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A collection of favorite tunes, finger plays and action ryhmes for Valentine's Eco Kids! Let your children enjoy 'Be my Valentine', 'I'm a Little Valentine' and many other great favorites. 

The story briefly tells about the king who wanted everyone to be in his army and not have families. Valentine tried to help the young men and women and got thrown in jail by the king. People were sad to see him in jail so they sent him cards. The story says that Valentine sent a card back and signed it "From Your Valentine." The story goes on to explain that "On Valentine's Day we show our love for our friends and family with gifts and cards... we remember that all God's children should love one another."
  
History tells us the first modern valentines date from the early years of the fifteenth century. The young French Duke of Orleans, captured at the battle of Agincourt, was kept a prisoner in the Tower of London for many years. He wrote poem after poem to his wife, real valentines. About sixty of them remain. These can be seen among the royal papers in the British Museum.
 
Flowers as valentines appear nearly two hundred years later. A daughter of Henry IV of France gave a party in honor of St Valentine. Each lady received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the man chosen as her valentine.
 
So from around the world... Italy, France and England came the pretty custom of sending our friends loving messages on this day. With flowers, with heart-shaped treats, and with valentine cards we honour the good priest who disobeyed Claudius the Cruel.

The following tunes and ryhmes can be enjoyed whilst making Valentine's crafts, adding a verse to a homemade card and celebrations ....

What Can I Give You
What can I give you, still small and quite young?
A picture I've colored, a song I have sung?
Some help with the chores, that might be a good start.
But whatever I give, it's with love in my heart!!

I'm A Little Valentine
(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little valentine,
Can't you see?
All decorated,
I'm pretty as can be.
I say, "I love you!"
And "Won't you be mine?"
So give me to a friend.
Oh, don't waste time!

I Love You, You Love Me (from the Barney cartoon show)

I love you
You love me
We're a happy family
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you

Won't you say you love me too?

I love you
You love me
We're best friends
Like friends should be
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too?

A Little Piece of Lace
(to the tune of "I'm a Little Hunk of Tin")
Just a little piece of lace,
Glue it 'round a red heart shape.
Now, add words so sweet and true,
A special message -- "I love you."

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty Valentine!
Please, oh please, won't you be mine?

Be My Valentine
(to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb")
You're a special friend of mine,
Friend of mine, friend of mine.
You're a special friend of mine.
Please by my valentine.

You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away

Do You Know My Valentine?
(to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?")
Do you know my valentine?
My valentine?
My valentine?
Do you know my valentine?
S/he's wearing (a/an) (color) (article of clothing).
For example, "He's wearing a red shirt."

Suggestion: One child at a time sings the verse. On the last line of the song, s/he chooses a child in the classroom as his/her valentine and sings about a piece of that child's clothing. Other students must then guess the name of the valentine. Whoever guesses correctly becomes the next singer.

Five Pretty Valentines
(Fingerplay)

Five pretty valentines sitting in the store,
(Child's name) bought one, and then there were four.

Four pretty valentines left on the shelf,
(Child's name] bought one, and then there were three.

Three pretty valentines waiting for a home,
(Child's name) bought one, and then there were two.

Two pretty valentines standing side by side,
(Child's name) bought one, and then there was one.

One pretty valentine left all alone
(Child's name) bought that valentine, and all were gone.

H-E-A-R-T
(to the tune of "B-I-N-G-O")
There is a shape; it stands for love,
And "heart" is its name.
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
And "heart" is its name.

How Many Valentines?
(Group fingerplay)

(Teacher or one child:)
Come on, everybody, look this way,
How many Valentines did I make?

(Rhyme giver holds up one or more fingers)

(Remainder of Group:)
*counts in unison*

Just for You
(Action Rhyme)

Cut, cut, cut with scissors. (Pretend to cut.)
Paste, paste, paste with glue. (Pretend to glue.)
Color, color, color with crayons. (Pretend to color.)
(Both thumbs pointing to self) I made this pretty Valentine
(Extend hands outward as if offering a gift) Just for YOU!

Make a Heart
(Action Rhyme)

Make it tall.
Make it wide.
Make a heart close to the ground.
Make it small;
Then sit down.

Making Valentines
(to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")

I'm making a pretty card.
I'm making a pretty card.
I'm making a pretty card
To give to my love.

I'll neatly write, "I love you!"
I'll neatly write, "I love you!"
I'll neatly write, "I love you!"
"Oh, won't you be mine?"

I'll trim it with lots of lace.
I'll trim it with lots of lace.
I'll trim it with lots of lace,
and a big, pretty bow.

I'll stick it in an envelope.
I'll stick it in an envelope.
I'll stick it in an envelope,
And seal it with love.

Ten Pretty Valentines
(to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")

One pretty, two pretty, three pretty valentines;
Four pretty, five pretty, six pretty valentines;
Seven pretty, eight pretty, nine pretty valentines;
Ten pretty valentines!

The Valentine Song

Valentines say, "I love you!"
"I love you!" "I love you!"
Valentines say, "I love you!"
"I really, really do!"

When You Wish Upon a Star
(Writer: Leigh Harline; Lyrics: Ned Washington)

When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires will come to you

If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star as dreamers do

(Fate is kind, she brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of their secret longing)

Like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you thru
When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true

Will You Be My Valentine?
(to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down")

Will you be my valentine?
Valentine? Valentine?
Will you be my valentine
On this special day?

Suggestion: Stand in a circle to sing this song. One child stands in the center. At the end of the song, s/he chooses someone to be his/her valentine and join him/her inside the circle. The song is sung a second time and the new person inside the circle chooses a valentine. Continue until all children have been added to the circle.

The More We Get Together
 
Oh, the more we get together,
Together, together,
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be.

For your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be!

For a special Valentine gift - name a star after the special child. Here is a collection of favorite star songs for children of all ages...

At evening when I go to bed
I see the stars shine overhead
They are the little daisies white
That dot the meadow of the night

And often when I'm dreaming so
Across the sky the moon will go
She is a lady sweet and fair
Who comes to gather daisies there

For when at morning I arise
There's not a star left in the skies
She's picked them all and dropped them down
Into the meadows of the town

Stars work down on land and sea
Stars work also into me
So fingers and feet
Are nimble and neat

A house the stars have built for me
Of silver tones and gold
Then come inside with one, two, three
To share the gifts I hold

All day long the sun shines bright
The moon and stars come out by night
From twilight time they line the skies
And watch the world with quiet eyes

Softly, softly, through the darkness
Snow is falling
Meekly, meekly in the meadows
Lambs are calling
Coldly, coldly all around me
winds are blowing
Brightly, brightly up above me
Stars are glowing

Living light of stars above
Crystal light below
Light your lantern with your love
Let it glow and glow

Good Angel, take me by the hand
And lead me through the starry land
Stars, sing to me while I'm asleep
Your loving watch forever keep
That when I wake through all my days
I may gladly follow kind and loving ways