Valentine's Day Card Folders

We are getting ready for Valentine's Day in our classroom. First, we did a Heart Art project (See blog post) and then I passed out a Valentine's card class list. My students are excited and have already been busy getting their cards ready to pass out next week.

The one thing we still need to do is make our Valentine's Day folders to put our cards in. This is another one of those projects I have done for years, but I guess it is because it is easy, students have fun with it, and it works.

I made my folder as a sample, but my students tend to be way more creative than I am. I usually use plain file folders, but I'm out, so I am going with the colored ones. I don't imagine it matters much, except that I think students probably spend more time on the plain ones in order to really jazz their folders up.

To prep for this project I get the folders ready by stapling the sides closed with three or four staples on each side. Then I use colored paper and a die cutter to pre-cut the heart shapes. Some years I have just made a heart template page and copied it onto colored construction paper. Then I either have students share their hearts, or I cut the hearts apart and let students choose from the different colors and sizes.

As students make their folders they glue the hearts onto their folders and use markers to write their names and decorate them. Students can also sprinkle glitter on their folders as a final touch if they want.

On Valentine's Day or whatever day it is that we are passing out cards, I arrange all of the desks into a heart shape and lay red construction paper on each desk. Then I tape the students' folders to the front of their desks, which is actually the inside of the heart. This makes passing out cards a little easier and a little more fun.

Here is a picture of my heart-shaped desks. This was a year that I used my heart project and stapled them onto a white bag for Valentine's Day cards. 

If you have never tried this with the desks, I recommend giving it a shot. My students always love it! 

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