Valentine’s math activity so much.
I love math craftivities because they engage students so easily. They love using their hands to create things.
They are perfect for a Friday afternoon. You can also easily leave this activity for a substitute.
With this Valentine’s Math Craftivity, students solve the math equations, cut out the hearts, and then glue them on the circle.
Next, they fill out the sign and glue that on. Then they have created the cutest heart wreath.
Help get students the math fact fluency practice they need with this Valentine’s Day Math Craftivity.
Have students take them home to show their families, or hang them up in your classroom to decorate for Valentine’s Day.
Best part about this craft, it is differentiated.
There are 4 different versions for students to use. If your students need more practice on math facts 1-20, give them that version. If they need more practice with 2-digit subtraction give them that version.
Find this Valentine’s Math Activity – Craftivty to do in your classroom here.
Valentine’s Math BOOM Cards
Teaching remotely this year? No worries! You can still give your students fun Valentine’s math activities with these February themed BOOM Cards.
Next, we have Valentine’s themed BOOM Cards. These cards help students get online math fact practice.
They are also great because students get immediate feedback. So that means we don’t have to grade anything!
Plus, it makes it fun with the Valentine’s Day clipart. This helps keep students engaged.
Find this Valentine’s Day math BOOM Card set here.
Feed the Cat
Feed the cat is such a flexible activity. Have your students feed the cat “hearts” for it to be a Valentine’s Math Activity.
For this activity, you need to put equations or questions on the board. Then print out a ton of hearts.
Set out a “cat.” I got this cat bin at Walmart. But you could print out a cat face and then tape it on a bin.
Tell your students what the cat likes to eat.
For example, you could tell your students that the cat only likes problems where you have to regroup.
Set out another bin where students put the problems with no regrouping.
Then give students some blank hearts where they can write their answers. They put the paper in whatever bin it belongs to.
This is such an engaging whole group activity because it gets students up and out of their chairs.
Plus, just by adding hearts, it makes it a fun Valentine’s math activity.
Valentine’s Math Printables
Don’t Eat Pete
When I have my students play this Valentine’s math activity, my classroom is filled with joy and laughter. And I am here for it!
Don’t Eat Pete is a simple, yet fun game for students. Best part about it, you just need to print it out for it to be ready for students.
Students take turns choosing a square to be “Pete.” One student steps away while the rest of the group chooses.
Then they come back and pick candy off of each square while saying the answer to the math facts.
When they go to pick up “Pete”, the group shouts “Don’t Eat Pete!”
Then they start again with another player.
Find Valentine’s Don’t Eat Pete playing boards plus year long themed ones here.
For other ideas on how to get students the math fact practice they need, download my free workbook for teachers: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency. Download your free copy here.
I Spy Math Fact Worksheets
Sometimes I am one tired teacher, that is where this Valentine’s math activity comes in. All I have to do is print it out, and it is ready for my 2nd grade students.
I love math activities where I can just print it off and it is ready for students. But often, math worksheets are boring and repetitive for students.
But not these Valentine’s Day themed I Spy Math Fact Worksheets! Students search through the pictures and equations looking for certain kinds of facts. For example, one page has students looking for facts that make 10.
When they find it, they highlight it.
When they find facts that don’t make 10, they write the answer and equation on the recording page. It is great fun for my students!
I often leave these worksheets out as centers or fast finisher activities.
Find these worksheets here.
I hope you have found ideas on how to make math around Valentine’s Day more engaging for students. For more fun math fact games and activities check out this blog post: Games with Math Facts that Students Love
Looking for more ways to help students master math facts in a fun, yet meaningful way? Download my free workbook for 1st and 2nd grade teachers: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency
