February: A Month for Love… and a Trip to the “Cities of Love” (Paris & Venice!)

February is often called the month of love—a time when hearts are everywhere, Valentine’s cards fill our classrooms, and we remind our students that love is more than just a holiday. Love is kindness, friendship, and learning to care about others.

This February, I’m taking my love theme in a fun new direction… all the way to Europe! 

Two of the most famous “Cities of Love” in the world are Paris, France and Venice, Italy—and they’re the perfect inspiration for classroom learning during February.

Paris has been known as the “City of Love” for generations. It’s romantic, beautiful, and filled with art, history, charming streets, and cozy cafés. People visit from all over the world to celebrate love, take photos, and share unforgettable moments together.

One memory that always stays with me is seeing the love locks—locks placed by couples as a symbol of lasting love. I remember seeing them along the Seine River and near bridges, shining in the sunlight like tiny pieces of someone’s story. 

Paris just has that special feeling: walking near the Eiffel Tower, watching the boats drift down the Seine, and even enjoying the simple joy of a warm croissant. (Yes, the croissants alone deserve a love story!) 

Venice feels like it was designed for romance.

With its canals, gondolas, and winding walkways, it almost feels like stepping into a storybook. Venice is famous for couples taking gondola rides under bridges and through quiet canals—slow, peaceful, and magical.

Venice also has a long artistic and cultural history. It’s full of music, beauty, and old-world charm—another reason people connect it with love, special moments, and unforgettable memories.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate February is by mixing kindness and empathy with something students love: travel, fun facts, and hands-on activities.

That’s why I’m featuring four resources this month:

France Fact Booklet

France brings so much excitement to the classroom—especially with student-friendly topics like traditions, landmarks, and foods. I always say: France is the smell of warm croissants and the sparkle of the Eiffel Tower!

This France Fact Booklet is designed for early learners (Pre-K/K and struggling 1st graders) and includes:

A black-and-white informational booklet (great for guided reading groups or independent reading)

A booklet to create (with options for slow and fast workers!)

Note-taking pages and research forms

Crafts and extension activities

It’s perfect for country units, centers, early finishers, homework, or independent projects.

How to Draw France (Directed Drawing)

Now here’s the fun part—because nothing says February joy like eating a croissant while learning to draw the Eiffel Tower! 

This directed drawing resource builds confidence and helps students practice:

Fine motor skills

Following directions

Listening skills

Creative writing

It includes 3 levels of writing for drawings such as:Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, croissant, flag, cheese, French fries, umbrella, baguette, and more.

Italy Fact Booklet

Italy is another perfect choice for February—especially since Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world! Your Italy Fact Booklet follows the same student-friendly format as France, helping young learners explore Italian culture, landmarks, and traditions in a way that feels fun and manageable for teachers.

How to Draw Italy (Directed Drawing)

This resource pairs beautifully with your Italy booklet and gives students a creative way to connect what they learn with art and writing. Directed drawing is always a classroom favorite—and it’s perfect for February centers and themed learning weeks!

One reason I love using “Cities of Love” as a February theme is that it’s not just about romance—it’s about teaching children that love shows up in everyday ways:

 Caring about others, Being a good friend, Including someone who feels left out, Showing kindness with words and actions

Books, geography, art, and culture are wonderful pathways to these conversations—because they help students see that love and kindness are celebrated around the world.

Here are a few fun February classroom ideas

 “Postcards of Kindness”

Have students write a postcard from “Paris” or “Venice” to a friend or family member with a kind message.

Love Lock Writing Prompt (kid-friendly)

Students draw a paper “lock” and finish one sentence:

“Love is…”

“Kindness is…”

“I show love by…”

Then hang them on a “bridge” bulletin board display.

Travel Stamp Reading Challenge

Give students paper passports and let them earn a stamp for completing:

booklet reading

a drawing

a writing page

a kindness act

 “Bonjour!” + “Ciao!” Word Fun

Teach students simple greetings:

Bonjour = Hello (French)

Ciao = Hello/Goodbye (Italian)

Merci = Thank you

Grazie = Thank you

Kids love learning words from other languages!

February is a month filled with hearts—but it’s also a month filled with opportunities to teach what love really means. By traveling (even if only through books and art!) to Paris and Venice, students can explore culture, geography, and traditions while also learning something just as important:

Kindness and empathy are what make the world beautiful. 

If you’re looking for February resources that combine learning, creativity, and love-themed fun, my France and Italy Fact Booklets and How to Draw resources are a perfect fit for your Valentine’s season!

All resources may be found in my store. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Groundhog Day, Groundhogs, and Hedgehogs

February is packed with fun classroom themes, but one of the most loved (and most adorable!) is Groundhog Day—that special day when a furry little animal makes a famous weather prediction.

This year, I’m featuring three resources that fit perfectly into your February plans: Groundhogs Fact Booklet, Groundhog Day theme activities, and Hedgehog Fact Booklet (because so many kids—and adults!—mix them up!)

Let’s explore these fun February animals while keeping learning simple, meaningful, and engaging for K–2.

Groundhog Day, a classroom favorite, is celebrated every year on February 2nd, and the tradition says that if the groundhog sees his shadow, we’ll have six more weeks of winter… and if he doesn’t see his shadow, spring will come early! 

Students LOVE this concept because it’s fun, predictable, and easy to connect to science topics like:

winter weather, shadows, seasonal changes, and animal behavior.

Groundhog versus Hedgehog are not the same animal! This is one of my favorite February “teacher moments” because kids often confuse the two. A Groundhog is a burrowing rodent also called a woodchuck, is known for hibernation and the Groundhog Day tradition.  The Hedgehog is a small animal covered in spines/quills and not part of the Groundhog Day tradition.  It’s also known for being nocturnal and rolling into a ball for protection.  Including both animals is such a fun way to teach students that sometimes things sound alike, but they’re not the same!

My featured February resources include:  Groundhogs Fact Booklet.  It’s a perfect nonfiction option for young learners to explore what groundhogs are, where they live, what they eat, and why they hibernate. It’s great for reading groups, nonfiction practice, early finishers, simple research, and use during sub days!

 

The Hedgehog Fact Booklet is a wonderful companion resource to add comparison and vocabulary—plus hedgehogs are always a hit with kids because they’re so unique! 

 Finally there's my Groundhog Day Fact Booklet that describes the fun day!

Here are 5 read aloud favorites that fit your February theme:

Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons is a nonfiction favorite that explains the tradition clearly for young students. 

Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Pearlman is a funny story that kids love—Groundhog gets tired of all the attention. 

Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub is a cute story with a classroom-style theme! 

Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki is great for SEL and friendship themes too!

Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson is an adorable story about friendship and hugging… even when you’re prickly! 

Here are 5 engaging activities that fit perfectly with your fact booklets and Groundhog Day:

1) Groundhog Day Prediction Graph where students vote on Early Spring or More Winter;

2) Shadow Science (Flashlight Fun!) - Use a flashlight and objects to test what makes a shadow bigger/smaller and what happens when the light moves;

3) Groundhog vs. Hedgehog Compare & Sort by making a simple anchor chart. Are they same, different? Students can add pictures/words as they learn.

4) “If I Were a Groundhog…” Writing Prompt where kids can write and be creative; Questions can include: Where would you live? What would you eat? Would you want to hibernate?

5) Prickly Hedgehog Craft that includes a Kindness Connection.  Pair your hedgehog craft with an SEL message: “Even if someone seems prickly, they still need kindness.” Kids can add “kindness spines” with kind words written on each strip.

Groundhog Day is the perfect February theme because it feels like a celebration, but it’s also packed with learning, nonfiction reading, weather and seasons, shadows units and, graphing and predictions and  animal comparisons.  And including hedgehogs is such a fun bonus—especially since students love learning that groundhogs and hedgehogs are NOT the same animal even though they sound alike!

Products may be found in my store:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year

As January comes to a close, it’s a wonderful time to introduce students to Lunar New Year, a celebration observed by millions of people around the world. Learning about the Lunar New Year gives young children an opportunity to explore traditions, symbols, and cultural celebrations in a gentle, respectful, and age-appropriate way.

For Kindergarten through 2nd grade (especially K–1), this topic works beautifully as a short cultural study that blends nonfiction learning, art, and curiosity.

Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated in many countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and others. Traditions often include family gatherings, special foods, lanterns, red decorations, and animal symbols connected to the zodiac.

Keeping the focus on traditions, symbols, and celebration allows young learners to build cultural awareness while finding connections to their own experiences with holidays and new beginnings.

To support this study, I’ve created a few student-friendly resources designed for K–2 learners to support their learning about China and their New Year:

Chinese Lunar New Year Fact Booklet – A simple nonfiction booklet that introduces Chinese New Year traditions, symbols, and celebrations in a way young children can understand.

China Fact Booklet and How to Draw China can also support the learning –one is about the country of China and the other is a directed drawing resource that helps students explore China through art and writing and reading.

These resources work well during reading groups, independent work time, or as part of a short cultural unit.

Favorite Chinese Lunar New Year Read-Alouds for K–2

Pairing nonfiction learning with picture books helps bring this celebration to life. Here are a few teacher-favorite read-alouds that work well with young learners:

Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin – A warm, accessible introduction to Lunar New Year traditions.

The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestine – A fun folktale connected to generosity and family.

My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz – Perfect for younger students and simple discussions.

Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee – A gentle story about family and celebration.

Dragon Dance by Joan Holub – A lively look at one of the most exciting traditions.

5 Simple Lunar New Year Activities for K–2

You don’t need elaborate lessons to make this celebration meaningful. These simple activities work beautifully with young learners:

Symbol Study: Explore common Lunar New Year symbols such as lanterns, dragons, and red envelopes.

Directed Drawing & Writing: Use drawing to introduce symbols, then add a sentence or label.

Compare Celebrations: Talk about how Lunar New Year is similar to and different from holidays students celebrate.

Craft & Decorate: Create paper lanterns or festive decorations for the classroom.

Research a Tradition: Choose one tradition (food, decorations, animals) and explore it together using pictures and simple facts.

Lunar New Year offers a meaningful way to end January by celebrating culture, tradition, and new beginnings. It encourages curiosity, respect, and connection — all while supporting nonfiction learning in a developmentally appropriate way for K–2 students.

If you’re looking for classroom resources to support Lunar New Year learning, you can find my Chinese Lunar New Year Fact Booklet, China Fact Booklet, and How to Draw China in my Teachers Pay Teachers store 

here: 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Wishing you and your students a joyful and meaningful start to the new year!

Learning from Inspiring People in January

January is a natural time to slow down, reflect, and think about new beginnings. It’s also a wonderful month to introduce young learners to real people who made a difference through perseverance, kindness, leadership, and curiosity.

For Kindergarten through 2nd grade, learning about notable individuals works best when the focus is on big ideas rather than dates and details. Three figures that fit beautifully into January learning are Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr., and Benjamin Franklin.

Although they lived at different times and worked in different ways, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr., and Benjamin Franklin share something important: they each found ways to use their strengths to help others.

Helen Keller reminds students that challenges do not stop learning or communication.

Martin Luther King Jr. teaches fairness, kindness, and standing up for what is right.

Benjamin Franklin shows the power of curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving.

Together, they offer meaningful opportunities for nonfiction learning with gentle social-emotional connections.

January provides natural connections to each of these individuals:

World Braille Day (January 4) is a perfect time to learn about Helen Keller and how people communicate in different ways.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15) invites conversations about kindness, fairness, and helping others.

Benjamin Franklin Day (January 17) is a fun opportunity to explore inventions, curiosity, and learning from mistakes.

Keeping lessons simple and student-centered helps young learners focus on understanding rather than memorization.

Picture books and simple biographies help bring these people to life. Here are a few teacher-favorite read-aloud books that work well for K–2:

Helen Keller by Gare Thompson

Who Was Helen Keller? 

Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport

My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta

Who Was Ben Franklin? 

These books encourage discussion, questions, and reflection.

5 Simple Activities for K–2 include:

These activities can be used with any of the three people and work well during January routines:

Character Traits Chart: Discuss traits such as kind, brave, curious, fair, and helpful.

Problem & Solution: Identify a challenge each person faced and how they helped others.

Directed Drawing & Writing: Draw the person and write one simple fact or sentence.

Then & Now Comparison: Talk about how life long ago was different from today.

How Can I Help? Reflection: Encourage students to think about small ways they can help others.

These activities keep learning thoughtful, calm, and developmentally appropriate.

Studying inspiring people in January helps set a positive tone for the year ahead. It encourages students to see that learning, kindness, and curiosity can make a difference — no matter how young they are.

If you’re looking for classroom resources to support this learning, you can find my Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr., and Benjamin Franklin fact booklets in my Teachers Pay Teachers store here:

January is a wonderful time to learn from the past while looking forward with hope!