Saint Valentine's Day

The children are told the story of the Valentine Sparrow. Each child makes valentine cards at home, with a special note in each one telling the recipient what they like about them. Every child also makes a bag or box to hold the valentines they will receive. The children all place their valentines in a big basket as they arrive in school, then the Valentine Sparrow delivers letters while the children are in class! Then we all read the valentines, say thank-you, and enjoy some delicious heart-shaped gingerbread cookies.

The Valentine Sparrow 

Once upon a time, during the frigid winter months, there lived a tiny sparrow who was very lonely.  Because King Winter was ruling the land, all the sparrows kept to themselves, fluffing their feathers to stay warm and hiding in the bushy trees for shelter.  They seldom ventured out except for a quick nibble of some seeds or a drink from a puddle of melted snow.  There was hardly any talking or singing because the cold winter air would simply freeze their words and songs before it could ever reach another's ears! 

The lonely little sparrow's heart ached for friendship.  She simply could not wait any longer for Miss Spring to arrive when there would be much singing and talking and playing and eating.  But what could she do?  She was certain that everyone else must be feeling the same. 

Then she had an idea!  King Winter might freeze spoken words and songs, but surely he couldn't freeze a special note written on birch bark paper.  Carefully and patiently,  the lonely little bird began to create individual notes with special pictures and words for each of her friends.  The more she created, the warmer her heart began to feel and the loneliness began to melt away.  When she had finished, she waited for brother sun to climb as high as he could so the air would warm a little...then she dashed through the crisp blue sky, darting from tree to tree delivering her beautiful creations.  You should have seen the amazement and joy on all her friends faces as they read her warm words and marveled at her colorful pictures! 

 They say that Miss Spring came early that year because of the warm glow from all the little birds' hearts.  And the little sparrow had so much fun delivering happiness that she continues to deliver sweet notes around this time of year if loving children will merely place them in her post box (which, by the way, was built by a young boy who had been bundled in warm clothes on that cold winter's day and had observed the whole thing.)