There’s no doubt that mothers are important figures in our lives. They teach us, guide us, influence us, and cheer us on. Not all of us have mothers in the traditional sense, and we may turn to other family members or loved ones for advice, support, or encouragement. So, this Mother’s Day, let us celebrate not only the women who gave birth to us but also the amazing people who have the role of mother in our lives.
Note: Throughout this article, we often use ‘mother’ or ‘mom’ but recognize that mother figures do not look the same in everyone’s lives, and many students refer instead to caregivers or guardians who aren’t their biological mothers.
Fun Mother’s Day Activities for Primary and Middle School Students
For all the teachers out there wondering how to celebrate Mother’s Day in school, look no further! From making cards to crafting decorative vases, explore fun Mother’s Day classroom activities for students.
1. Make Cards
Cards allow students to express gratitude and appreciation for the mothers in their lives. It’s also an opportunity for students to get creative! You will need:
- Construction paper (various colors)
- Crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers
- Scissors
- Stickers, glitter, and anything else you can think of to make the cards colorful and fun!
While the specific writing requirement attached to this activity will vary depending on the age group, one idea is for middle schoolers to write one to two properly structured paragraphs. You may ask them to provide reasons to celebrate their mothers or to write a reflection on their favorite memory of this person.
2. Create a Comic Strip
Ask students to think of something heroic or inspirational their moms have done. Did Mom complete a college degree? Perhaps their mother ran for a local office or is a super organizer who effortlessly juggles schedules. Afterward, have students create comic strips about their moms based on their chosen accomplishments or events. The tone of voice students choose can be up to them—the story can be humorous, serious, whimsical—whatever works for their stories! Students can even transform their moms into superheroes or use creative license to embellish the story throughout.
What You’ll Need
- Art supplies
- Rulers
- Online tool (if creating comics digitally)
What to Do
- Have students look for examples of comic strips in newspapers, online, and books. Students might be familiar with this medium, but walk through the various components associated with comic strips, such as the title, panels, speech balloons, characters, and creator’s signature.
- Then, have students decide how they’ll design their comic strips, such as by hand or using an online tool (plenty are out there!).
- Have students determine how many panels they’ll need to tell the story of a particular event in their moms’ pasts. After finishing, have them present their comic strips to the class, and afterward, display the comic strips on a bulletin board to celebrate Mother’s Day.
3. Host “The Something Special” Awards
In this Mother’s Day activity for elementary students, children can showcase their artistic skills to create an award for the mothers in their lives. You will need:
- Crayons, colored pencils, and/or markers
- Glue
- Scissors
- Colored construction paper
- Award ribbon
You can discuss with your students the ways in which their mothers have done something special for them and have them express their thoughts visually. The “something special” can also be as broad as these women simply being an integral part of your students’ lives! Your students can decorate their awards in any way they want. Afterward, you can create a trophy case or host an awards ceremony.
4. Write a Poem
Poetry writing is a wonderful way for students to show they care for, appreciate, or admire someone. An original poem to a mother in a student’s life can be a beautiful gift.
Teachers can encourage their students to write their poems in whatever style they prefer, whether it be freeform, haiku, or any other form of poetry. It would be great if the students who want to try their hand at reading aloud have a chance to perform in front of the class!
5. Design a T-Shirt
Designing a T-shirt is a fun opportunity for students to express gratitude toward their moms. Best of all, this Mother’s Day school idea can be a blast for multiple age groups! Fill your T-shirt station with plain white cotton T-shirts of multiple sizes, and allow students to use fabric markers, glitter, and anything else you think will give those shirts some pizazz. Afterward, have students give their T-shirts as gifts to their mothers.
6. Build a Bulletin Board
Teachers can set up a bulletin board for students and ask them to answer a question such as “What Do You Love about Your Mom or Caregiver?” Then, students can write a few things they love most about the parent or role model in their lives. If they would like, students can add a photograph of their mothers to go along with their entry. The finished product is a beautiful display for all the mothers to see and appreciate. Snap some photos and share them with the class, and prominently display the bulletin board for others to see!
7. Create a Coupon Book
Students can create a booklet of coupons where they promise to give back or do something nice for those who care about them. This is a fun Mother’s Day activity for middle school students. They can make coupons depending on what they think their mother would like. An example of a great coupon is: “One night I’ll help you make dinner.” This encourages involvement with the family while also teaching the student a bit about collaboration skills and cooking basics.
8. Compare Childhood Experiences
Ask students: What was mom like at your age? They’ve probably heard stories here and there about the popular singers that mom loved or what school was like back in the day. Give students a chance to further explore their moms’ childhoods, no matter the decade. Comparing modern times to the past can be both fun and educational.
The questions students investigate are endless. They can determine the clothes their moms would have worn at their ages. (Neon pink tutus? Tracksuits?) Students might even find similarities between their childhoods and their moms’. For example, some students might be knowledgeable about classic books (like Corduroy or A Wrinkle in Time) that their moms might have read, too, as children.
How students present their findings about mom is up to them. They can create a poster with magazine cutouts featuring items associated with their mom’s childhood. They can write an essay or create a Venn diagram to compare their mom’s childhood to theirs. Students shouldn’t only rely on their mom for their investigation; consider having them do additional research to determine what the world was like when mom was a kid.
9. Make Mini-Books
A great Mother’s Day activity for primary school students, Mother’s Day mini-books are books that your students can create either online or by hand. This activity can help expand students’ vocabulary and encourage literacy. You may need the following:
- Printer and paper/cardstock
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Hole puncher
- Ribbon
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
The writing prompts you assign will vary depending on students’ grade levels. Some examples:
- Write a narrative about your favorite memory with your mother.
- Tell the story of your typical day and how your mother helps you along the way.
- Have students write a list titled ‘Why I Love My Mom.’ The list can have a similar but different title depending on the student. Students should list one item with an accompanying drawing on each page.
10. Decorate Vases
In this Mother’s Day activity, students can make vases to hold flowers, whether they’re real or fake, and decorate as they wish. You will need glass bottles, colored tissue paper, white glue, and sponge brushes or small paintbrushes. This activity can also double as an art lesson.
11. Write About Mom
In the week leading up to Mother’s Day, teachers can ask their students to choose from a list of writing prompts that have to do with their mothers. Some examples of Mother’s Day writing prompts are:
- My Favorite Holiday Memory with Mom/Caregiver
- A Funny Moment with Mom/Caregiver
- The Best Advice My Mother/Caregiver Ever Gave Me
Students can write a paragraph in response to the prompt, though the requirements will vary depending on the age group. Students can even compile a response to a different prompt each day over a few days as a longer Mother’s Day school project, and the end result is a heartfelt, touching book to give to their mothers.
12. Research Mom’s Family History
Family trees can help us better connect to our family—both past members and those currently living. Having middle school students learn about their moms’ history can help them bond with one of the most influential women in their lives.
In class, have students create a maternal ancestry family tree, leaving spots where they’ll later fill in names. The tree can be as long or short as students wish, depending on the information they’re able to discover or feel comfortable sharing. How students design their trees is up to them! Then, outside the classroom, have students ask their mothers to help them fill out their family trees; this part of the assignment might take more than a day if their mothers must dig for any missing information.
This activity might inspire students’ moms to share more about their families. Students can ask questions to spark a more in-depth conversation, such as:
- What are some memories you have of your mom?
- What were the occupations of your mother, grandmother, etc.?
- Do you have any photos of your family to share?
If there’s room on their trees, students can add this additional information.
13. Read Mother’s Day Books
Picking up a Mother’s Day book—and telling your mom about it at the end of the day—is a great sentiment. Here are some wonderful, illuminating reads about mothers and motherhood for different age groups:
- The Mother’s Day Mice by Eve Bunting and Jon Brett (Pre-K–3)
- En las Piernas de Mamá/On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott and Glo Coalson (Pre-K–K)
- Mothers Are Like That by Paul Carrick and Carol Carrick (Pre-K–K)
- Lullaby (For a Black Mother) by Langston Hughes and Sean Quails (Pre-K–3)
- Because Your Mommy Loves You by Andrew Clements and R. W. Alley (Pre-K–3)
- Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye by Lois Lowry (Grades 7–12)
- The Turner House by Angela Flournoy (Grades 9–12)
Share Your Mother’s Day Classroom Activities for Students
How do you help students honor their mothers, caregivers, or role models? Share your favorite Mother’s Day celebration ideas in school via email at shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Facebook or Instagram.
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This blog, originally published in 2019, has been updated for 2024.
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