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Writing Crafts and Activities to Celebrate World Smile Day
Teacher friends, are you as fascinated about “celebration days” as I am? I love looking up what random “holidays” are celebrated and when. And it was on one of these google searches that I stumbled upon World Smile Day! Imagine… a whole day dedicated to making someone smile. I smile just thinking about it.
World Smile Day started in 1999 by the creator of the “smiley face”- Harvey Ball. He created his smiley face design in 1963, and since then, it has become one of the most easily recognizable symbols of cheer and good will. He wanted to set aside a day to remember to spread kindness and make people smile, and for the last 22 years, this day has been celebrated on the first Friday of October, which happens to be this Friday, October 7th!
I’ve rounded up some fun writing crafts and activities you can use with your class this year to celebrate World Smile Day below- including a free printable you can use to spread smiles to the faculty and staff at your school!
Materials: Peanut butter (or sun butter to avoid allergies), mini marshmallows, apple slices
Directions: Pat the apple slices with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. The peanut butter will spread more easily if the slices are a little drier. With a plastic knife or spoon, spread a small amount of peanut butter onto one side of the apple slice. Place the mini marshmallows standing upright on the peanut butter. Add peanut butter to a second apple slice and place it on top of the marshmallows peanut butter side down.
You can have fun and still keep the learning flowing! This Smiley Face Topper writing activity will have your students grinning from ear to ear as they design their own smiley face, write about what makes them smile, and illustrate their writing! I’ve included two versions of the writing paper, PLUS additional ideas for differentiation in the directions.
But don’t stop there! Grab this WORLD SMILE DAY note card template for FREE from my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. Use these note cards to spread some cheer throughout your school by letting students write notes to faculty, staff, and students about how they make them smile!
If you celebrate World Smile Day, be sure to use their hashtags #worldsmiledaychallenge or #wsdchallenge, and make sure you tag me in your World Smile Day writing crafts so I can see all of the smiles!
- Rebekah
Looking for ways to differentiate instruction without hours of extra planning?
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