Planning A Class Party They’ll Remember

Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, planning a classroom party is a huge undertaking. There are a lot of aspects of parties that need to be considered. Today we’re not going over specific ideas, but breaking down the party planning process in a few simple steps that will apply to any classroom party!

Step One: Theme

The theme of your classroom party dictates everything else. Often the party theme is going to be based around a holiday or season, but don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd!

Throw a party themed after a book read in class, for example. You could also throw a party based on another culture. Parties can be great ways in integrate learning opportunities into something students see as fun.

Step Two: Purpose

What purpose does the party serve? If it’s a fall themed party, it could be about appreciating where food comes from. If it’s a Valentine’s Day themed party, make it about students appreciating each other.

Having a purpose in mind when planning can help you ensure that your students aren’t just having fun, they’re learning something.

Step Three: Budget

Before you make any plans for this party, figure out the budget. If you want to dip into personal funds that’s fine, but even if you’re paying out of pocket you should have a budget in mind.

A classroom party will only last about an hour, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money going all-out to completely transform the classroom. Keep all the money in a specific place and write down your estimated costs vs. actual costs as the planning gets underway.

Step Four: The Food

The first thing you have to do is get a list of all student allergies. When requesting food make sure parents know not to send these items into the classroom.

If you can, try to bring in a snack that fits the theme of the party. You’ll also want to encourage parents to send in healthy snacks, not just cupcakes.

Step Five: Decorations

You don’t want to go too crazy, but having some decorations can really make a party stand out. Even something as simple as choosing paper plates in a color that suits the theme can make a difference. Consider making a backdrop against the wall where the party food will be.

Don’t forget to check with friends or colleagues for décor items. This can really cut down on the costs and they may have some great ideas!

Step Six: Activities

Make your party memorable. Activities will make students really remember your party, and they can learn things, too.

Simple crafts make for an easy, fun activity in the classroom. If you’re presenting a craft at a party it is better to prepare everything needed in advanced. Get outside for activities if you can to burn off more energy. If you can fit activities to the theme that’s great, but you don’t have to!

Step Seven: Parent Communication

You’ll want to communicate with other parents to see what they can contribute to the party. If you’re a parent ask the teacher to send home a note, perhaps with your email address attached, so parents can get in contact.

This makes it easier to coordinate food and drinks so you don’t end up with nothing but a table of cookies. Send out this letter a week or two ahead of the party.

Step Eight: Plan

Once you’ve figured out all these logistics, it’s time to put everything together. Figure out the timing of your activities and the serving of food. Figure out when to decorate and where food will be stored. This part should be easy since you’ve planned everything else out already.

Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to planning the perfect classroom party!

Top Winter Experiences

When the weather is cold and snowy it’s easy to stay inside where it’s warm. But winter can offer some amazing experiences that can’t be had at any other time of year, especially for children! These are the top winter experiences (in our opinion) along with what your student or child can learn from them.

1.      Ice Fishing. There’s a lot to be learned from the sport of ice fishing. While it isn’t so unusual to take kids out fishing, ice fishing comes with an entirely different skill set. Children can learn about the right types of clothing they need not only to stay warm, but dry. They’ll learn about the basic safety gear needed when going on an adventure like this. Most importantly, they’ll learn more about the dangers of ice.

2.      Create a New Snow Sport. Who says outdoor fun has to stop just because there’s snow on the ground? Push kids to be creative by thinking up their own winter version of the sports they love. What about ice bowling? Snow golfing? This gets kids outside but also forces them to think critically and creatively.

3.      Go Winter Camping, or rent a cabin with the absolute bare necessities. This is another fantastic way to teach kids basic survival skills and to see how their ancestors used to survive in winter weather. Plus winter camping comes with a whole range of activities, such as ice skating and winter hiking.

4.      Attend A Winter Festival. While we tend to think of festivals as a summer activity, winter festivals are a unique experience that can only be had when surrounded by snow and ice. Common activities include snow and ice sculpture contests, chili contests, dog sled rides, and more.

5.      Build A Snow Fort. Make it extensive, with mazes and hiding areas. There’s tons of ways to make a snow fort, so watch your kids go at it (though of course, ensure that it is safe). This can help with construction skills, critical thinking, and fine-motor skills.

6.      Take Kids Tracking. If you can get to a forest this is even better. You can teach kids about different animal prints, how to track, and how humans have been tracking animals for hundreds of years. If you don’t believe you’re experienced enough to do this, there’s sure to be a tracking class or event somewhere nearby.

7.      Make Art Using Ice. This is more complicated than making a snowman and really makes kids think. Start by freezing water into ice. Use ice cube trays, muffin tins, old containers…whatever you can find. You may choose to use food coloring to turn the ice different colors. Next take your kids outside and have them build their own ice art and structures. A bit of water will help connect the different pieces of ice together.

8.      Play Classic Children’s Games In Winter. Playing these games in winter adds a fun extra challenge. Tug of war becomes a slippery challenge. Dodge ball uses snowballs instead of balls. Freeze tag becomes even more challenging when you have to freeze in the snow. How else can these games take on a winter twist?

9.      Use The Snow To Cook. There’s tons of snow-themed recipes out there, which can be used to help teach younger kids about basic cooking. Snow ice cream is a popular favorite, and you can also try making maple candy (just like in Little House On The Prairie).

10.   Go Snowshoeing. This activity started as a mode of transportation and has evolved into a classic winter pastime. It is easy to learn and allows you to see places you may not otherwise have easy access to in winter. Teach kids about staying safe while snowshoeing, and about how snowshoeing came to be.