Kid's Activity: Make a Valentine's Day Gift Bag!

by Melissa Jaramillo and Julie Snyder

Here's an opportunity to learn about circles, semi-circles, compasses, protractors and symmetry. It's also a great craft project -- a heart-shaped bag that is deceptively simple. Its design is based on a semi-circle and can be adapted to many sizes and weights of paper. Depending on age (there is a very simple gift bag for the very young below), the child can make the half circle, measure the sections, and cut out the gift bag or you may present the already cut out bag ready for decoration and construction.

Heart-shaped gift bag

What you will need:

• Posterboard, card stock, wrapping paper or grocery bag
• Compass, protractor and pencil
• Twine, yarn or ribbon
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers, paint, stickers or glitter if desired
• Red, pink or white tissue paper

Using the compass start an inch in from the edge of your paper and make a half circle. Divide the circle, using a protractor, into five sections: 65°, 20°, 65°, 20° and 10°. Mark the middle of the two large section. Draw semicircle to form the top of each heart. Cut out shape. (see image)

Score along fold lines with a table knife. Decorate the outside with paint, stamps, markers, stickers or glitter. Allow to dry. Fold along scored lines and glue small tab behind first large section, forming a heart-shaped bag. Allow to dry. Punch holes for handle. Cut about 12" of twine, yarn or ribbon and thread through hole.

Place red, white or pink tissue paper inside the bag, fill with goodies and take to a friend!

Easy version for younger children

What you will need:

• Small gift bag in red, white or pink
• red, white or pink shiny wrapping paper
• Valentine's Day stamps or stickers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Glitter or glitter glue pen (optional)
• Red, white or pink tissue paper

Show your child what a half heart would look like. Fold wrapping paper in half. Draw a pattern on the paper and have child cut out the heart. Open and show how both sides of the heart are the same. Little kids usually love big words and big concepts. Mention that the heart has symmetry across that vertical line. Make an imaginary line horizontally. Does the heart have symmetry on that line? (No, because it isn't the same above as below the line.) Repeat with more hearts if wanted.

Glue heart or hearts to the front of a gift bag. Then embellish with stamps, stickers, and glitter. Allow to dry.

Place red, white or pink tissue paper inside the bag and fill with goodies.

Julie Snyder is a mom of six, interested in kids, pregnancy, birth, people and lives in the outlying Seattle area. Melissa Jaramillo is mom to many. She's passionate about building, encouraging, and strengthening families on this adventure known as parenthood!

Copyright © Melissa Jaramillo and Julie Snyder. Permission to republish granted to Pregnancy.org, LLC.