Valentines Day

Objectives:

• Students will be able to explain the history of Valentine’s Day.

• Students will be able to distinguish between the historical Saint Valentine and the legend of Valentine.

• Students will be able to describe past and present traditions related to Valentine’s Day, including the origin and popularization of Valentine’s Day cards.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade - 6th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Valentine's Day is celebrated each year on February 14th. The feast day of the Catholic Saint Valentine, February 14th has become known as a day to celebrate love. On Valentine's Day, people give cards and gifts to romantic partners and others they love. Cards exchanged on Valentine's Day have come to be known simply as "valentines". It is estimated that close to one billion valentines are sent worldwide each year!

In the Middle Ages, a tradition of "courtly love" inspired Valentine's Day. The idea behind courtly love was for the man to "court" his romantic interest. In other words, he did his best to be worthy of her love. Some of the ways for a man to court a woman would include giving her gifts and trying his best to act like a gentleman around her.

Continued...