Cute Mother's Day Gift for First Graders to Make

[SRUAlmn]

Hi

I'm a first grade teacher and I'm in search of a cute project that my kids could make for their moms next week. I looped this year, so I taught K last year and have my same kids for 1st this year. We have all really bonded and I'd like to do something nice, but I can't (obviously) do the same thing we did last year. Last year we did the whole handprint poem thing, and we planted flowers in cups that they decorated. I really don't want to have to spend more than like $2-$3 per student max. I figured since we have so many moms on here, maybe you could help let me know what you would like to receive. HELP!!!

 

[LadyZolt]

If someone has a digital camera, you could take a picture of each child and print it out on just regular paper (with a color printer) and have them each write "Happy Mother's Day" and "I love you, Mom" on it. Or you could make up "coupons" with construction paper (or print them out on colored paper) that say things like, "Coupon - Clean my room without being asked" "Coupon - Feed the pet" "Coupon - Help Mom clean the kitchen" or other things that you think would work, then leave a blank on them where the child can print his/her name in them.

I love the handprint idea -- my daughter gave me one with a cute poem about handprints on the walls, etc., that her art teacher made with her class when she was in first grade. It's in a ceramic mold kind of thing -- I'm obviously not artful enough to know the right words, but you can get the idea.

I hope one of these ideas will help -- if not, I hope someone else will post more so you can find one you like. I wish you the best!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[coinkc]

I have made a recipe book with my classes. Each child gets to contribute their favorite recipe that their mom makes and how they think she makes it. It is absolutely hilarious how kids think that food gets made. Things like...cook the turkey at 10 degrees for 5 minutes, or pour everything into a pan at once and stick it in the microwave for 20 hours.

I have done this with both Kindergarten classes and second grade and every year I laugh. there is also no cost as I just type it up, have one of the kids draw a cover, copy it and staple them together.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

When my ds was in first grade his teacher had all the kids make a recipe book for us moms.

The kids made a front & back cover, coloring it, and she put their picture on the cover & laminated them (however, if you're short on time, maybe a cover sheet in a report folder.

The kids each wrote two recipes & she typed them up exactly as they wrote them, with their misspelled words and all. She used large font, and put each child's name under each recipe.

Their versions of how food was prepared were hilarious.

It's one of my all-time favorite gifts I've received.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My son made me a pen/pencil holder when he was in Kindergarten and I still have it on my desk today. He is still very proud of it.

 

[Sinderelli]

1st grade teacher here! I have a really cute and inexpensive project that I read about in Family Fun. I purchase really cute, girly, pink ribbon (thin). We put each student's picture in the middle of a paper key chain (I'm not sure what this is called, but you can get a box of 50 at Office Depot for about 5 bucks) and loop the ribbon through. It makes a lariat type necklace- the moms always love this.

Another idea is to have a "junk jewelry" sale. This will cost you nothing, unless you want to splurge on jewelry boxes. Ask your parents to donate junk jewelry, the gaudier the better! Have your kids earn tickets for good behavior and then "shop" with their tickets. The only rule is they cannot buy something they donated. This is a blast! The kids get so excited because they are giving something "real".

Hope this helps! Let us know what you decide.

 

[LadyZolt]

cook the turkey at 10 degrees for 5 minutes, or pour everything into a pan at once and stick it in the microwave for 20 hours.
QUOTE]

LOL! Well, I haven't tried it that way. Maybe I'll jot that one down and use it at Thanksgiving.

Seriously, though -- these recipes must be priceless! I hope you've kept a copy of all of the ones you've made just to have something to look at whenever you might feel a little bit down. They've got to have huge anti-depression capabilities!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[java]

I love the Mock cookbook my now 9 year old made when she was in first grade. It was filled with take the turkey and put it in the oven for 3 minutes at 30 degrees. Or for a cake- use 25 eggs and milk and bake at 1000 degrees for 2 hours.
My daughters finished with a Viola you're done. That cracked me up because she had never used my Viola before.
And I do love anything with a photo- and handmade warms a mommy's heart. I still wear the pin my 12 year old made with sculpty clay for me in first grade*it is a blue whale and we used to read a story about a blue whale all the time - he assumed it was my favorite animal and after that it was.
I can't wait for my little guys to start making presents. I get to go to a preschool mother's day lunch next week. I got a handmade invitation from my 4 year old! SO CUTE!

 

[bananiem]

My dd painted a small wooden heart red. Then they glued shiny confetti (like you get at the party store for tables) on it and glued a brooch pin thingy to the back. It was very colorful!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thanks for the cute ideas I did the recipe thing last year for Thanksgiving and it was very funny! Unfortunately, I teach kids who live in poverty and whose families are not very 'involved' for the most part (I have some who are, but the majority are not.) So doing anything that would involve them sending anything in to school is out. I like the idea of something that would have a picture of them since they do grow up SO FAST! Hmm.....

 

[kctwinmommy]

I don't know how expensive it would be, but could you get that mix stuff to make molded handprints? We did this at some family event last year, and they used those styrafoam fold over trays (like you bring takeovers home in), then they filled it with that mix stuff and they put their hands into it to make their handprints. After it completely dried, you can just take it right out of the styrafoam. Again, not sure on the cost, but it's possible the mix would work out to only a couple bucks a kid. And maybe you can get the styrafoam things from a local restaurant.

 

[Charles Darwin]

do you have a digital camera? You can upload them to walmart's 1-hour photo and it's not expensive. Mini-flower pots are usually on sale at the big craft stores this time of year. Decorate the flower pot, make a flower with the picture/construction paper/pipe cleaners and attach it to foam in the bottom of the flower pot. That shouldn't cost more than $1-ish/student. Which it sounds like you are paying yourself.

 

[clh2]

I have made a recipe book with my classes. Each child gets to contribute their favorite recipe that their mom makes and how they think she makes it. It is absolutely hilarious how kids think that food gets made. Things like...cook the turkey at 10 degrees for 5 minutes, or pour everything into a pan at once and stick it in the microwave for 20 hours.

I have done this with both Kindergarten classes and second grade and every year I laugh. there is also no cost as I just type it up, have one of the kids draw a cover, copy it and staple them together.

This is a really cute idea, however, I would suggest that since it is Mother's Day - each child should make their own cover. It would just be a little more personal in my opinion.

 

[Pam]

When my kids were in elementary school (at the good old Rock!) the teacher would save the milk cartons, clean them up and then the kids would decorated them with construction paper, adding drawings, etc. and writing on the paper.

The teacher then had them plant potting soil and a flower (usually a petunia or a pansy)in the carton.

It was a great Mother's Day gift!

 

[Marion]

Keep in mind that my youngest is now 18 I was cleaning up some old boxes a few weeks ago and came across a little booklet my youngest had made in grade 1, and looking through it made me all teary It was one of those 'all about me' type books with a picture of him laminated on the front. He's written in his favourite foods, things to do, people etc. That would be simple enough to put together... this one is construction paper held together with a little ring at the top corner. Some of my favourite pictures are ones taken at school... it's a nice surprise to see shots of your kids doing things that YOU weren't involved in

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Last year we took colored pillowcases (From the dollar store) and used Clorox Clean-up (Paste stuff) and sponged it on with sponge hearts. The Clorox Clean up takes off the color . We sponged the pillowcases (Make sure the kids have gloves on ) and then let it dry over night. I took them all home and washed them. They were cute!!!
This year we took umbrealla (Dollar Store) and used sponge shaped to sponge acrylic painted hearts, flowers etc on the umbrella. They came out nice and dried well. The kids loved making them and they are adorable. Fun and fast and inexpensive. In the past we have done flower pots (Clay) with paint markers. Magnets made from puzzle pieces. Bead and wire wind catchers. And key chains from pony beads. Good luck!

 

[Jme90]

Good for you

 

[SRUAlmn]

Some of these ideas are SO CUTE!!! Thank you so much! I was looking for something a little different than the norm, so this has really helped We are working on it every day this week after we finish state testing, so maybe we can do more than one project.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I have made a recipe book with my classes. Each child gets to contribute their favorite recipe that their mom makes and how they think she makes it. It is absolutely hilarious how kids think that food gets made. Things like...cook the turkey at 10 degrees for 5 minutes, or pour everything into a pan at once and stick it in the microwave for 20 hours.

I was cleaning up some old boxes a few weeks ago and came across a little booklet my youngest had made in grade 1, and looking through it made me all teary It was one of those 'all about me' type books with a picture of him laminated on the front. He's written in his favourite foods, things to do, people etc. That would be simple enough to put together... this one is construction paper held together with a little ring at the top corner. Some of my favourite pictures are ones taken at school... it's a nice surprise to see shots of your kids doing things that YOU weren't involved in

Both of these ideas sound adorable. I might ask my DS6 to do the All About Me book, I'd love to know what all his favorites are.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I have made a recipe book with my classes. Each child gets to contribute their favorite recipe that their mom makes and how they think she makes it. It is absolutely hilarious how kids think that food gets made. Things like...cook the turkey at 10 degrees for 5 minutes, or pour everything into a pan at once and stick it in the microwave for 20 hours.

I have done this with both Kindergarten classes and second grade and every year I laugh. there is also no cost as I just type it up, have one of the kids draw a cover, copy it and staple them together.

I've done that, too. I had each child draw a picture on the recipe page. The results are so fun.