Warm & Fuzzy Notes (FREEBIE INCLUDED!)

My "Warm & Fuzzy Notes" project is one of the sweetest activities you'll ever enjoy with your students! I especially love that you can "subject smash" with this activity, meaning several subjects "wrapped up" in one activity! I first partook in this activity when I was student-teaching in first grade (2003), and I've done it every year since! The container that holds the notes has changed over the years, so I'll share the different iterations here depending on the school (and space!!) available to you. The original container was a big paper stocking (I was in an Episcopalian school). Once I had the same group a fourth time (I taught them in K-3rd), I changed it to a wrapped box under a Christmas tree in my classroom. When I got to my second school, it needed to be a non-denominational activity. We still wrapped a box, but my students could choose their own wrapping paper. Once again I looped with a class, so I wanted to change the container to update the activity. I changed it to a gingerbread house (a paper lunch sack).

Overall skills covered:

letter-writing form
sentence composition and grammar
geometry (area and perimeter)
social-emotional learning (thinking about their classmate's strengths & feelings)
fine-motor skills with coloring and cutting
real-world skills (*wrapping a box)

Read to the end for a FREEBIE and the link to the FULL RESOURCE!

Steps to complete the project:

STEP 1 | Students measure the area and perimeter of one of the sides of a paper lunch sack or a shoebox and record it on the included recording worksheet. For an extension bonus, they can find the area and perimeter of all sides and add together. Once students finish the math and record their work, they cut out the worksheet and glue it to the bottom of the paper bag or box. This step can be done as a whole class activity or individually.

STEP 2 (Gingerbread House) | Students choose, color, and cut out the elements for the gingerbread house. When assembling the gingerbread house, I would recommend cutting the mailbox hole and (liquid) gluing on the cotton balls (snow) first before stapling on the roof. Once the kids complete the bag, display them in a special spot so that the kids can fill their classmate's bag as they complete their notes.

STEP 2 (Wrapped Box) | Students wrap their box. Cut a slit/hole on the top for them to place their notes through. You can also give them a gift tag as a label for their name.

STEP 3 | Students write the Warm & Fuzzy Notes! ❤️ For the sake of organization, I give a class set with a check-off sheet in each Ziplock bag for each student. I also have extra notes available in the event they want to give a specific note to a friend. I would highly recommend putting together an anchor chart for your students so they have go-to phrases. Each of the teachers can write to their class as well as the kids writing to their teachers. The expectations of the writing of the notes can be adapted for the age group doing the project. For example, you may choose to do already typed notes with a space for one extra comment and them to write their closing and signature. Our learning specialist did that for our Dyslexic students. Alternatively, the kids could use already-colored notes and be expected to write 1-2 sentences versus 4-5 sentences.

Notes About the Note Templates: I simply take festive black/white clipart and make them about half a sheet on 8.5x11" paper. It would be important to ensure multiple holidays represented as well as general thematic clipart. I would recommend that the kids cut and/or color first so that they can see the boundaries of their note. I also have my students use a ruler to make straight(er) lines. Then they erase the lines after they finish writing.

STEP 4 | Students fill their classmates' bags/boxes.

STEP 5 | Students take the Warm & Fuzzy Notes projects home to read & enjoy!