Testing, reviews, field day, etc.—The end of the year can be a chaotic time. But amid the transition, there’s a bright spot, a purposeful break from the routine. As students become restless and their attention wanes, engaging in Mother’s Day activities allows students to channel their energy into creative and meaningful tasks through gift-making.
Mother’s Day is such a special opportunity to pause and honor the incredible moms, grandmothers, aunts, and mother figures who positively shape our students’ lives.
Without adding too much to your plate, you can engage students in celebrating Mother’s Day with heartwarming picture books and thoughtful student-made gifts that are easy, fun, and still meet educational goals.
First up, let’s highlight some beautiful read-alouds that celebrate the nurturing, supportive, and inspiring roles mothers and grandmothers play. These stories offer so many entry points for classroom discussions about family, love, and gratitude.
One of my personal favorites on this list is Saturday by Oge Mora. It is such a relatable story about a mom and daughter whose Saturday plans just go all sorts of wrong, but there’s a heartfelt message about the simple beauty of togetherness.
Whether you’re teaching about kindness, resilience, or the power of dreams, these picture books make the perfect warm-up for a day full of Mother’s Day gift-making! Here are a few must-read Mother’s Day picture books:
Sometimes the simplest gifts are the most heartfelt—and there’s something truly special about a homemade card. Creating greeting cards is an engaging way for students to develop positive emotional expression and feelings of gratitude.
The beauty of this activity is that it can be done completely independently. Set up a Mother’s Day Card-Making Station in your classroom with markers, crayons, and stickers. Then let your students’ creativity take over!
You can give them a writing prompt like:
Heartfelt or funny, these cards are a treasured keepsake moms will want to hold onto forever.
This hands-on flower craft is as sweet as it is simple! Students will create a beautiful paper flower where each petal includes a sentence or phrase describing their mom (or grandma, aunt, or another special woman in their life).
This versatile craft is perfect for fostering inclusivity in the classroom. Encourage students to use the flowers to describe any significant lady in their lives, ensuring each student feels seen and heard.
Writing prompts for the petals might include:
Once completed, students can glue their petals around a flower center that features their honoree’s name or a drawing.
Teacher Tip: Use this craft as a mini writing lesson by brainstorming descriptive words and sentence starters together before students begin.
A fun way to celebrate is by guiding students through a directed drawing of their mom. Drawing is the ultimate activity for developing fine motor skills and creativity, making this an ideal choice.
A Mother’s Day drawing makes an adorable keepsake that shows off students’ personalities and perceptions in the most endearing ways. And they pair perfectly with many of the other crafts, activities, and books mentioned in this post.
There’s nothing better than hearing how a child describes someone special to them, especially in their own words. With the Mother’s Day Questionnaire Booklet, students can express their love, share fun facts, and get a few laughs along the way.
Beyond the fun and endearing nature of this booklet, this Mother’s Day gift idea doubles as an educational outlet to enhance literacy skills.
With pages like All About Mom, 3 Things I Love About Mom, and This or That: Mom Edition, students have ample opportunities to celebrate mom while expanding their writing and creatively improving their communication skills.
Bonus: it pairs beautifully with the directed drawing for a complete and heartfelt gift!
Wondering what you’ll do for Father’s Day next? Check out the best ideas for Father’s Day gifts and books!
Mother’s Day Directed Drawing, Writing Craft, and Mother’s Day Booklet for students to gift to their mom
Hey, y’all! My name is Amy Lemons and I am passionate about providing students with both engaging and effective standards-based Math and ELA lessons.
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