Seven Founding Hills

Are you looking for a super simple Valentine’s Day craft that works on fine motor skills and teaches about bilateral symmetry. Then look no further.

My mom is a second grade teacher and makes these super cute heart shaped bags with her students every year. I found my preschoolers were motivated to trace, cut, hole punch, lace, and decorate these Valentine’s bag with a little guidance.

In our home we use these bags to hold our Valentine’s, but they could also serve a purely decorative purpose.

Materials 

• Half heart template (can be free handed)
• 2 sheets of construction paper
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• ~2 ft of yarn
• Markers to decorate 

How to Make Paper Valentine Bag

1. Fold the 2 pieces of construction paper in half hamburger style
2. Trace or free hand a half heart on the crease of the construction paper I help my preschoolers by holding the guide down while they trace
3. Cut out the heart following the traces guide lines
4. Hole punch around the heart leaving the top curves intact to serve as an opening to the bag
5. Write your name on the bag and decorate it with whatever materials you’d like 

Adapting the Craft for All Ages

I love this craft because there are so many fine motor activities for children of all ages, is easy to fix with tape, and looks presentable regardless of skill level.

Preschool School – For a preschool aged child I would focus on giving each kid the opportunity to participate in each step of assembling the bag. In years past my preschoolers have had selective interest in completing the tracing, the cutting, or the stitching, so I help them complete the tasks that do not interest them.

Elementary School – Elementary aged children can appreciate all of the steps are required to finish the bag so the focus should be to allow the children to complete each step as independently as possible and help trouble shoot problems that come up

Middle School – Most middle schoolers have the fine motor skills to trace, cut, and stitch a presentable project independently , but can be taught how different stitching techniques such as a running stitch, whip stitch, catch stich, and blanket stich change the appearance of the bag.

I hope you enjoy this craft as much as we do!