It doesn't matter if you love Valentine's Day or hate it, if you have kids, they are going to be exposed to it. With all of the chocolate, stuffed animals, clothing, cards and more that stores and services offer, the kids will be aware of it. This makes Valentine's Day a perfect holiday topic to teach about. There are many educational approaches, from teaching about love and romance to teaching the history of Valentine's Day. Another great approach is to teach kids a little about commercialization and how it affects what people buy. It's always fun to share homemade Valentine's with family and friends, and any holiday is a good excuse to jump in the kitchen to whip up a Valentine's Day treat, sweet or healthy. This article will briefly touch on the history of Valentine's Day, several homeschooling resources to use in lessons, and some local events around the Omaha, Nebr. area.
History
Valentine's Day has been around for centuries, but the true history behind it is unclear. There are many theories regarding it's romantic history, and many of those revolve around St. Valentine in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has three different saints, all with names similar to Valentine, and each one has a story that could potentially be the inspiration for Valentine's Day. The Pagan holiday Lupercalia, celebrating Faunus, the Roman God of agriculture, also fell around this time of year and could also contribute to some of the history. Check out the History.com article on Valentine's Day for more details and some other articles that might be a good addition to your seasonal curriculum.
Homeschooling resources
- Valentine's Day math games at Parents.com.
- Valentine's Day unit from Homeschool Helper Online.
- Valentine's Day homeschool activities from Reese's View of the World.
- Heart shaped birdfeeder from Alphamom.com.
- Message in a bottle, kid's Valentines Day craft at Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails.
- Graphing and sorting with candy hearts from Fireflies and Mudpies.
- Valentine's Day themed sensory bucket by Mama Miss.
- Love potions, science play by No Time for Flash Cards.
- Letter and number heart clothesline by Play, Create, Explore.
- Valentine's science, frozen vinegar hearts from Inspiration Laboratories.
- How to make borax crystal hearts at Club Chica Circle.
Omaha area events:
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, ages 12 and older.
- Itty Bitty Valentines Workshop: 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m
- Very Valentine Card Workshop: 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Omaha Creative Institue:
- Watercolor with Madalyn Bruning on Feb. 9, 2013 from 10 a.m. to noon for people age ten through adult.
- Valentine story time/craft at the W. Dale Clark Main Branch from 1-2 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2013 for preschool and elementary age children.
- Valentine's Day tile painting party at the Milton R. Abrahams branch from 2-3 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2013 for children ages six to thirteen or grades one through six.
- Valentine's family craft day at the Florence branch from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2013 for people all ages.
- Children's Valentine's Day bingo and craft at the Willa Cather branch from 2-3:15 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2013 for children of all ages, but children under seven will need adult assistance.
- Hearts and crafts: a Valentine's story time at the Millard branch from 3-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2013 for elementary age children.
Whole Foods on Regency Parkway:
- Whole Kids Club special event: A hearty-y Valentine's brunch on Feb 9, 2013 from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. for children ages 5-13. This is a drop off, kids only class.
- Half Pints kid's class: We {heart} food on Feb. 14, 2013 from 10-10:45 a.m. for kids age three to five.
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