Party crafts can be educational as well as enjoyable.
Whether it's a celebration of back to school, end of school or somewhere in between, the class party always promises an enjoyable experience. Even though it's party time, choose crafts and activities that keep students engaged in the learning process. Design activities around the theme of the party or plan a party based on a specific activity. Either way, your students will appreciate the break from their daily classroom routine.
Winter Holiday Party
Because students of varying cultures and religions celebrate different holidays at home, public school parties must remain neutral. Throw a winter holiday party that focuses on the season itself rather than specific occasions. Steer away from items that are religious in nature such as menorahs or nativity scenes and stick with seasonal elements like snowmen and snowflakes. A snowflake craft provides the opportunity for a lesson about diversity. Have students glue together crafts sticks to form their own snowflakes and decorate them with paint, glue, glitter, beads and stickers. Discuss how each snowflake is unique and encourage students to express what is special about each others designs. Children will enjoy decking the classroom for a winter party with sparkly snowflakes, popcorn-cranberry strings and other decorations they made themselves.
Recycling Party
A recycling party is a creative way to teach kids to care for the environment. Ask students to bring in recyclable items such as empty boxes and cartons from home. Give them decorative supplies such as paint, glue and glitter and instruct them to use these to turn the empty cartons into party decorations and serving bowls. Have each child create an art project out of the recyclable materials. Place the artwork around the classroom and invite parents to come view them on display on the day of the party.
Luau Party
Say goodbye to school and welcome summer with a luau party at the end of the school year. This tropical-themed party is also a colorful way to brighten up the classroom in the middle of winter. Whenever you choose to throw a luau party, use it as a way to teach students about the Hawaiian culture. Students can make their own grass skirts and leis, have a hula dancing contest, prepare foods inspired by Hawaiian recipes and build a volcano.
Activity Stations
Activity stations combine learning activities with games and crafts. Set up four or five tables, each with a class parent on hand to supervise an activity for students to complete. Divide the students into groups who rotate around the stations at set intervals of time. Ideas for individual station activities include bingo, card-making, construction paper hat-making and word scramble. Design your station activities to reflect the theme of the party. For instance, the Bingo station at a Halloween party might use words associated with Halloween on the play cards and pieces of candy corn as markers. Include a food station where students can enjoy the party snacks and drinks along with the activities.
Tags: glue glitter, luau party, paint glue, paint glue glitter, station activities, theme party