For Parents
If you're planning to celebrate your child's birthday at school with his or her class, make sure you get approval from the teacher first. Don't just walk in unannounced on the big day, toting balloons, and birthday treats to share with everyone. Such an interruption will disrupt the teacher's lesson plans, and no doubt distract the children.
Teachers will appreciate your respect for their class time if you coordinate the birthday celebration with them in advance. The teacher may tell you the best time to come is at lunchtime, when the children are already eating. Or, they may ask you to come at the end of the day, when attention spans are already short. When you both have agreed on a time to visit your child's class, write it down and make sure that you are on time!
If you intend to bring food and/or drinks, let the teacher know ahead of time. To make serving easier, consider cupcakes instead of cake and individual juice drinks rather than pouring a cup of juice for each child. It may work best if you come while the children are at recess or away from the classroom with the librarian, gym teacher, etc. This will give you a chance to prepare the goodies without thirty excited children fighting to be the first one in line. Be sure to serve the birthday child first, since it will be nearly impossible to make the class wait until everyone has been served before they start nibbling.
Before you leave the class, make sure you haven't left a mess. When the class is done eating, walk around the room with the trash can and ask the students to throw their garbage in the receptacle. Clean up any spills and don't forget to thank the teacher for allowing you to visit the class!
For Teachers
Every child is special and deserves to be recognized on his or her birthday. You probably already have your own ideas about how to celebrate birthdays in your class. If not, check out the ideas below for some great activities.
Birthday Crown
Materials: colored construction paper, glue, and glitter.
Directions: Before class, make a crown from the construction paper. Write the birthday child's name on the front of the crown with glue. Sprinkle glitter over the glue while it is still wet; set it aside to dry. Crown the birthday child at lunchtime and lead the class in singing "Happy Birthday To You."
Birthday Book
Materials: blank piece of paper for each student, large piece of colored construction paper, staples (or other binding material), stickers/glitter (optional).
Directions: Pass out one piece of paper for each student. (For young children, use paper that is blank on top, and lined on the bottom). Ask each student to draw a picture for the birthday child, write at least one thing they like about him or her, and sign their name. When everyone is finished, collect the drawings and staple them together. Use the construction paper to make a cover and bind it together with all the pages. Write the birthday child's name on the cover and decorate it with stickers, glitter, etc. Present the book to the birthday child at the end of the day.
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