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Fourth-grader Aubrey Kleckner uses all her might to punch holes in a "Made for you with love byÉ" tag to be filled out and attached to teddy bears her and her classmates sewed at Bountiful Elementary School in Bountiful on Friday, February 13, 2015. As a Valentine's Day project the class makes the bears and then later in the year they will donate them to Family Connection Center. Her teacher, Linda Crismer has been doing this project in her class for over ten years.

BRIANA SCROGGINS/Standard-Examiner

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Bountiful Elementary fourth-grader William West pulls his thread taut as he and his classmates sew teddy bears at Bountiful Elementary School in Bountiful on Friday, February 13, 2015. As a Valentine's Day project Ms. Linda Crismer's class makes the bears and then later in the year they will donate them to Family Connection Center. Crismer has been doing this project in her class for over ten years.

BRIANA SCROGGINS/Standard-Examiner

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Fourth-grader Thane Thompson stitches a Utah State teddy bear during his class at Bountiful Elementary School in Bountiful on Friday, February 13, 2015. As a Valentine's Day project the class makes the bears and then later in the year they will donate them to Family Connection Center. His teacher, Linda Crismer, has been doing this project in her class for over ten years.

BRIANA SCROGGINS/Standard-Examiner

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BOUNTIFUL — It all started with a stuffed bear someone brought in to Linda Crismer’s class at Bountiful Elementary.

Crismer thought it looked relatively simple to make, so decided it would be the perfect Valentine’s Day opportunity for her fourth-grade students to sew up their own bears to donate for the Family Connection Center. It turned out to be such a hit that it has become a tradition for her classes each year for the last 15 years.

“Valentine’s is a time to show your love, not about sitting around and eating candy all day,” Crismer said. “I wanted them to give a piece of themselves for Valentine’s Day.”

It was a bittersweet moment, though as 65-year-old Crismer watched the kids studiously pushing their sewing needles in and out of the flannel to attach the two sides of the bear pattern before stitching the face and then stuffing the bear. This is the last year Crismer plans on participating with the Valentine bear project as she will be retiring at the end of this school year after 39 years of teaching. “I’m going to miss the kids, but it’s time to take care of me now,” said Crismer.

Scattered about the room were various fabric patterns from owls, to college logos, and others with polka dots or tiger prints. The fabric was donated by students’ parents, many of whom took their children to pick out the fabric they liked best.

Some of the fourth-graders were just learning how to sew, while others have been sewing small projects for some time. Sebastian Schofield admitted to being a little nervous about the project, having never sewn before. “My mom taught me a few things on how to use the needle and when I got here, it ended up being easier than I thought,” Schofield said.

Crismer hasn’t heard any complaints about the project from the boys this year, who have had a tendency to do so in past classes. Crismer assures them each time that boys need to learn how to sew just as much as girls.

“I try to teach real-life stuff, and this is one of those times. It’s important for 10-year-olds to learn how to help out people who aren’t as fortunate as they are,” Crismer said.

One thing the kids don’t anticipate is how attached they get to their sewn bear, Crismer says. The students get to keep their bear at their desks for the next couple of weeks before the representative comes from the Family Connection Center to collect them.

“You can tell they are really into this project right now, but what they haven’t realized yet is what it will feel like to hand it over after they’ve spent this time working on it in class and then having it sitting on their desk for a while. I don’t think that’s hit them yet,” Crismer said.

However, fourth-grader Isaac Stout is preparing himself for that moment. “I think it’s a good idea to comfort other children who are lonely and need something to cuddle with,” Stout said.