Happy fathers day to a father figure

Father’s Day is nearly here! How will you help your students say “thank you” to the father figures in their lives? TpT Teacher-Authors have created a host of wonderful resources to help kids honor their dads, grandpas, uncles, or whoever that special someone may be.

Resources For Dads and Beyond…

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  Teaching in the Tongass says, “I hold a ‘Donuts with Dads’ event (except I call it ‘Donuts with Dudes’). I invite the FUDGE (friends, uncles, dads, grandpas, etc.) into the classroom and we all eat donuts/drink coffee (kids get orange juice!), read to one another, and even draw one another’s portraits (another resource available in my store) to share when students introduce their “dude” to the class. At the end, we take a group photo and send the ‘dudes’ home with their portraits. It’s a huge hit and it gets the guys into the classroom! My Donuts with Dads Craftivity has the option to either write about ‘My dad’ or fill in the blank with any special loved one!”
• “I appreciate open-ended projects for students to express their individuality and creativity,” says Winged One. “I find that students are grateful for the opportunity to put their own twist on things. My Father’s Day Book: Starring Dad! includes alternative options for Father, Stepdad, Grandpa, Grandfather, Foster Dad, Foster Father, and Uncle.”
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  Laura Bensley says, “I created my Father’s Day “Number One Dad” Craftivity keeping in mind the different sizes and shapes families come in these days. This craftivity can be used for a student’s dad, grandpa, or anyone he or she chooses to write about by simply filling in the blank that’s left on each page. It’s really about giving an award to someone the student feels is special! There are 18 writing prompts to go along with the craft so teachers have a wide range to choose from and can use the prompts they feel will best suit their class.”
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  “My Tee-rrific T-shirt Template and Blank Template has so many uses,” says Christine Maxwell. “Father’s Day is just one! There are various styles, and on the back the student can write a thank you message. The idea is to decorate a shirt to give as an appreciation card!”
• Deb Hanson says, “I created my Father’s Day Card Craftivity (includes a Mother’s Day card file, too!) for my students (and my own daughters)! The cover says ‘Dadjectvies’ and includes a striped tie where students write adjectives on each stripe that describe their dad. I didn’t want to leave out students who don’t have a dad, though, so I included a non-father version.  The cover on this alternate version says ‘Adjectives that describe __________’ but the rest of the page is identical.  Students can choose any important person in their lives.”
• Elementary Lesson Plans says, “My Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or ANY Day – to ANY Special Adult{Have a Happy Day} is a fun poster pack with a poster for any special adult in a child’s life. These posters can be given on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or ANY Day.”
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  “Both my Father’s Day Card Activity ~ Accordion Fold Mini-Book and Father’s Day Acrostic Poem ~ Freebie! resources offer alternative options for students who have different people in their lives as father figures,” says Lisa Lilienthal.
• “I have a great Father’s Day Activities resource,” says Mrs W. “It includes ‘5 Reasons Why I Love My Dad’ (Grandpa, Uncle, or Brother), a Handy Helper Coupon Book, and much more!”
• Teaching in Progress says, “In my school, some students have parents who are incarcerated or deceased. Some live in foster care while others are adopted. Holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day present unique challenges. We do talk about the meaning and purpose of these days, but we also make sure to note that there are lots of people in our lives to either help our parents teach us and guide us, or fill in for parents who might not be able to be there for us. We usually begin by making a huge list of people who are loving and supportive: parents, grandparents, other family members, foster parents, teachers, mentors, scout leaders, social workers, all sorts of school support personnel, police officers, neighbors, and lots more depending on the group of kids. The kids share how those people support them, and we talk about the kindnesses and loving gestures extended to them by their family and community.”
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  “My Father’s Day Booklet or Special Person-20 cloze sentences to choose from includes a version for dads along with two versions for another special individual,” says Linda Post the Teachers Post.
• Crayonbox Learning says, “I created a Father’s Day Fishing Card Pattern in which the finished product is a fishing basket with fish embellishments! It can be adapted for Grandpa, Uncle, or other male family figures.”
• “With my Father’s Day Dreams resource, students have the option of honoring any role model in their lives,” says Rainbow City Learning.
• Curriculum Castle says, “We created an interactive wheel craft that students can use for Father’s Day to personalize with the name and description of any important male figure in their lives. This way, students can honor not only their dads, but also uncles, grandfathers, big brothers, or any special someone. We always hold a little brainstorming session before we complete the craft and list all the important father figures in our lives. This gives the students a chance to see that even if they don’t have a biological dad, there are other influential males (even in school) who make an impact on their everyday lives! Here the resource: Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Wheel Craft!“
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  “I have a Father’s day activity in French called French Father’s Day – La Fête des Pères { français },” says Here’s an idea by Lucy S. “It also includes a version to be completed by kids who don’t have dads (or might not want to write about them). Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are big things here in Brazil and it’s hard to avoid celebrating them in the classroom. The best is to turn them into a celebration of important adults in the children’s lives.”
• “Knowing your students’ family situations is key,” says Jason’s Online Classroom. “Most young children aren’t shy about sharing their situation, and this gives the educator a chance to clarify and respect the diversity. Father’s Day becomes an opportunity to show appreciation for whomever the student wishes. The student may even choose to honor several people. Educators simply need to be sensitive to the students in their care and be supportive of the decisions they make.”
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  Miss Kindergarten Love says, “In honor of Father’s Day, I have my students create a special “All About _______’ book for an important father figure in their lives, whether it’s their dad, uncle, or grandpa. With this project, they’re able to share what’s important about the father figure in their lives and fill in the blanks for prompts such as ‘My (dad, uncle, grandpa, etc.) is happiest when ________.’ Or ‘My (dad, uncle, grandpa, etc.) always forgets to________’. Here’s the link to Father’s Day Briefcase {All About Dad}. These turn out really funny sometimes!”
• Silly Sam Productions says, “We make a card with a poem called ‘I Can Count on my Dad’ (or other special someone).” Students get to recount 10 special memories or things they do with a special person in their lives. The card can then be turned into a book with a drawing for each memory. The cover comes in versions with and without ‘Happy Father’s Day’, and there’s a page of special names to choose from including Dad, Daddy, Papa, Grandpa, Uncle, Brother, or a blank to fill in a selection of their own. The emphasis is on celebrating someone special who spends time with them, takes care of them, or has some special significance in their lives. Students can choose to do this activity or something else. They can choose to make just the card or the book, too, and they can even choose to make more than one! Here’s the link to the resource: I Can COUNT on my DAD! Father’s Day Card and Book Activity.“

Role Models Make a Difference

Here are inspiring words from a few of the fellows on TpT. Some of them are dads themselves, and ALL of them serve as positive role models for the students they support each day.

• “I believe strongly in being as active as possible in the building — to be anything but a teacher who simply clocks in and out. I find the more I coach and advise clubs and organizations, the more opportunities I have to reach these students and display positive leadership to those who lack a male figure at home.” – Mr Educator – A Social Studies Professional
• “As a younger teacher, I have found that male students often see me as a mentor who’s recently navigated the waters they are soon to be immersed in. I like to use it to my advantage and be transparent about my most important jobs: a father and a husband.” – 21st Century Math Projects (Check out his Social Media Biographies! Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram Templates! to easily create ‘pages’ for special family members. Students can highlight the accomplishments of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other loved ones.)
• “Every home may not have a father living in it, but someone should play the role of ‘father figure’ to each of our students. Sometimes teachers, male and female, take on the responsibility of being that role model and guide for children. Father’s Day is a day when kids, with the help of their teachers, can acknowledge the contributions of father figures in providing the selfless care and protection every child deserves to experience in life. Father’s Day is a day to recognize and thank father figures everywhere!” – Mark Aaron
• “I get called many things by my kindergarteners: Momma, Daddy, and even Granny!  For many of my students, I am the only stable male in their lives, and that is a role I honor and cherish. I strive to provide them the love, encouragement, and structure they so crave.” – Kindergarten Smorgasboard
• “I know that for many of my students, I might be the only adult male they interact with that day, so I work hard to make sure it’s a positive experience by asking them questions and letting them know I’m genuinely interested in them as a person. I’m not their dad, but I do want them to know that I am there cheering them on and pushing them to be their best!” – Created by Mr. Hughes

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“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.”
– H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author