This Valentines Day project shows students how to develop humour. Examples are gathered to generate ideas, which are developed and refined through collaboration.

How Do We Choose A Valentine?

Students often ask, "Who do we give a Valentines Day card to?" and "How do we know who to choose for a Valentine?"

For little kids the answer might be Mum or Dad or perhaps their favourite person or friend. As students grow older, their thoughts tend to become more about romantic attachment. This project encourages a lighthearted fun approach to the subject.

For young ones just beginning to explore dating, the occasion lends itself to possibilities for humour.

Who Was The First Valentine? A Topic Introduction

Every February throughout the world, people celebrate Valentines Day. People usually give candy, flowers, and gifts in the name of St. Valentine. Who exactly this mysterious Saint really was has never been clear, but you could read The History of Valentine's Day from History.com to your class so they have some understanding about how the day came into being. Then:

• ask the class to make a list of people they would like to give cards to
• you might like to talk over their choices with them
• perhaps you might like to suggest other possibilities that have not occurred

Preparation : Get Started Early

So that students can make the best card possible, prepare them for the idea early.

This will give students time to

• collect bits a pieces as well as cartoons or pictures for collage
• think about and talk over ideas with others
• collect examples of funny past Valentines cards, jokes and cartoons
• think about who they might like to give a card or cards to

Teachers will need time to

• collect bits a pieces for collage
• order and prepare materials

Materials List

1. glue
2. tinsel
3. glitter
4. ribbon
5. drawing paper
6. coloured card
7. scissors
8. collage materials
9. stickers and hole punches with valentines day shapes such as hearts on them
10. computer and digital equipment if you choose to go digital

Where to Find Ideas

Both students and teachers will be better prepared when they have gathered ideas from

• sites such asSuperLaugh
• or old cards
• cartoons and comics
• family members and friends
• as well collect pictures of flowers, romantic views, etc

Process to Create Humour

• Start with a web search to see what is out there
• Look for ways that people have used familiar lines to make jokes about Valentines Day such as “Bee My Honey”
• Have a sharing circle where students show their favourite example
• Or tell their favourite joke

When they are in the mood, facilitate decisions about what kind of card they will make. There could be different workstations set up for

• pop-up
• decorated collage
• simple portrait cartooning
• hand painted

And give choices about what type

• a real gift card made from art paper and coloured card
• an online card
• or even an online jigsaw

Insist On Humour

By giving the students a wide variety of choice in technique and materials, you have provided a feeling of empowerment. So that the students learn as much as possible from the project, hold to the idea of making a comical card and insist on positive critique. This is a great opportunity to show the students how to develop work in the difficult genre of humour.

Lavish Them With Praise

Make sure you have a display of their work before they send it to their Valentine. Some may feel a bit apprehensive about giving a Valentines Day Card so make sure you continue to talk with them about how they feel.