6 Conversation Heart Activities

There are so many different ways to use conversation hearts instead of saving them for a sweet treat. Here are 6 different ways to use conversation hearts in the classroom and will definitely have your kids looking at candy in a whole new way!

1. WAR OF HEARTS

War of Hearts has always been a class favorite and there are a few ways to incorporate this one into your instruction. This game is played like the card game, War, and here are a few different ideas for play…

• Partner Play – both players grab a conversation heart from a bag/container and count the number of letters on each. Players write the numbers in the matching heart on the corresponding printable and determine who has the GREATER number. The player with the greatest number colors their heart and wins the round. The player who wins the most rounds wins the game!
• Partner Play (Addition) – both players grab two conversation hearts from a bag/container and create a number sentence to match. Players write the number sentences in the matching heart on the corresponding printable and determine who has the GREATEST sum. The player with the greatest sum colors their heart and wins the round. The player who wins the most rounds, wins the game!
• Independent Play – student grabs two hearts from the bag/container, counts the number of letters on each and writes the number that matches the amount in either heart. Student compares the number to determine the GREATEST or LEAST (teacher discretion) and colors the matching heart.

This is an activity that would be great to add to your math centers or even use as a “special” Valentine Day game. Of course, you can always play this one past Valentine’s, but it definitely lends itself to being incorporated on love day.

2. CONVERSATION HEART GRAPH – COLORS & LETTERS

Place a collection of candy hearts in a bag/container and prompt students to grab a handful and graph according to color. Students will sort candies by color and then analyze the data as instructed on the printable. Laminate or place inside of a dry erase sleeve for repeated use. You can also print and display on your whiteboard using a document camera and complete this one as a whole group.

Similarly, students can also sort and graph conversation hearts according to the number of letters on each heart. Printables are included for both options and can be downloaded HERE.

3. CONVERSATION HEART ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Here’s an idea for incorporating into your word work center. Prompt students to grab five different conversation hearts from a bag/container. Using the ABC Order printable, students will place the candy into the hearts and then write each of the phrases in alphabetical order in the spaces provided.

Laminate or place inside of a dry erase sleeve and pop this into your word work center with a bag/container full of conversation hearts for repeated use. This one is sure to be a favorite! Download your free copy HERE.

4. CONVERSATION HEART PROBABILITY

Fill a paper bag with conversation hearts and prompt students to reach in and grab a handful. Kids will sort the hearts by color and then tally the results on the printable. Discuss the concept of probability and prompt students to record their thinking on the printable provided.

5. CONVERSATION HEART O’STACKS

Get your kids estimating, building, and counting with this fun activity! Prompt students to estimate how many candy hearts they think they can stack without falling over and then test their estimates. Encourage the kids to build a stack to test their guesses and then record the actual number of hearts that were stacked before falling over. Did they stack more or less than their estimate?!
Students can also play with a partner to make things a little more interesting. Same idea, but for partner play, students will compare stacks and then determine if they stacked more or less than their partner and then bubble in the matching emoji on the printable.

6. CONVERSATION HEART TASK CARDS

Print the task cards included and place in centers or display on your whiteboard via document camera for morning work. Each card provides students with the opportunity to complete a task using conversation hearts. Twelve tasks + printable recording sheets are included as well!