Valentine's Day class party bingo

Valentine's Day class party bingo tips

• Name each picture in a short sentence that ends with its name: 'I see a bear holding a heart, it's a teddy bear!' The sentence gives early readers a moment to scan their card, and the word at the end is the one they listen for. Wait until most hands are still before the next call.
• Use paper hearts or plain counters as markers instead of candy. Candy markers tend to get eaten mid-round, and many schools limit food at parties because of allergies, so check the policy before you plan edible ones. Kids can cut the paper hearts during morning work, which turns the markers into a small craft.
• Tie the mailbox and envelope squares to your class card exchange. If students deliver valentines before the game, call those pictures first while the moment is fresh, and ask one or two kids who they made a card for. Keep answers short so the round keeps moving.
• Keep the round going after the first winner. Every child who gets a line, across, down or diagonal, comes up to point to the pictures and name them, then picks a sticker. Playing until most of the class has a line means fewer kids leave the party empty-handed.
• Print one extra card per table for room parents or helpers. A volunteer who plays along can glance at a kindergartner's card and quietly point toward the kitten or the cupid without playing the card for them. Pairing a third-grade buddy with a kindergarten student works the same way if your school runs reading buddies.

Best for

Ages

Kindergarten to 3rd grade (about 5 to 9 years old)

Group size

Whole class of 15 to 30 students, with a teacher or helper calling the pictures

Duration

15 to 20 minutes for a full round, plus a few minutes for setup and prizes