| If you have an elementary school classroom, then | | | | telegram for the birthday child to be delivered at a |
| you likely have twenty-or-so birthdays coming up this | | | | specific time during the day, optimally when the child |
| school year - and each of them represents a great | | | | least expects it. |
| motive for having some fun with your students. Let's | | | | These are just a few suggestions for making each |
| look at some fun ways to celebrate birthdays in your | | | | of your students birthdays a bit more memorable. |
| classroom this year. | | | | You can come up with other creative birthday |
| 1. Crowning the birthday boy or birthday girl. Purchase | | | | celebration ideas on your own that are age |
| a small crown that is designated as the birthday | | | | appropriate for your classroom. |
| crown, and a banner that reads "birthday girl" or | | | | Celebrating Summer Birthdays |
| "birthday boy" for the child to wear for the entire | | | | Many kids don't have their birthdays fall within the |
| day. You can also create a birthday king or queen | | | | school calendar year, so a summer birthday party |
| chair cover and allow the child to have privileges | | | | held just a few weeks after school goes back into |
| associated with his title, like leading the classroom to | | | | session is a great icebreaker activity. Find out which |
| lunch and recess. | | | | children had birthdays over the summer and plan a |
| 2. Treats for the class. Provide a small treat for the | | | | massive birthday party just for those children, |
| entire class, along with a beverage like a juice box. | | | | complete with treats and games. |
| 3. Journal assignment. On each child's birthday, have all | | | | Celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday |
| of his or her classmates write about the things | | | | A very fun activity that can also promote your |
| (minimum of three) that they like about the child who | | | | student's love of reading is to celebrate Dr. Seuss' |
| is having a birthday. Combine the lists to create a | | | | birthday, which falls on March 2nd. Schools across the |
| web on the board, and leave the web their all day so | | | | country often plan activities to honor the birth of this |
| that the child will know how valued they are. | | | | beloved children's author, and if your school has |
| 4. Provide a free homework pass. This is a great gift | | | | nothing planned - then you can start the tradition |
| for the birthday child. Create an official homework | | | | yourself. Some activities to consider: |
| pass that they can use throughout the week on the | | | | - A 'Green Eggs and Ham' breakfast. A bit of green |
| subject of their choice. | | | | food coloring can turn this breakfast into a |
| 5. Birthday keepsakes. Have each classmate make a | | | | Seuss-style buffet that you can serve right in the |
| birthday card, birthday book, or birthday poster that | | | | classroom; be sure to read the famous book by the |
| is chock-full of positive thoughts, pictures, and etc., | | | | same title while the kids munch away. |
| about the birthday child. Simple supplies like stickers, | | | | - 'One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish' fishing |
| glitter and colored markers are all that you will need | | | | tournament. Laminate fish that have the numbers |
| for this fun classroom project to celebrate birthdays. | | | | one and two on them, and also some red fish and |
| 6. Donate a favorite book. Before school begins each | | | | blue fish. Attach magnets to the back. Fashion fishing |
| year, purchase some inexpensive children's books and | | | | rods from pencils and string with a magnet attached |
| keep them in a special box. When the birthday | | | | at the end. Place the fish in a small plastic swimming |
| arrives, allow the birthday child to select one book to | | | | pool and go fish! |
| donate either to the classroom library or school library | | | | - 'Cat in the Hat' hat decorating contest. Run off |
| - complete with a bookplate announcing the donation. | | | | some copies of the Cat in the Hat's hat - which is |
| Have the child explain to the class why he or she | | | | very easy to draw. Provide "google" eyes, glitter, |
| chose the book, and allow them to be the first one | | | | macaroni, cotton balls, markers, crayons, and more |
| to read it, of course. | | | | for the kids to decorate their hats. Have another |
| 7. Birthday singing telegram. Work with several | | | | teacher judge the entries - and give the winner a |
| students in secret to create a birthday singing | | | | copy of the 'Cat in the Hat'. |