Yesterday I cut out a bunch of construction paper hearts.  We are very much into simple activities right now.  We have started to settle into a nice rhythm with our home schooling, and at the heart of it all is keeping things simple.  So with the kids starting to get into the Valentine’s spirit after our first Valentine craft – and me being inspired by all of these great Valentine preschool activities, I decided we would play with some construction paper hearts.

I know I have said this before (and more then once I am sure), but it truly never ceases to amaze me how it is the simplest of activities that my kids enjoy the most!  For this activity all I did was cut out some construction paper hearts.  Some big, some smaller, some red, pink, and white.  I put them in a dish and set them out with paper and some glue.  Little did I know that this would keep my kids busy and learning for almost an hour!

I had thought the kids would make some construction paper heart pictures or designs – which they did.  They glued the construction paper hearts onto the paper, creating designs and cute pictures.  Sammy made a butterfly-ish creation, and Madeline made an animal face and a flower.  The creations were great – but the learning that also happened was wonderful!

5 Ways Kids Learn with Construction Paper Hearts:

1.  Symmetry – Since I folded the paper multiple times before cutting out the hearts, there were many hearts that were the same for the kids to create with.  It was interesting watching Sam try to imitate his big sister and work on making his creation symmetrical.  Even though he didn’t use that word, he was playing with the concept of symmetry.

2. Size – By having different sizes of the construction paper hearts my preschooler was learning about different sizes.  He would ask for a heart to be passed to him, or for his big sister to help him find a specific size – and while he did he would say, “Could you find one that is bigger than this one” or “I need one that is a little smaller”.  All the while comparing and contrasting the different sizes of the hearts.

3. Sorting – While my preschooler was designing his paper heart picture he started to make some little piles of hearts.  At first he was gathering all of the red ones (well – one might say keeping them from his sister) and then he was on the hunt for all of the big hearts.  This was great sorting practice.

4. Counting – During this paper heart picture creating session there was lots of counting happening.  I would hear Sam count how many hearts he had on his page, how many small hearts he had, and how many hearts he though would still fit on.

5. Patterning – So, truthfully, there was not much patterning happening with my wee ones during this activity … but there could have been!!  And perhaps there will be with your construction paper heart fun?

I am loving this ‘keep it simple’ kick we are on.  It is so much more relaxing for me – and the kids are really enjoying how open-ended the activities are.  I find they are able to be even more creative when I provide only a little bit of set-up.  Which works quite well for me!

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