5 DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Friends and fellow parents – I’m here to remind you that Teacher Appreciation Week is here! And we have some cute DIY crafty gifts your kids can make for their teachers. Actually, this month of May is also School Principals’ Day, National Lunch Hero Day and School Nurse Day. So, if there was any month to celebrate school personnel, this is it!

collage of teacher appreciate gifts

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Folks, I know that specific days dedicated to the celebration of something or someone can sometimes seem trite or forced. Like, for instance, why do we need one day a year to celebrate our love for our partners (Valentine’s Day) when we should be expressing it regularly? But honestly, we’re busy, we’re absent-minded, and life zips by so fast. I’m happy we have a Teacher Appreciation Week because it makes me really think about all the work and care that goes into educating our kids. Teachers are so special, and also underpaid and underrecognized. I mean, shouldn’t teaching (aka shaping the future of our civilization) be one of the highest paid professions in the country?! While we can’t buy all our teachers a car and a much needed vacation, we can encourage our kids to show their appreciation through thoughtful crafting…gifts made creatively with their own hands.

📆 May 2023 School Celebration Dates

Folks, May is a busy month! Check out all the school personnel being acknowledged in May!

🚌 Other School Appreciation Dates

There are actually many dates every year dedicated to important school personnel. For future reference, check out these important dates (and click on the links for fun facts too):

🤔 Tips Before You Craft

  1. Ask your teacher what their favorite color is. You can dig deeper and find out their favorite food, drink, place to shop, hobbies, etc.
  2. Find out your school’s rules on gift giving [e.g. dollar amount caps or rules against food gifts].
  3. Plan ahead so your kiddo isn’t rushed to make something.

🖍 5 DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Here are some creative ways your kids can celebrate their teachers.

1. Tissue Paper Vase for Flowers

It’s hard to go wrong with flowers, right?! For this craft, all you need is flowers, a recycled jar or bottle, and some basic craft supplies.

child holding tissue paper vase with flowers
🌹Tissue Paper Vase
Transform your recyclables into art! We turned an empty glass bottle into an adorable tissue paper, cow-themed vase!
Click for Tissue Paper Vase Craft
tissue paper vase with red and yellow flowers

2. Melting Crayons into Shapes

If you plan ahead, you could really make this a personalized gift for your teacher! Use their favorite colors and you can even find silicone molds for shapes they like.

rainbow colored heart crayons on counter
🖍 Melting Crayons into Shapes
Looking for a low stress, satisfying craft? Introducing melted crayon art! Melting crayons into new shapes is simple and so cool! FYI – This craft takes around 28 mins, from start to a finished bake, not including the freeze time.
Click for Crayon Craft
crayon art hearts in a circle

3. Craft with Dyed Pasta

Make a picture or a card for your teacher, using dyed pasta!

art girl made out of dyed pasta glued to paper
🎨 How to Dye Pasta for Crafts
Want to jazz up your pasta for your latest craft? Learn how to dye pasta for crafts with these simple steps! Your colored pasta has never looked so bright and vibrant!
Click for Dyed Pasta Craft
dyed pasta on tray

4. DIY Pencil Holders

Make a little holder for any kind of school supplies. Personalize it with your teacher’s name!

empty tin can decorated with yarn and filled with writing utensils
✏️ DIY Pencil Holders
Transform empty tin cans into these adorable DIY Pencil Holders! Add some colorful yarn, and you'll have the jazziest desktop in the office!
Click for Pencil Holder Craft
tin can pencil holder containing utensils

5. Cute DIY Cardboard Frame

Frame a picture, note or even a book quote for your teacher.

kids blue picture in heart shaped frame made of pasta
❤️ DIY Cardboard Frame with Pasta
DIY Cardboard frames are a great way to say "I love you!" on Valentine's Day. Kids will love getting creative with these heart-shaped frames!
Click for DIY Cardboard Frame
two homemade heart shaped frames with dog photo and valentine's message

🙏 Other Ways to Show Appreciation

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