Chicora Elementary School second graders make cards Jan. 30 for Valentine's Day in Heather Strohmyer's class. Instead of just celebrating Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, the students are practicing random acts of kindness throughout the entire month.

CHICORA — For some children, Valentine's Day is more than just cards and candy.

For instance, Heather Strohmyer's second-grade class at Chicora Elementary will be practicing random acts of kindness throughout the whole month.

“How can we show our parents, our classmates, we love them?” she asked her students.

Giving cards to school workers, organizing school supply fund drives and helping classmates were just a few things the 7- and 8-year-old students suggested.

“Acts of kindness don't have to be big things,” Strohmyer said. “They can be small things. Helping someone in the hall who fell, or giving mom a hug.”

Students recently spent class time creating valentines for one another and for other school personnel, like the librarian and maintenance staff. They also pledged on small heart-shaped cards the ways they plan to be kind throughout February, and attached those written goals onto a “kindness tree” in the classroom.

Jake Taylor and Jacob Callihan, both 8, said they hope to help younger students pack their backpacks and binders.“It might take an hour to pack in first grade,” Jacob said.Many other students plan on making breakfast in bed for their parents. Lathan Price, 8, wasn't sure what kind of food he'd cook for his parents yet, but he knows they deserve it.“I'll probably need someone to help me,” Lathan said.Some of the girls in the classroom have cooked for mom or dad before, cooking things like eggs, pancakes and toast. Others have made foods that go beyond the typical breakfast food fare.“We make biscuits and gravy for mom,” said Haylie Karenbauer, 8.

She and a group of her classmates were busy decorating several Valentines. Red, pink and white paper, doilies, stickers and markers were all available to craft handmade cards for others.“I like valentines that say nice things about you,” Haylie said.Meanwhile, Hailey Summerville, 7, scrawled a “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue” poem in one of her cards. She's an experienced valentine card maker.“We usually go to my grandparents' on Valentine's Day,” Hailey said. “We have a special dinner and make homemade valentine cards every year.”

Second grader Griffin Snyder cuts out a heart. The students pledged on heart-shaped cards the ways they plan to be kind and attached them to a “kindness tree” in the classroom.

Chicora Elementary School second grader Emily Foringer listens to a book about Valentine's Day in class.