“A teacher plants the seeds of knowledge, sprinkles them with love, and patiently nurtures their growth to produce tomorrow’s dreams.”- Unknown 

When I reflect on the teachers in my life, there are many who made a significant impact on who I am: someone who really supported my ideas and growth, taught a subject with great passion, or helped run an after-school club with love.  

The impact and importance that teachers have on students is immeasurable. So, as we near the end of the school year (already?!) and Teacher Appreciation Week (the first week of May), here are 5 activities and gift ideas to help celebrate the amazing educators in your kids’ lives.  

1. Write a note to a teacher to tell them how much they mean to you.  

There is nothing more special than telling someone how much they mean to you. If your child has a teacher who has inspired them, support them by writing a note of gratitude. Prompts for writing could include:  

• “Write three of your favorite things that you did this year with your teacher.” 

• “What are 2 characteristics that you really like about your teacher?” 

• “When was a time your teacher made you feel happy?” 

 For younger kids, drawing a picture is also great! You can use prompts like:  

• “Let’s draw a picture of you and your teacher”  

• “What are your teacher’s favorite things and colors?”  

Then decide together whether your child would like to give the note anonymously or sign their name! 

2. Grow a plant for a teacher.  

April showers bring May flowers! It’s the perfect time to grow a native plant in a small pot or jar. Kids can help lead the way in deciding which plant, decorating the pot, and planting the seeds. Once it has grown a sprout or a full plant, the student can gift it to their teacher to brighten up their classroom. Check out Adventure #23 in the 2nd Edition book: Dig into the Soil + Start A Garden to learn more about this activity and the plants native to your area.  

3. Spread joy with a kindness rock. 

 Would you like to spread happiness around like sunshine? Start by heading outside and collecting some small, smooth rocks from around your yard or neighborhood. Wash and dry them well, and then cover them with a full coat of paint. When the paint has dried, use a separate paint color or marker to add words of happiness and encouragement to each rock, such as “you are loved,” “kindness rocks,” “thank you,” “stay positive,” or “you matter.” Once the rocks are ready, your kid can deliver them to their teachers and administrators as a thank you! Check out Adventure #46 in the 2nd Edition book: Spread Joy With Kindness Rocks to learn more about this activity and for more inspiration for your rocks! 

4. Buy some extra classroom supplies! 

Did you know that teachers often spend their own money on supplies and items for the classroom? The next time you are shopping with your kid, let them pick out a few extra boxes of tissues or packages of pencils to bring back to the classroom. Some teachers even have wish lists of supplies that they could use.  It is a gift for the whole class, too!  

5. Gift them a book to add to their classroom library. 

Donate a copy of your kid’s favorite book to the classroom for their library. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! And if your kid loves the Adventures in Kindness activities, it makes a great resource for teachers.  We even have a Teacher Bundle available that includes other teacher and classroom resources. Whichever book you choose to give, you will be supporting life-long learning, reading, and kindness! 

We hope you enjoyed these activities to show appreciation of the educators in your child’s life! Thank you for helping us to spread kindness to the many amazing educators in our community this month, and every month.  

Did you like these activities? If so, check out the full Adventures in Kindness book and use code: THANKSTEACH for free shipping AND a special gift to share with your teacher!