October is approaching, and with it comes thoughts about what to give a teacher for Teacher's Day. Every year, parents of schoolchildren rack their brains over choosing an appropriate gift for a teacher: not too expensive, but not cheap, and - the main criterion - what the teacher will like and will not gather dust on a shelf among the same type of gifts.
And even if you haven’t been able to figure out what gift to give to your teacher, use one of the top ideas that have already been repeatedly tested in practice!
What date is Teachers' Day celebrated in Russia in 2021?
For more than twenty years, since 1994, Teachers' Day in Russia has been celebrated on October 5th. And 2021 was no exception: parents and schoolchildren not only in Russia, but also in many other countries, will congratulate teachers on World Teachers’ Day on October 5th.
Parents whose children are now going to school probably remember that previously the Teacher's Day holiday was not tied to a specific date and was celebrated on the first Sunday in October. In the USSR, Teacher's Day was celebrated in 1965 - earlier than in the rest of the world - and the holiday became an international holiday twenty-nine years later. Nowadays, the professional holiday of teachers is celebrated every year in more than a hundred countries around the world.
Surprises made by children's hands
Schoolchildren can make a memorable souvenir from the whole class with their own hands for their favorite mentor. Primary school students cannot do without the help of their parents, and older children are quite capable of generating an original idea and implementing it on their own.
- The simplest option is a themed card. Decorated with school symbols and signed by the children, such a card will remain for a long, good memory.
- A cool wall newspaper is another option for a handmade surprise. The newspaper will be filled with photographs of joint cultural outings, everyday life of the class, solemn or touching poems. Each child can write a congratulation, a wish, or simply enter their name.
- For the youngest schoolchildren, you can choose a bouquet of photographs. Simple daisies are made from cardboard or thick paper. A photo of the child is glued to the middle. The stem will be a pen, pencil, or sushi stick. The finished “bouquet” must be placed in a pot or vase - ready!
- A cup for pens, independently decorated with ribbons, beads, threads, shells - a job the little ones can do.
- Children can make applique, collage from photographs and printed pictures.
- Cute little autumn crafts made from scrap materials (acorns, chestnuts, pine cones, leaves) will delight the teacher.
- Older children or parents can make flowers and compositions from multi-colored leaves.
- You can edit a holiday video with footage from concerts, classes and personal congratulations.
- Children can make garlands or bouquets from balloons - original and bright.
- You can make your own painted cup or “Best Teacher” badge and present it to the teacher in a ceremonial setting.
What can you give for Teacher's Day?
When choosing a gift for Teacher's Day, try to take into account the personal characteristics and preferences of the teacher you are going to congratulate. Perhaps the teacher has a hobby - then something related to the hobby would be a good gift. Or, which also often happens, the teacher is most passionate about his work, and it would be appropriate to give something that will be useful in his professional activity.
TOP gift ideas
Even if you don’t know the teacher’s personal preferences, you can always give a universal gift that is appropriate in almost any situation. The table below shows the top gift ideas for Teacher's Day: for women and men; at a low price; original; useful for work and home:
More information about universal gifts:
For women
Flowers are perhaps the most accepted gift for female teachers. If classic bouquets of flowers for Teacher's Day seem banal to you, you can add creativity: give a flower basket, a sweet chocolate or fruit bouquet, or a flower in a pot.
What else can you give to a female teacher on her professional holiday:
- a certificate for the purchase of cosmetics, perfumes, clothes - this way the teacher will choose what she likes;
- a beautifully decorated set of tea, coffee, jam, honey - a good option if the teacher loves sweets;
- a convenient organizer for cosmetics: giving cosmetics itself is risky if you don’t know the teacher’s tastes for sure, but an organizer for storing all tubes and bottles will be useful to every woman;
- you can give a female teacher scented candles or an aromatherapy set - excellent means for relaxation after a hard day at work;
- portrait of a teacher, painted to order from a photograph.
For men
Male teachers are rare in Russian schools, and parents usually don't know male teachers well enough to choose a fairly personal gift. On a holiday, a man can be given a gift that is closely related to his professional activity: a book on a relevant subject, a fashionable puzzle (for example, to a math teacher), a ticket to a sports match (to a physical education teacher).
Other gift options for a male teacher:
- a portrait or photograph of a teacher in a beautiful frame - men like such gifts no less than women;
- a compact barbecue, a folding lounge chair, a spinning rod - if you know for sure that the teacher is interested in outdoor recreation;
- a power bank with an original design: for example, you can order a power bank with the teacher’s initials on the case;
- a watch box for male teachers who wear wristwatches;
- a certificate to a bookstore, a sporting goods store, or any other store depending on the teacher’s preferences.
Inexpensive gifts
It is not necessary to spend a significant amount of money to thank the teacher for the knowledge gained and attention to children. An inexpensive little thing can also become a memorable gift; besides, some teachers fundamentally do not accept expensive gifts - and then the expenses will become completely unjustified.
What inexpensive gift to choose for Teacher's Day - 10 universal options priced up to 500 rubles:
- computer accessory: mouse, mouse pad, flash drive;
- office: diary, organizer, set of pens;
- a personalized mug or a mug with a thematic painting (for example, with the image of formulas for a teacher of mathematics, physics or chemistry);
- table clock of original shape;
- stylish case for glasses;
- souvenir awards with the inscriptions “To the best teacher”, “To my favorite class teacher”, and the like;
- soft toy;
- bookend;
- desktop calendar, which is convenient for taking notes;
- piggy bank of unusual design.
Original gifts
I want to both receive and give unusual gifts. With modern abundance, choosing a truly original gift is not so easy, but it is still possible. Here are some gift ideas for Teacher's Day that are sure to be memorable:
- a self-produced film for a teacher from students: you can add video fragments from school holidays and other events, bright moments from the life of the class to the film;
- a bouquet of stabilized flowers - such flowers are treated with special compounds, thanks to which the bouquets retain their beauty for as long as possible;
- calendar with photographs of the teacher and children;
- unusual sweets: school-themed cakes, gingerbread cookies with drawings;
- personalized vase - can be given separately or together with flowers.
Gifts for work
Even the most principled teacher will not refuse to accept things that are useful in work. If the teacher is reluctant to accept gifts, or you simply don’t know the new teacher well enough yet, always choose an appropriate gift for work:
- methodological manual, encyclopedia, scientific journal on the discipline taught by the teacher;
- engraved pen;
- any storage medium: external drive, flash drive;
- interior items for the school office: portraits of scientists or writers, a globe, laboratory equipment, etc.;
- telescopic pointer.
Gifts for the home
A gift to create coziness or a useful household appliance is a win-win gift option for Teacher's Day. A gift for the home will be useful to almost any teacher - due to their busy schedules, teachers often have no time to go shopping for cozy household items.
Gift options for home:
- warm blanket or blanket;
- coffee maker;
- a table lamp with a neutral design that will fit into any interior;
- a vase for flowers;
- figurine, painting, casket.
Gift from class
If the majority of parents in the class agree to chip in for a gift for the teacher, you can choose a rather significant and expensive gift. Even if someone doesn’t work out - and this usually happens - the amount will still be quite large.
When choosing a gift from the class, consider not only the available budget, but also the needs of the teacher - of course, if they are known to you. When there is no way to know the teacher’s preferences (for example, your children have just entered first or fifth grade), it is better to give a neutral gift.
What can you give to the teacher from the class:
- a coffee machine: teachers get up early and their work is intense - a boost of energy in the morning won’t hurt;
- a flower arrangement in a basket or a plant in a pot is an especially good option if you are not very familiar with the teacher;
- small household appliances: electric kettle, toaster, iron;
- an artistic painting - for the office or for the home;
- wall clocks of unusual design: for example, with a logo or a photograph;
- a printer, scanner, copier, or all at once for the needs of the class - a gift is suitable if you doubt that the teacher will accept a more personal gift;
- You can give a rather expensive and useful gift if your budget allows: a chair, a telephone, a monitor, a TV for demonstrating presentations by the teacher and children.
DIY gift for Teacher's Day
Self-made gifts have many advantages: the gift will definitely be unique and original, the teacher will not be in an awkward position due to the high cost of the gift, and most importantly, the most valuable things are invested in a gift made with your own hands: time and soul.
DIY gifts for Teacher's Day - 5 original options:
A bouquet made with your own hands from sweets or paper
Master class on creating a bouquet of sweets:
A simpler version of the bouquet is made from paper:
Teacher's Day card with good wishes and words of gratitude
Master class on creating a beautiful postcard, for making you will need colored paper, glue, rhinestones, scissors:
Another version of a beautiful postcard, easier to make, you will need scissors, glue, colored paper, a matchbox:
Quite a simple and unusual craft - a pen made from candies
Beautiful and healthy cake made from stationery
Very original cool candy magazine
If there are needlewomen in the class who are good at drawing, knitting, baking, and sewing, you can make more complicated gifts with your own hands:
- homemade cake or pastries;
- painted flower pot;
- handmade toys;
- embroidered napkins;
- knitted decor items for home decoration.
List of useful gifts
The teacher will be pleased to receive one or more useful things from this list:
- Personalized pen with engraving
- Laser pointer
- Personalized flash drive
- EBook
- Set of dishes
- Personalized original mug with an inscription
- Cutlery set
- Jewelry storage box
- Painting with a view of the landscape
- Original wall clock
- Tabletop air conditioner
History teacher
For a history teacher, choosing the right gift is not always easy, but there are several good options:
- Scratch map of the world
- Picture of a historical event
- Ticket to a museum or exhibition
- Picture of an outstanding personality
- Personalized thermal mug
- Gift ballpoint pen
Geography teacher
Geography, like history, is an important subject in school education; you can give the following to a geography teacher:
- globe
- Cup with map
- Notepad with the inscription “Teacher No. 1”
- Certificate for the best teaching qualities
- A painting of a famous landscape
Teacher of Russian language and literature
For a teacher of Russian language and literature, you can come up with several interesting options:
- Beautiful pen with ink
- Beautiful ballpoint pen with engraving
- Certificate for the best teaching qualities
- Picture of a literary classic in a frame
- Photo album from class students
Physics, Mathematics and Geometry teachers
For teachers of exact sciences, the following gifts are suitable:
- Tablet for drawing
- Algorithmic ruler
- Laser pointer
- Personalized ballpoint pen
- Wall clock for the classroom
- Portrait of an outstanding personality, for example "Nikola Tesla"
For a physical education teacher
A respected physical education teacher has the right to receive the following gifts:
- Loud whistle
- A watch with a stopwatch or just a stopwatch
- Notebook with a photo of Dmitry Nagiyev
- Medal "Best Physical Teacher"
- Soccer ball with paintings of class students
- Olympic figurine
Find out what to give your teacher for his birthday?
What definitely shouldn’t be given as a gift for Teacher’s Day?
It is customary to observe subordination with teachers, and therefore some things should not be given to the teacher, even if you have known each other for several years. Examples of unsuccessful gifts for Teacher's Day:
- expensive jewelry, and in general too expensive gifts;
- alcohol;
- cosmetics, perfumery;
- clothing, accessories (handbags, scarves, etc.);
- money.
Gift for a math teacher
In the film “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” the heroine gave a mathematician cufflinks engraved with prime numbers. Such a jewelry gift is not always suitable, but the idea itself can be used in other variations. You can present a modern calculator, a notebook, or any other item decorated with a “mathematical” theme.
Tips for choosing a gift for Teacher's Day
There are unspoken rules for choosing a gift for a teacher - try to follow them so as not to put the teacher in an awkward position:
- If you are going to congratulate the teacher in person, do not choose expensive gifts. For example, a small household appliance as a gift from the whole class is unlikely to embarrass the teacher, but such a gift from the parents of one student will definitely make you feel awkward.
- When collecting money for a general gift, keep in mind that not all parents will want to participate. Of course, no one should be forced to hand over money.
- Try to choose a gift that is not only attractive, but also practical. Due to the peculiarities of the profession - not very high wages, the need to constantly develop and engage in self-education, heavy workload - many teachers prefer gifts that will be useful at work or at home.
- A gift for a class teacher should be special and different from gifts for subject teachers.
- When presenting a gift, say a few warm words of gratitude to the teacher.
Clean air as a gift? Easily!
Any chemist in the process of his work encounters various volatile substances. And, unfortunately, not all of them have a beneficial effect on the body. In order to create a favorable microclimate in the office and improve the well-being of its owner, give air improvement devices as a gift:
- ionizer,
- humidifier,
- cleaner
With the help of these devices, the recipient of the gift will improve the microclimate in the laboratory, which will certainly stimulate him to make new discoveries.
In addition to special devices that purify the air, some plants can also help get rid of harmful impurities in it:
- chlorophytum is a record holder for air purification, capable of ridding a room of 80% of harmful substances in 24 hours;
- ficus - thanks to its wide leaves, it absorbs harmful compounds well, including synthetic ones;
- diphembachia - effectively fights xylene and benzene;
- Sansiveria (“mother-in-law’s tongue”) - releases a huge amount of oxygen, saturating the air around it;
- dracaena - destroys many harmful volatile substances, with the exception of ammonia.
By presenting a beautiful green plant in an original flowerpot, you will take care not only of the beauty of your office, but also of the health of its owner.
How to congratulate a teacher on Teacher's Day?
Congratulations on Teacher's Day will become more memorable if you do not limit yourself to just a gift, but take care of pleasant holiday little things in advance. For example, you can congratulate a teacher like this:
- decorate the office with helium balloons, place a vase of flowers on the teacher’s desk, write wishes on the school board;
- draw a poster or make a photo collage: you can add wishes from children and parents, drawings from students to the poster or collage;
- children can meet the teacher in the hall and congratulate the teacher according to a pre-prepared script, or simply read congratulations in verse or sing a song dedicated to the teacher.
Teaching is a noble profession. Most teachers, just like many years ago, work by vocation, and it is almost impossible to meet mercantile people in the field of education. Therefore, give your favorite teachers any gifts - and an ordinary bouquet of flowers will become very valuable for the teacher if it is presented with sincere words of gratitude for their work and patience!
It's never too late to learn
Chemistry, like any other science, does not stand still. Innovative developments are constantly being carried out and new discoveries are being made. Therefore, it will be interesting for a chemical industry worker to get acquainted with innovations in this area and learn something interesting for himself. To do this, you can present as a gift:
- annual subscription to a professional magazine with quality articles;
- a large encyclopedia in a gift edition, in which fascinating science is organized “from A to Z”;
- a collection of publications covering the most current events in the field of chemistry;
- a gift certificate for a course of lectures or a symposium with the participation of scientific luminaries;
- paid advanced training courses or trainings.
When choosing such a surprise, you need to think carefully about what exactly will be interesting and relevant for its recipient. If these are any events with a specific date, then they should also be agreed upon with him in advance.
Flowers as a gift
Flowers are the most traditional and common gift for Teacher's Day. If you are wondering what flowers to give to your teacher, then consider the following options:
- An excellent modern option is compositions in baskets or wooden boxes. The addition will be bright autumn leaves, fruits (pomegranates, apples, decorative pumpkins), branches with berries (rowan, viburnum). Plants are installed in moist soil and last much longer than in conventional bouquets;
- live plants in pots are an alternative to cut flowers. The plant can be decorative deciduous or flowering. Nowadays it has become fashionable to grow herbs and even vegetables, such as peppers and tomatoes, on windowsills. So the choice of potted plants for a gift is great;
- A florarium or decorative garden does not require much care. A composition of succulents, moss and stones only needs to be moistened occasionally;
- Another modern alternative to a bouquet is stabilized plants that will remain unchanged, maintaining the brightness and freshness of their colors, for more than one year.
Gift for a working elderly teacher
Many teachers continue to work at school after retirement age. Some people do not want to leave their favorite profession, while others are guided by material considerations. Nevertheless, at any age, a teacher is pleased to receive congratulations and gifts on his professional holiday. A working elderly teacher can choose any of the gifts suggested earlier, or you can choose something that can help her in her work. So, any teacher will need a diary or just a notebook in a beautiful, high-quality cover. You can order a personalized diary or ask to make any memorial inscription, for example, “To the best teacher,” “To the kindest teacher,” etc. In their daily activities, teachers use many other items: pens, pencil cases, folders, note boards, table lamps. Almost any of these items can be made into a special and memorable gift by ordering an inscription or engraving. You can write a few kind words and subscribe (class and year). You can also consider themed gifts related to the subject taught by the teacher. So, a geography teacher can be presented with a new atlas or a large map, and a literature teacher can be presented with a collector’s edition of his favorite author or a teaching aid that she has long dreamed of buying. Teachers, and especially older ones, are probably very tired of noisy and restless schoolchildren. To help the teacher relax and recover after a hard day at work, give an original lamp with soothing aromatic oils. Sand paintings are also known to promote relaxation.
