Valentine’s Day Classroom Crafts for Kids and Teachers

Sharing love isn’t just about candy and cards. Classroom Valentine’s Day crafts can be a fun way to get your students involved in an activity where they create something with love, color, and their own two hands.

And Valentine’s Day crafts don’t just have to be made of hearts! From preschool to higher grades, hands-on art projects can incorporate learning concepts and creativity into Valentine’s Day fun.

Here are ten simple and inexpensive classroom Valentine’s Day crafts to make with kids.

From preschool to upper grades, kid-made Valentine’s Day crafts are some of the best! Below are ten simple, affordable, and fun classroom Valentine’s Day crafts that both kids and teachers will love.

They’re made with easy-to-find, budget-friendly materials and can be adapted for any age, grade level, or classroom. Let’s get to it!

Valentine’s Day Classroom Crafts for Kids and Teachers

1. Heart Garland of Kindness

Age: Kindergarten – Grade 5
Skills: Fine motor skills, writing, kindness reflection

There’s nothing a classroom needs more than a colorful garland! The Heart Garland of Kindness is a fun way to get kids thinking creatively about love and kindness.

Materials:

Construction paper in red, pink, purple, and white
Scissors
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Stapler or tape
String or yarn

Instructions:

Ask each child to cut out several paper hearts (templates are helpful for younger students).
On each heart, have them write or draw something kind—for example, a nice thing they can do for someone, or something they love or appreciate about a friend or teacher.
Decorate the hearts with doodles, glitter, or stickers.
Staple or tape the hearts together to create a long garland.
Hang it across the classroom as a “Kindness Chain.”

Decorations like this look beautiful and serve as a daily reminder of the importance and power of kindness.

2. DIY Valentine Cards with a Twist

Age: All ages
Skills: Writing, creativity, empathy

Why buy store-bought Valentine cards this year? Let kids make their own! Homemade Valentine’s Day cards are always more special.

Materials:

Cardstock or folded paper
Markers, crayons, stamps
Stickers and glitter glue
Scissors and glue sticks

Instructions:

Give each child a few pieces of cardstock or folded paper.
Encourage them to design their own Valentine cards, adding drawings, kind messages, and personal touches.
To add an educational twist, include a writing element. Older students can write a short poem, acrostic, or thoughtful message.
Once complete, students can exchange cards in class or create a “Valentine Mailbox” where cards can be dropped off.

Teacher Tip: To ensure every child feels included, have students make a card for everyone in the class so no one feels left out.

3. Tissue Paper Heart Sun Catchers

Age: Preschool – Grade 3
Skills: Fine motor skills, color recognition, creativity

These sun catchers are a wonderful way to add a pop of color to any classroom window.

Materials:

White paper or cardstock
Tissue paper (assorted colors)
Scissors
Glue sticks
Clear contact paper or laminating sheets

Instructions:

Cut a heart shape out of cardstock, then cut out the inside so it becomes a heart frame.
Cut small squares of tissue paper in pink, red, yellow, and purple.
Stick the tissue pieces onto a sheet of contact paper.
Place the heart frame on top and cover with another sheet of contact paper.
Trim the edges and hang in a window.

When sunlight shines through the colored tissue paper, it creates a beautiful stained-glass effect that fills the classroom with color and joy.

4. Friendship Bracelets or Keychains

Age: Grade 2 – Grade 8
Skills: Patience, coordination, friendship building

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love—it’s about friendship too! Friendship bracelets and keychains are a great way to celebrate that.

Materials:

Embroidery floss or yarn
Beads or letter beads
Safety pins or keychain rings

Instructions:

Teach students how to braid or twist strands of embroidery floss.
Add beads or letter charms that spell out positive words such as “LOVE,” “KIND,” or a friend’s name.
Tie off the ends securely and gift them to classmates.

This activity encourages students to be thoughtful and patient while creating a wearable reminder of friendship.

5. “I Love You Because…” Flip Book

Age: Grade 1 – Grade 5
Skills: Writing, reflection, emotional awareness

Simple crafts are sometimes the most meaningful. The “I Love You Because…” flip book helps children express appreciation for the people they care about.

Materials:

Paper (cut into small rectangles)
Hole punch
Yarn or binder rings
Markers and stickers

Instructions:

Give each child several pieces of paper.
On the cover page, have them write “I Love You Because…”
On each inside page, have them complete the sentence—for example, “I love you because you help me with my homework,” or “I love you because you make me laugh.”
Decorate each page with drawings and colors.
Punch a hole in the corner of each sheet and tie together with yarn or a ring to make a flip book.

These books can be gifted to parents, friends, or teachers. They’re heartwarming keepsakes that celebrate both gratitude and love.

6. Valentine’s Day Mailboxes

Age: All ages
Skills: Creativity, organization, teamwork

A classroom Valentine’s exchange isn’t complete without mailboxes for collecting cards! Students can make their own personalized Valentine mailboxes.

Materials:

Empty tissue boxes, cereal boxes, or paper bags
Wrapping paper, construction paper, stickers
Glue, scissors, tape

Instructions:

Have each child bring in an empty box or bag.
Decorate it with Valentine’s colors, hearts, and their name.
Cut a slit at the top for cards.
Line up the boxes or bags along a wall or table to create a “Valentine Post Office.”

Kids can drop off their cards throughout the day, creating a fun and festive classroom celebration.

7. Heart Wreaths for Classroom Doors

Age: All ages
Skills: Teamwork, design, creativity

This teacher-friendly, collaborative craft is perfect for decorating the classroom while promoting community spirit.

Materials:

Paper plates
Construction paper
Glue sticks
Scissors
Ribbon or string

Instructions:

Cut out the center of a paper plate to make a ring shape.
Have each child cut out one or two paper hearts and decorate them with drawings or kind words.
Glue the hearts around the paper plate ring to form a wreath.
Attach a ribbon and hang it on the classroom door or bulletin board.

You can even make it a “Wreath of Gratitude,” where each heart lists something students love about their class or teacher.

8. Valentine Science Craft – Fizzy Heart Experiment

Age: Grade 2 – Grade 6
Skills: STEM learning, observation, creativity

Mixing science with Valentine’s Day makes for a fun, hands-on experiment!

Materials:

Baking soda
Vinegar
Food coloring
Heart-shaped silicone molds
Pipettes or droppers

Instructions:

Mix baking soda with a little water to form a thick paste.
Add drops of food coloring, then press the mixture into heart molds.
Let them dry overnight.
The next day, provide students with vinegar and droppers.
When they drip vinegar onto the hearts, they’ll fizz and bubble—just like love in the air!

This experiment is a wonderful way to combine science and art, creating a unique and memorable Valentine’s Day activity.

9. Teacher-Inspired Craft: “Love Notes to Our Classroom”

Age: Grade 3 – Grade 8
Skills: Writing, teamwork, community building

Teachers can lead this reflective and collaborative project to build a sense of belonging.

Materials:

Envelopes
Paper
Bulletin board or poster board

Instructions:

Have each child write a “love note” to the classroom. It could be something they appreciate, a favorite memory, or a positive wish.
Place each note in an envelope and pin them to a bulletin board titled “Love Notes to Our Classroom.”
Read a few notes aloud each day leading up to Valentine’s Day.

This project encourages gratitude, reflection, and positivity—lessons that last far beyond February 14th.

10. Teacher Craft Idea: “Thankful Tree of Hearts”

Teacher-Friendly!

Teachers can create this special classroom centerpiece to remind students daily of kindness and gratitude.

Materials:

A large tree branch or paper tree cutout
Paper hearts
String or tape

Instructions:

Place the tree branch in a vase or attach the paper tree to the wall.
Cut out paper hearts and have students write one thing they’re thankful for on each.
Hang the hearts on the tree.

Over time, the Thankful Tree fills with messages of love and appreciation, becoming a living symbol of classroom unity.

Tips for a Successful Valentine’s Day Craft Session

Plan ahead: Prepare materials in advance to keep chaos to a minimum during craft time.
Encourage creativity: There’s no “wrong way” to create art—let kids explore their ideas freely.
Include everyone: Make sure every child feels involved and included.
Incorporate learning: Add simple writing or math activities, such as counting hearts or writing messages.
Celebrate together: Display the finished crafts around the classroom or hold a mini “art show” where parents or other classes can enjoy them.

Wrapping Up

Valentine’s Day classroom crafts can be so much more than simple art projects. They teach important lessons about empathy, gratitude, and creativity.

Children can learn while having fun by making thoughtful cards, glittery decorations, and handmade gifts filled with love. Teachers can use Valentine’s Day to encourage kindness, teamwork, and a sense of community—wrapped in hearts and color.

After all, the best part of Valentine’s Day isn’t the candy or the cards—it’s the love shared between classmates, friends, and teachers.

So grab some paper, scissors, and glue—it’s time to spread a little love in your classroom this Valentine’s Day!

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ONWE DAMIAN

Onwe Damian Chukwuemeka is a relationship and self-improvement coach, as well as a final-year law student at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He has distinguished himself in leadership and service, and has held key positions such as Deputy Director of Public Prosecution in the Students’ Union Government and Justice of the Malabor High Court, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Learn more about him

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