How to Have a Healthy Heart Valentine's Day Party in the Classroom

As any teacher knows, the best time to have a classroom party is on Friday afternoon--right before the kids go home for the weekend. Unfortunately, holidays rarely fall on a Friday, so it's likely that you'll have to face a bunch of sugar-hyped, structure-craving students at one time or another. Valentine's Day, however, doesn't need to be one of those times. Use the fact that the holiday coincides with American Heart Month to your advantage and have a Healthy Heart Valentine's Day party this year.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• List of healthy heart foods
• Parent letter
• Upbeat music
• Heart models/stethoscopes

1. Brainstorm a list of "healthy heart" snacks with your students. They may, at first, be disappointed that they won't be gorging on cupcakes and fruit punch, but this may be more about missing the Valentine's look of those foods than the taste. Present them with healthy heart-shaped and Valentine-colored options such as strawberries, heart-shaped muffins and punch made from cranberry juice and seltzer.
2. Send a note home to parents telling them that you will be having a Healthy Heart party this year. Explain in detail what this means, especially in terms of what you would prefer to see as food donations for the party. It's possible that not all the parents will agree with this move, so be prepared to defend the idea and stand firm about only accepting food items on your list (or other healthy equivalents).
3. Take the opportunity to teach a lesson about the circulatory system and how aerobic exercise strengthens the heart. Of course, the depth and breadth of your lesson will depend on the age group you teach, but even young children can learn the connection between a strong, healthy heart and exercise. If possible, show your students models of the heart and give them stethoscopes to listen to their heartbeats. It will help them make the connection that a real heart is more than just a shape.
4. Ask your students to measure their heart rate and write down the number. Then play some upbeat music (relocate to the gym if you'll disturb other classes), let the kids have a "dance party" and ask them to measure their heart rate afterward. Talk to them about how dancing is not only fun but also a form of aerobic exercise, as evidenced by the change in heart rate.
5. Play physically challenging party games. For instance, take a box of Valentine's Day cards and write an exercise on the back of each card (5 jumping jacks, 10 hops in place) before presenting them to each child. Have the students perform the exercise and then let them "give" that Valentine to one of their friends.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're at a loss for games to play, check with your school's physical education teacher. He is likely to have some suggestions or ideas of games that can be modified to have a Valentine's Day theme.