This is a French Valentine’s Day craft that your students or even your own kids will enjoy doing!
They’ll be making a list of things they love and keeping those things “protected” in a mint tin.
They’ll also be practicing the language, at the level they are, by completing the simple yet effective sentence starter: “J’aime…”
And if you don’t have enough mint tins, don’t worry! Use the FREE printable file to create an interactive foldable activity for your students notebooks or attach the foldable paper accordions to a bulletin board!
You classroom can make this for Mother’s Day celebrations as well.
French Valentine’s Day Craft: “J’aime” Mint Tin
You’re going to need to print a copy of the FREE page for each student. If you’re pressed for time, have pairs or small groups create one mint tin.
You’re also going to need an empty mint tin, e.g. an Altoids tin or something similar.
You can print the pages on white paper if you know your kids are super creative and will love to draw, color, and make each box as bright and decorated as possible.
Or you can print the pages on colored paper. Just make sure that the paper is not too dark or it might be hard for the text to be read.
Be sure to instruct kids to cut around the whole shape and not around each individual box. The paper pieces should end up like in the picture below.
NOTE: it is highly advisable that you make your own mint tin first so you can use it as a model for students’ reference during the activity.
Then, they’re going to need to glue the two pieces of the foldable accordion together.
Read: French Lapbooks: Interactive Foldable Activities
Read: Fun Speaking Game: Time Bomb
While they’re waiting for the glue to really dry, they can start working on their sentences.
For lower grades or beginners in the language, a few words will do, e.g. “J’aime… ma maison” or “J’aime… les animaux.”
For higher grades or intermediate/advanced French students, have them really work on their sentences by asking them to list the thing/person they love and give a reason for that, e.g. “J’aime… mes amis parce qu’ils sont généreux, sincères et amusants.”
Fold the piece of paper “back and forth” to create the accordion.
Glue the foldable accordion to the inner side of the mint tin top cover.
Read: French Valetine’s Day Lapbook
Now for the cover! Use the cover template included in the file or have kids create their own mint tin top cover.
You can have them paint it white to begin with. Next, they can draw, write, glue small items to the cover and really make the little box their own.
What you could do is start by having the students paint the covers on one day without letting them know what the mint tin is for.
Put the boxes aside for the paint to dry overnight.
The next day you start with the actual activity.
In the picture below, I’ve used the cover in the file.
I know, I know, I’m not the greatest artist and I’m sure your kids will do a much better job than me 😀
And I’d love to see the end result. Post pictures on FB or IG and use the hashtag #JaimeMintTin and tag me @ForFrenchImmersion
Thank you for checking out this French Valentine’s Day craft!
Lucy
Click on any of the pictures to download it from TpT!
P.S. I’m so lucky to have very talented teacher-friends. After reading Got To Teach’s Mint Tin Book Report post, I knew I wanted to use mint tin to make kids practice French. Even though my idea is totally different from hers, I still asked and got Melissa’s permission to make this post. Thank you Melissa! 🙂
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