Say ‘Thank You’ With These Teacher Appreciation Ideas

We at the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® are amazed at everything teachers across the country do to lead, empower and encourage young minds. To recognize their incredible work, you can give them a token of thanks this Teacher Appreciation Week. We encourage you to take inspiration from the ideas below or put your own spin on celebrating your child’s teachers to make them feel extra special.

Share a Meaningful ‘Thank You’

Honest, heartfelt appreciation goes a long way, and teachers value knowing the impact they are making on young lives.

Grab paper, markers, stickers and all your child’s other favorite craft supplies to help them design a one-of-a-kind card for the important educators in their lives. Your child might want to share a favorite memory, write a poem or even list some of the important skills they’ve learned from their teacher. If your child is struggling to come up with exactly what to say, try downloading and printing out our free Teacher Appreciation Thank You Card Templates!

Make a Personalized Name Plate

Help prepare teachers for a new class, parent teacher conferences or visitors by building a way for them to easily display their name. There are countless materials, from stickers to paint markers, that can help your child accomplish this project, and they’re only limited by their imagination. However, if your child feels overwhelmed coming up with an idea, you can turn to a classic childhood game – Scrabble^®! Line up the tiles to spell out the teacher’s name and glue them to the tile holder or a blank name plate. To make this extra special, add charms, beads, stickers or other extras that showcase the teacher’s unique personality and interests.

Give a Coffee or Flowers To-Go

It’s no secret that teachers are busy. As a pick-me-up for someone always on the go, consider assembling a drink carrier with a few thoughtful treats. This pack of blank cardboard carriers are perfect for letting your child unleash their creativity and decorate in a way they know their teacher will love! Once the carrier is complete, it’s time to fill it with a few of the teacher’s favorite things – consider a small jar with a few flowers, a paper coffee cup with a gift card to the local coffee shop or a snack like a popular granola or sweet.

Design Classroom Décor

Teachers spend a lot of time inside their classrooms. You can make their day – and their space – a bit brighter with customized decorations they can admire all year long! For this easy idea, all you need is a box of crayons, a pencil, glue and a picture frame with a solid background. Start by outlining the first letter of the teacher’s last name, a flower or something that reminds you of them inside the frame. Next, carefully cut crayons and stack them on top of each other to fill in your sketch. Glue the crayons to the solid background inside the photo frame to create a colorful display. To take the gift one step further, consider helping your child write the year and a kind note on the back to remind their teacher of joyful memories of your child’s class.

Thank You to Teachers Everywhere

All of us at the National Inventors Hall of Fame remain amazed at everything teachers across the country continue to do to inspire, guide and care for their students. If you plan on celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week or want to shout out an awesome educator, please share your ideas with us on our Facebook page.