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Teacher Appreciation Week is a fantastic opportunity to express gratitude to the dedicated educators who shape children’s lives in your school community.
This year, why not take a playful approach and celebrate with a “Fun and Games” themed week?
Sponsored by the school Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or PTA, this event is such a delightful way to show appreciation for teachers and celebrate all that your school’s teachers and staff do for the students and school community.
Let’s dive into some whimsical Fun and Games inspired ideas for decorations, gift ideas, daily activities, and a luncheon menu that will make this Teacher Appreciation Week truly memorable!
Decorations
First, set the stage for a week of fun and games by fully embracing the theme with some colorful decorations!
Game Board Paradise
Transform the school’s common areas, like the entrance and Staff Lounge into a giant game board.
Use colorful tape to create life-sized versions of classic board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Candy Land on the floor.
Roll out a Candy Land inspired game board path to welcome staff into the school.
Add giant game pieces like dice…
and a hint of what’s to come with a giant popcorn box to complete the look.
These foil curtains will let you add a big pop of color to any space.
This circle garland is giving off major Candy Land vibes!
Spell out a custom message with these paper Scrabble tiles.
Classroom Door Decorations
Encourage students and parents to decorate classroom doors with themes from their favorite games.
Think chess pieces, dice, playing cards, or even Tetris blocks.
Get inspiration from Pinterest for door decorating ideas.
Banners and Posters
Buy or design banners and posters featuring popular board game graphics and slogans like “Game On!” and “Learning is Fun.”
Hang them in the school’s hallways to set the mood.
Balloon Make Everything More Fun
Balloons are a super fun way to add large decorations on a pretty small budget.
If you’ve never made a balloon arch before, know that it’s pretty simple.
This post has all the details on how to build a balloon arch or decorative column.
Daily Activities
Delight your teachers and staff with a different Fun and Games themed activity each day of Staff Appreciation Week!
Monday
Start the week with a bountiful breakfast to kick off the week of appreciation and gratitude.
This post has all the details you’ll need for planning a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast.
Cover the serving table as well as the tables where the staff will sit with tablecloths to make cleaning up after the meal a breeze.
Tuesday
Personally acknowledge he contributions of each staff member with a note of thanks attached to a goodie box with some candy, office supplies like post it notes and pens.
These dice gift boxes are a cute idea for wrapping up the small tokens of appreciation, like office supplies, candy and chocolate and the like.
Wednesday
Make Wednesday the new favorite day of the week (at least for this week anyway) with a delicious “Board Game” Dessert Table.
Offer a dessert table featuring sweets inspired by classic board games.
Cookies shaped like dice, cupcakes, and a chessboard cake can be the star attractions.
Metallic green cupcake liners are a theme appropriate color.
Top each cupcake off with a chess piece cupcake topper…
Or a Pac-Man topper! Children of the 80s will especially love this retro-arcade game throwback reference.
These Twitter themed party plates are the perfect paperware for today’s offering.
Make sticky finger clean up more fun with these Twister-esque napkins.
Thursday
Today’s the perfect day to set up a popcorn bar!
It’s a pretty simple and delicious way to give your school’s staff a mid-week treat!
Pop up a bunch of batches of popcorn and fill the entire school with an unresistible aroma.
Portion out the snack using these fun mini-popcorn boxes.
Get a set of different popcorn flavorings so teachers can customize their snack.
This Kernel Seasonings pack has both sweet and savory options to choose from.
And for an even more indulgent treat, offer these Drizzle Brittle caramel and chocolate toppings.
Friday
End the week with a fabulous luncheon!
Here are some menu ideas for a game-themed lunch:
“Game Piece” Sandwiches: Serve an assortment of sandwiches cut into fun shapes like chess pieces, playing cards, or jigsaw puzzle pieces. Offer various fillings to cater to everyone’s tastes.
Make prep work easy by using a puzzle cookie cutter to speed the process.
“Sudoku” Salad Bar: Create a salad bar with a variety of greens, toppings, and dressings, allowing teachers to build their own salads, just like solving a Sudoku puzzle.
“Game Night” Beverages: Set up a beverage station with themed drinks like lemonade for “Monopoly Money Mules,” and fruit punch for “Candy Land Punch.”
Further lean into the game theme with Monopoly party cups.
Label the drinks with their “punny” names on chalkboard labels so that everyone can enjoy your creative effort!
Set up some game themed paper products for the luncheon
How cute are these Monopoly themed paper plates?
Pair the fun plates with dice napkins to complete the look.
Over to you!
A Fun and Games themed Teacher Appreciation Week promises to be an unforgettable event, bringing lighthearted joy to the school as you and your PTO celebrate the people who make the school run: the teachers, staff, administrators and custodians.
Hope you love these ideas for injecting some fun into their workday for a different change of pace as you shower them with love, appreciation and gratitude.
Let the games begin!
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