Homeschool Valentine’s Unit Study Ideas
Since starting to homeschool, I have gravitated towards a unit study approach. Especially for fun holidays and events!
Growing up, I always loved celebrating Valentine’s Day at school, so naturally, now as a homeschooling mama, my mind jumps to creating a fun unit study for the holiday! This post shares all my favorite ideas for incorporating into your own heart-themed unit study.
Whether you’re homeschooling preschoolers, elementary students, or multiple ages together, a Valentine’s Day unit study can be as light or as structured as you want.
Why Valentine’s Day Works Well for a Unit Study
Unit studies focus on connection—between subjects, ideas, and experiences. Valentine’s Day naturally supports this approach because it centers on themes that are easy for children to understand and explore:
Kindness and friendship
Love and family relationships
Emotions and empathy
Traditions and celebrations
Because the holiday is familiar and enjoyable, kids tend to engage more willingly with reading, writing, and hands-on activities tied to the theme.
Read More:
Reading & Literature Ideas
I always start our unit studies with books. High-quality living books sets the tone for the week and create opportunities for discussion and deeper learning.
For Valentine’s Day, I am picking books that focus on friendship, kindness, sharing, and empathy. You can check out all our favorite Valentine’s Day books here!
The best part about prioritizing literature in your homeschool routine is that there are so many ways to extend the reading! Here are some ideas to foster learning with the books you are reading:
Discuss characters and emotions
Retell the story using drawings or oral narration
Compare two stories with similar themes
For older children, you can add:
Simple book reports
Story element analysis (beginning, middle, end)
Writing an alternate ending
Writing & Language Arts Activities
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to practice writing in a low-pressure way.
Writing Ideas
Valentine cards or letters
Gratitude lists (“I appreciate you because…”)
Short poems or acrostic poems using words like LOVE or FRIEND
Early Learners
Name tracing with heart shapes
Letter recognition activities
Sight word practice using Valentine themes
Math Activities
Math fits naturally into a Valentine’s Day unit study when it’s hands-on and visual.
Preschool & Early Elementary
Counting and sorting objects (hearts, buttons, candies)
Pattern creation using Valentine colors
Shape recognition with heart-based activities
Elementary Extensions
Addition and subtraction word problems
Graphing favorite Valentine treats
Measuring ingredients for a simple recipe
Use popular sweetheart candies to count and sort them!
Art & Creative Projects
Art is often the anchor of a Valentine’s Day unit study, especially for younger learners.
Craft Ideas
Handmade Valentine cards
Painting or collage projects
Fine motor activities like cutting, gluing, and tracing
Science & Nature Connections
While not always obvious, science fits well into a Valentine’s theme.
Science Ideas
Learning about the human heart — as a nurse, I love this idea!
Color mixing experiments using red, pink, and white
nature walks to find heart shapes
Social-Emotional Learning & Life Skills
Valentine’s Day provides a natural opportunity to focus on emotional development and social skills. Here are some fun ideas:
Acts of kindness challenges
Role-playing kindness and sharing scenarios
Discussing different ways families show love
Practical Life Skills
Baking or preparing a simple treat
Writing thank-you notes
Helping assemble and deliver cards or gifts
How to Structure Your Valentine’s Day Unit Study
I am all about simple and intentional, rather than busy and chaotic. I always follow the rule “less is more”. Fewer activities that are chosen to be more intentional!!
Here are a couple of ideas for how to create an intentional unit study for your family to enjoy!
Option 1: One-Week Unit Study
Pick a book for each day of the week and pair it with one themed activity. Whether this is a craft, or a project, baking a treat, or delivering hand-written love notes to friends and family!
Option 2: Morning Basket Approach
Morning baskets are popular for a reason! They are a great way to gather up materials and foster learning around a subject in a fun and creative way!
Does your family do a unit study for Valentine’s Day? Or what other way do you celebrate as a homeschooling family?
We would love to hear your ideas!
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