Writing poems, making cards, drawing pictures, and many other activities are some of the ways students show their love and appreciation for their mother figures. Many teachers use this special holiday to allow students to use their creativity to express sincerity and honor their close family members. Not only can these types of activities bring out the artist or writer in all children, but it can allow students to learn about the history of Mother’s Day.
Many people assume that Mother’s Day began in the United States, but this is not true. The history of Mother’s Day is centuries old and can be traced back to the celebrations in ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the gods. A little later in history people in England paid respect to mothers on “Mothering Sunday,” which is the fourth Sunday of Lent.
Julia Ward Howe, who wrote "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and Miss Anna M. Jarvis, who began a letter writing campaign in favor of Mother's Day, helped make this day a national holiday. Anna Jarvis had a personal reason for pushing for the holiday. Anna Jarvis was very close to her mother, Mrs. Anna Reese Jarvis. Her mother died in May of 1905 at the age of 41. Anna greatly missed her mother and felt that it was important to give her children a way to celebrate their grandmother. Anna hoped that Mother’s Day would be a time to show respect, and love for family members.
In 1907 Anna encouraged her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the second Sunday in May. This event inspired other states to begin celebrating Mother’s Day. By 1911, every state observed Mother’s Day. On May 8, 1914, Congress passed a resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
Since white carnations were Anna Jarvis’s mother’s favorite flower, it was chosen to represent Mother's Day. It was thought to represent sweetness, purity, and the endurance of mother love. However, since this time, the red carnation has become the symbol of a living mother, and white honors the mothers who have died.
After students have learned the history of Mother’s Day, they can better appreciate the meaning of the holiday. Then you can go on to the fun stuff. There are many classroom activities that you can do with students of all ages. Every year I require my students to write an essay answering a couple of questions. The first is “What is Mother’s Day?” Another question is “What makes your mom special?” I encourage them to write two paragraphs answering each question. I also encourage them to take their essay home and let their mother read it. After they complete this assignment, they really enjoy Mother’s Day so much more.
Another assignment that many students enjoy is writing a poem to their mother. The poems can be in any style. I require students to express their true feelings for their mother, grandmother, or other loved one, and thank her for all that she has done for them. I also have students draw or include a picture that resembles their mom. I highly encourage them to take it home and give it to their mom for Mother’s Day. What follows are some more Mother's Day lessons.
Mother's Day Poems and Lessons:
Make a “Memories of Mom” Memento
This lesson plan asks student to make a book for their mom. This plan gives daily essay topics that students can choose from to write about each day. After they have written daily entries, students will have created a book just for their mom that allows them to show their true appreciation for their mom.
In this lesson students create their own acrostic poem. They use dictionaries and computers to complete this assignment. Students insert a picture to represent Mother’s Day and make their poem and picture into a bookmark for their mothers to use and have as a memento.
This lesson has students participate in a variety of activities for Mother’s Day. Students learn about the history of Mother’s Day, complete quizzes, crosswords puzzles, unscramble words, write a variety of poems, and complete other writing assignments.
I really like this lesson because students can use their creative ablilities to make their mom a special flower that will never die. The lesson gives the exact directions that are needed to make this unique flower that all mothers will definitely love.
This lesson has students make a special Mother’s Day card using silhouettes. Students first learn the history of silhouettes, then they create their very own unique Mother’s Day card expressing their appreciation for their mother.
