Today's Classroom Activities :

I Love Mom Activities

I Love You, Mom
Reading/Writing At some point before Mother's Day share together, I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas (HarperCollins, 2002). Fold pieces of paper in half and staple several sheets together for children to make books for their Moms about loving them all day long, through good and bad.

Food Fractions
Math/Health Find a couple of simple recipes for healthy snacks (like the one presented here, or for trail mixes, etc.) that your class can make for an afternoon poetry reading or a Mother's Day celebration. Have some groups double a recipe or triple one, practicing math and getting a little practice in an important life skill.

Frozen Fruit Cones

2/3 cup fresh fruit
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
4 ice cream cones

Combine the first three ingredients and blend together, then place them in a baking dish, cover and place in a freezer for two hours. Then scoop some of the mixture into cones and serve.

Mother's Many Names
Language/Drama Teach this finger play to the children; have them practice it for Mother's Day.

Mother's Many Names

Her children call her Mommy,
(Extend five fingers; point to the thumb)
Her children call her Ma.
(Point to the index finger)

Her children call her Mama.
(Point to the tall finger)
But never, ever Pa.
(Shake head "NO!" vigorously)
Her children call her Mumsy,
(Point to the ring finger)
Her children call her Mum.
(Point to the pinkie finger)
Their children call them MOTHERS,
(Wiggle all five fingers)
And hug them when they come.
(Wrap fingers of opposite hand around "Mother"fingers)

Fruity Fun
Reading/Health/Art Read aloud Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch by Cynthia Rylant (Simon & Schuster, 2004) about Henry and his father making wonderful food designs for Mother's Day gifts. Students can draw their own food inventions to place inside a Mother's Day card.

Happy Mother's Day
Math/Art Provide your students with an 11" x 16" piece of white paper. After discussing the mathematical principal of tessellation, whereby an object, pattern or shape is repeated in such a way that there is no open space left on the paper, have them each create one in various colors. Use markers or paints to color them in, laminate them and send them home as Mother's Day place mats that will be super conversation starters.