February is always a fun month in the classroom. I like to capitalize on students’ excitement about Valentine’s Day and President’s Day by incorporating themed activities. So, without further ado, here are my favorite February reading ideas and writing activities to use in your classroom! (+ some engaging activities to use after the 14th has passed!)
Reading and Writing Ideas for February
1. Read About How Ice Cream Is Made
Reading about how ice cream is made has always been a fan favorite during our Properties of Matter unit. Inside the unit, you’ll find differentiated texts (levels 350-450L, 450-550L, and 550-650L) that allow students to target the 9 key learning standards for reading informational text.
After reading, locating text evidence, and answering the questions, you can celebrate by making your own ice cream in the classroom. It’s a tasty lesson your students won’t soon forget!
2. Learn the History of Valentine’s Day
I have yet to meet a student who doesn’t look forward to the excitement of Valentine’s Day. I use this anticipation to my advantage by tying in cross-curricular Valentine’s Day activities throughout the month of February.
This projectable history minilesson is the perfect way to tie in reading, history, and writing during February. There are vocabulary and comprehension activities included!
3. Make a Valentine’s Day Writing Craft
I LOVE any and all writing craftivities! Writing can be tough for our students, but combining it with a fun craft makes it so much more engaging!
After students complete the prompt “I show I care by…“, they can draw a picture to match the writing. Then, you can snap a quick photo of each student (while holding up the heart symbol), and quickly print them off. Students will then cut out their picture and heart to glue onto their writing!
4. Write Goofy Grammar Stories
Spring may be just around the corner, but in most states, February is still very chilly! These fun (and FREE) winter-themed Goofy Grammar Stories, similar to Mad Libs, are the perfect way to engage your class! They allow students to practice the parts of speech while creating a funny story. They make a great February reading idea and writing activity too!
Get FREE Mad Libs Style Grammar Stories
5. February Reading Ideas
Although Valentine’s Day gets most of the hype in February, President’s Day is also a great way to keep your students engaged. Here are additional February reading ideas to include in your plans!
President’s Day
by Anne Rockwell
This fun story gives students the perfect introduction to our Presidents’ history.
The students in Mrs. Madoff’s class are performing a play in which each student plays a different president. Rockwell does a wonderful job of giving short kid-friendly facts about each.
It’s the perfect book to pique the interest in our past and could be a great starting point for a research project or your own living museum!
If I Ran for President
by Catherine Stier
Classroom elections are always a fun hands-on way to bring the election process to life. If I Ran for President is an excellent choice in introducing what it may be like to actually run for president.
It’s super informative, yet easy to understand and I guarantee it will inspire your class to dream big!
Grace for President
by Kelly DiPucchio
Similar to the above story, Grace For President follows Grace as she runs for class president. She is motivated to show her classmates that a female can be president and works hard to beat the popular kid in class.
Not only does this book do a great job of inspiring girls to follow their dreams, but it also explains the Electoral College in an easy-to-understand manner!
Duck for President
by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Although not as informative as the other President’s Day books on this list, it’s still a fun one that I read every February.
Duck is tired of the jobs that come along with being a duck on the farm so he works his way up to becoming President.
I like to use it as a tool in discussing the qualities that a President needs (and what Duck may be lacking).
More Monthly-Themed Activities
Want to get a head start on your end-of-the-year (or even next year) plans? Here are my most popular activities by month!
- Ideas for Writing New Years Resolutions (January)
- 5 Valentine’s Day Activities For 2nd Graders (February)
- Literacy Week Ideas (March)
- First Week of School Books (August)
- Sentence Type Lessons (September)
- Fall Reading and Writing Activities (October)
- Winter Math Activities (December)
I hope you’ve found these February reading ideas and writing activities helpful! Be sure to save this post so you have it when you plan!
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