new ideas for Day 100 and Valentine's Day for 11 and 12 yr old boys

[sadiegirl]

Our Day 100 is coming up this Thursday and I would like to know if any of you have some fun ideas to do on that day(5th and 6th grade level) Also, I would like to know what you do to celebrate Valentine's Day since in a homeschool situation as ours, we have no classmates to exchange valentines with...and since my kids are boys, I find it hard to find activities that are Valentine related but geared for boys. Any ideas would be appreciated as I like to throw in these fun days throughout our school year. thanks

[Ali in OR]

For 100th day: I think it would be fun to make up a math worksheet for them to do and listen to them moan and groan about it until they start working out the problems and find that the answers are always 100! Or study the year 100, 100 in several different languages, derivatives with "cent" in them, etc.

Valentine's Day is kind of difficult. My kids like to make Valentines, but they don't get any from friends because all of their friends exchange them at school. Last year their valentines from Mom and Dad were Magic School Bus DVDs and they liked that a lot!

[TMarie]

I don't know how this will work with all boys... Instead of exchanging "valentines" you could exchange "secret codes?"
We have moved many times since starting homeschooling with the kids. One tradition we've taken with us to new places is organizing a simple Valentines get-together.

(1)Each child (or family) should bring a container marked clearly with their names.
Some bring a brown bag with their name written in marker.
Some bring a pretty gift-bag.
Some decorate bags, shoeboxes, oatmeal containers, etc....
(even once had kids bring the cutest homemade mailboxes with red flags)

(2) Each child (or family) brings valentines to share with friends.
Some bring store-bought, some homemade, some include candy, etc...

We've had our party at home, a skating rink, and a bowling alley...
Just some ideas. :p

[Chris in VA]

Maybe you could study the heart? The actual, physical heart?

As far as sharing Valentines, I hosted my own St. V day party. I invited both homeschooled kids and ps kids. We made a few crafts and decorated pre-made heart cookies. It was fun!

Our very first year, though, we got the nicest surprise--a dear friend brought over 5 or 6 little valentines from each member of their family (even the dog!) and some candy for my dd. She even made us a little heart cake. Df realized I might feel dd was "left out" and soothed my mother's heart by providing for us. That was truly loving, wasn't it?