Laffy Taffy Math Valentines

Today was a kind-of snow day.  We had school, but the majority of students left early.  This led to my principal letting me leave early so I could make it home safely.  I decided I should use a little of my extra time to try and write up a few blog posts.

During my first year of teaching, I started a tradition of giving math valentines to my students.  That first year, I had students glue two mobius strips together in such a way that when cut, they made interlinking hearts.  

Last year, they got pixie sticks and a cute card about parallel lines having the saddest love story.

This year, I knew I wanted to do something involving candy.  A few days before Valentine’s Day, I ventured to Wal-Mart and proceeded to walk up and down and up and down the candy aisle while looking for inspiration.  

I was looking for any sort of candy that I could base a valentine off of.  I’m pretty sure some of the customers were giving me weird looks.  Oh well…

Since Valentine’s Day was on a Saturday, my celebration with my students would be falling on the Friday before.  Friday in my classroom is Friday Funnies.  

So, I decided Laffy Taffy would be good because I wouldn’t have to come up with jokes to tell my students since there are two jokes on each wrapper.  I thought I would make a card that said, “Valentine, I’m so glad that your love of math is no joke.”

After buying the candy and heading home, I called my sister to ask what she thought of my valentine idea.  She decided that I should make it a pun instead.  

So, on her advice, I changed the card to read “Love of math is no “laffing” matter.”  I knew my students would groan when they saw this, but that’s really the point anyway, right?

One of my student aides got the job of cutting the cards on the paper chopper and taping the candy to the back of the laffy taffy math valentines.

It was so fun to watch the students’ expressions as they read the card.  I ended up getting a lot of comments of “Oh, Ms. Hagan…” along with a shake of the head.