Would you like to introduce numbers to your children this Valentine’s Day? This is a great opportunity to do so. Plus, we created this activity to give children a new and challenging experience. This wonderful Valentine’s Day activity also helps children develop number recognition, counting, and matching skills. So, try this perfect Valentine’s Day activity with your little ones.
In this activity, you can see 10 heart shapes separated from each other in the middle. Also, inside those separated hearts, you can see numbers on one side and dots on the other. So, children need to connect these separated hearts by matching the dots and numbers correctly. I think this activity is perfect for learning numbers and practicing counting. Moreover, to make this activity easier, we are providing you with a free PDF file. Also, you can find a clear guide on how to do this activity in this blog post below.
Let’s explore this fun Valentine’s Day learning activity!
Materials Needed:
- Printed Paper
- Cardstock
- Scissors
How to Use the Valentine’s Day Number Matching Hearts:
This Valentine’s Day number matching activity is easy for kids and can be easily prepared by teachers and parents. So, in this blog post, you have all the opportunities for it. Below are the instructions we will give you. Make your activities even easier by following the steps here.
01. Download and Print
First, we need to download the PDF file that we have provided to you. Then print it on paper. Here you are given 5 pages with color images. So you can print it in color or black and white pages as you like. And also, here you get two heart shapes per page. We have arranged it that way for your printing convenience.
02. Cut around the heart shapes
Now, cut out the heart shapes separately from the pages you printed. This way, you will get 10 cut-out heart shapes. Also, remember not to cut out the thick border around the hearts.
03. Paste on a cardboard
It is essential that the heart shapes you cut out are properly reinforced. But printing paper is not very strong. Then their durability is reduced. And it is also difficult for children to do the activity with them. So now let’s paste these 10 cut hearts on the cardboard. Next, carefully cut around the heart to remove the extra cardstock. Now you will get 10 strong heart shapes.
04. Cut Along the Dashed Lines
Okay, look at the 10 heart shapes in your hand. You’ll see a dotted line in the middle of each of those heart shapes. So, now what you need to do is cut along these dotted lines. In this way, you need to cut each heart into two pieces along the lines. So you will have 20 heart halves. This is a task that can be assigned to the children themselves. But since our goal is to introduce numbers, you can complete it yourself. I suggest that you complete these steps yourself to make the activity successful.
05. Mix Up the Pieces
Now you can give the heart pieces you have prepared to the children. Shuffle the halves so they are not in order. This is where this activity becomes challenging for the children. After this step, your intervention is complete. The next steps are the children’s turn.
06. Match the Numbers and Dots
The heart halves given to the children are filled with numbers and dots. That is, out of the 20 heart halves, 10 heart halves include the numbers 1-10, and the remaining 10 heart halves include dots. Therefore, here, the children need to take a number and choose the half that has the number of dots that matches it. This way, they can recreate every heart.
As an extra step, laminate the heart pieces separately. This is a great option if you plan to use the heart shapes for a long time, as it makes them more durable and long-lasting.
This hands-on activity strengthens number recognition and counting skills while also improving fine motor coordination.
Learning Benefits of This Valentine’s Day Activity:
This activity is a wonderful learning experience created by simulating Valentine’s Day. It is a multi-purpose activity filled with fun, learning, and love. So, let’s explore further what other experiences this Valentine’s Day activity offers to children,
✅ Number Recognition – This activity introduces children to numbers 1-10. It allows children to see the numbers clearly and in large numbers. It also makes it easier for children to identify each number individually.
✅ Counting Practice – Here, children are given black dots to count. We have provided them here clearly and easily for children to count. Therefore, in this activity, children need to identify the numbers and count and match the corresponding dots. Therefore, children’s counting skills will also improve.
✅ Fine Motor Skills – This activity also encourages the development of children’s fine motor skills. For example, children can demonstrate moving their fingertips while counting dots and matching halves of hearts. It also naturally develops hand-eye coordination skills in children.
✅ Problem-Solving Skills – Counting and matching the dots that correspond to the correct number and correctly matching the halves of the hearts are two challenging tasks for children. Also, finding the numbers 1-10 separately and creating 10 hearts is a real challenge for children. So, through this activity, children are encouraged to solve the problem on their own. Therefore, this strengthens the critical thinking skills of children.
✅ Engaging and Fun – Doing a math activity like this with heart shapes during Valentine’s Day is fun for kids, and it’s also a great way for kids to connect with the Valentine’s season.
Creative Ways to Use This Valentine’s Day Activity:
You can further enhance this activity and have fun with your children. Below are some suitable examples.
✅ Color the Hearts – After printing the hearts, children can color in the white part in the middle of the outline. This will make your hearts more beautiful and also give children the opportunity to develop their skills.
✅ Match and glue – We did this earlier by matching the halves together. This is a great activity to do over and over again. Alternatively, you can have the kids glue the matching halves together. Then, you can also hang them with a string and use them as Valentine decorations.
✅ Use Stickers – Children can stick stickers on the dots on the half of the heart. Have them count the dots and stick the stickers on top of each other. This will make counting easier for children. It is also a good idea to use one color for each digit. Use a sticker of your choice for this.
✅ Turn it into a Valentine decoration – Once the kids have finished their activities, you can use this as a Valentine’s Day decoration. Let them arrange the 10 hearts and string them together to make a wreath, necklace, or macrame. Alternatively, you can stick them on the wall or table as a lesson.
✅ Laminate for Reuse – If you want to use the game multiple times, laminate the pieces and use Velcro to stick them together
Perfect for Teachers and Parents:
This activity is great for:
- Classroom Math Centers – Teachers can use this as a fun Valentine’s Day math activity.
- Homeschooling – Parents can use this at home to support early math skills.
- Preschool and Kindergarten Learning – Perfect for little learners starting to recognize numbers.
- Holiday-Themed Learning – A fun and festive way to celebrate Valentine’s Day while learning!
How to Get the Free Printables:
Getting this Valentine’s Day Number Matching Hearts activity is easy!
📥 Step 1: Click the download button on this page.
🖨️ Step 2: Print the pages on high-quality paper.
✂️ Step 3: Cut, match, and enjoy!
This free printable is a great way to bring learning and creativity together.
*** You have the option to download the PDF file from this location.- Download
