10 Valentine's Day Party Hacks for the Classroom

I love party day… like I really, really love it! But by the time our classroom Valentine’s Day Party rolls around, I am spent and all partied out! Despite loving party days, I just want something simple to pull together for our last classroom party. Throwing a classroom party can be quite stressful, so here are my top 10 Valentine’s Day Party tips to help make your party run smoothly!

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Ask for Donations

In an effort to keep the sugar to a minimum, I like to ask for specific donations for our Valentine’s Day Party. Typically, I ask for any supplies we’ll need for the games and craft, as well as drinks, veggies, fruit, cheese and crackers, tableware and cutlery. Each year is different, depending on student allergies and health concerns.

For the donations, I use Sign Up Genius… but sending a donation note works too!

Ask That Treats Be Individually Wrapped

If the students are bringing a treat to go along with their cards, I ask that these treats be individually wrapped.

Again, I am trying to contain the sugar rush! It is just not possible for the students to eat multiple cookies and cupcakes during the party.

Plan Engaging Activities

My number one Valentine’s Day Party tip is to plan activities that will keep your students engaged and moving. Keeping them engaged will keep the unwanted behaviors at a minimum.

I like to run five/six different stations during our Valentine’s Day Party. These are usually a mix of a craft, snack, games and cards. You can read about my full party details here.

Here’s a list of some of the Valentine’s Day Party games we play:

Pin the Heart on the Love Monster
Cupid’s Arrow Toss
Heart to Heart
Love Is in the Air
Q-pid’s Arrow Shoot
Put a Ring on It
Falling In Love
Buckets of Love

Read more about how to play my favorite DIY Valentine’s Day Party games in this post.

At one of the stations, we use Conversation Hearts to complete a few fun activities! The students stack Conversation Hearts to see how high they can make each tower. They also, estimate and record how many candy hearts it takes to fill a small, medium and large heart. Plus, they drop conversation hearts into a bottle… the student who makes the most inside the bottle wins!

We also decorate heart cookies to look like mice, or we make this yummy love potion that fizzes like a real potion when you add the secret ingredients!

Make a Craft

At one station, I have the students make a craft. This keeps their little fingers busy, plus builds fine motor skills!

My favorite Valentine’s Day Party craft are these simple mosiac hearts made from craft foam.

But, I also love these adorable love monster glyphs!

Pass Out Valentine’s Day Cards as a Center

You will definitely thank me for this next Valentine’s Day Party tip! Do not pass have your students pass out their Valentine’s Day cards as a class.

Make it a center. Trust me!

You do not want the majority of your class sitting idle, while just a few students pass out cards.

Instead… have your students line up their Valentine’s boxes or bags in the hallway or across the front/back of the room. Then, only the few students at that station will distribute their cards.

I do this at our Halloween Party too!

Let’s just pretend these are Valentine’s Day bags, since I forgot to take a picture!

Create Valentine’s Day Card Holders

You will want your students to create a box, bag or envelop to hold their Valentine’s Day cards. Make these prior to the party, and save them until party day!

In past years, our school has had this be a parent project.

I’ve also had my students make Valentine’s Day bags.

Just remember to make them ahead of time!

No Names on Cards

To make passing out cards a little easier, ask your students not to address each card. I like to have my students just write their own name in the “from” section on each card.

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Most of our young students cannot read all of their friends’ names. Plus making sure 20 some cards all get to the right person is often a bit time consuming.

Plan a Time Filler

I always like to have a whole group game available incase we have extra time. My favorite is Bingo!

It’s such an easy one for the students to play. Plus, it can be used to review a multitude of skills!

Skip Opening Cards at the Valentine’s Day Party

Call me a bit of a dud, but I have never let my students open their cards at our classroom Valentine’s Day Party. Instead, I have them take their entire box/bag of cards home.

Once we have finished all of our Valentine’s Day Party stations, I have a few adult volunteers place the bags/boxes inside each student’s backpack.

Save Snacks Until the End of the Valentine’s Day Party

While I have the volunteers helping with backpacks, the students enjoy a few Valentine’s Day Party snacks. These are the snacks that I asked for as donations.

During snack time, I turn on a short Valentine’s Day film. You can find my favorites in this post!

This gives me time to put away all of the games… because I choose to use my games year after year.

By the time the movie has ended, the students’ backpacks are packed and I have the party all cleaned up!