Celebrating National Grandparents Day in school is one of the most special moments for families and children. It’s also a great educational experience to explore the importance of appreciating these relationships. The most important lesson is that children can learn the importance of trusting and following examples from older and experienced adults. That’s why we came up with 15 special grandparents' day activities for preschool.
1. Our Special Moment
Each relationship is special between grandparent and child. That’s having the kids come into grandparent's day with a special moment between them is a great activity. The duo can share with the class, telling a short story together.
2. Together In Song
There are so many great sing-a-longs that the class or grade can do together with their grandparents. Grandparents' day concerts are popular, but it can also be a song that the grandparents chime in on. All you need is printable lyrics and a few minutes to teach the songs. The simpler the better.
3. What I Learned from You
An easy-to-create printable and educational moment is giving both the grandparent or grandparents and the child a sheet. Give them space to write down one thing they have learned from each other. Have them share it with each other after a few minutes of reflection.
4. Picture Collage
A great homework assignment for pre-grandparents' day is to have the class bring in two to three pictures of them and their grandparents. You can make a collage to hang up on the wall or as a greeting board for the big day.
5. Our Storybook of Grandparents Day
Grandparents' day is filled with precious moments. As a teacher, you can take lots of pictures and document the crafts and activities. By the end of the year, you can work on letting the kids build a small storybook of their day with their grandparents.
6. Forget-Me-Not Flower (Bright Hub Education)
As the national Grandparent’s Day flower is a Forget-Me-Not, you can take this opportunity to teach the importance of giving back. Plant these flowers with your kids in little pots to deliver to their grandparents and nursing homes with elderly that may not have family around.
Learn More: Bright Hub Education
7. The Thankful Turkey
Grandparent’s Day is not too far off from Thanksgiving. The Thankful Turkey is a fun arts and crafts activity. Simply use your handprint to paint a turkey. After letting it dry, the grandparents can come up with what they are thankful for this year and write along their fingers.
8. Read Alouds (Bright Hub Education)
Short stories and reading out loud are always great to include on Grandparent’s Day. The more complicated stories can be read as a class, while shorter pieces can be read by the grandparent to the child. This activity, however, is great as a group.
Learn More: Bright Hub Education
9. Photo Accordion (Riley Crossing Childcare)
Photo memories are precious. As a gift from kids to grandparents, you can have the kids bring in 5 special photos that they can use as an art project. Cut cardboard paper, and fold it into an accordion so the kids can paste the picture on a page and write about it on the next page.
Learn More: Riley Crossing Childcare
10. Send a Hug (Life As Mama)
While this requires some paper, it is one of the cutest gifts. You will need a sheet roll of paper or cardboard big enough for the child to lay on it from their armpits up. Trace the child with their arms stretched out on the paper, so it’s a drawing of them reaching for a hug!
Learn More: Life As Mama
11. Grandparent's Heart Ornaments (Kinder Alphabet)
Head to an arts and crafts store to buy premade wooden heart-shaped ornaments. Once you have the materials, bring them in for the kids to paint for their grandparents. They can decorate them and sign to their grandparents with love.
Learn More: Kinder Alphabet
12. Come In As Your Grandparent
A great way for kids to learn about their grandparents is to come on a special day with them. Have them wear something like a hat or jewelry. They can also tell a few fun facts about their grandparents with help from them to the class.
13. A Poem For Them
No better way to work on words that rhyme than writing your grandparents a poem. Teachers will have to help their students do this. As a little pre-assignment, you can have students as their grandparents what their favorite color is and a few things like that to fill in the blanks of an already-made poem.
14. Grandparent’s Day Certificates
A cute way to welcome your guests is to offer them their certificate of being the best grandparent. And with a certificate comes an agenda for the day. Sort of like a redeemed coupon. Put a few things on there such as a promised song, an arts and crafts project, and more! It’s a great way to greet them.
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