Bulletin Boards:
"Graduates' Goals"- Write future goals of your students in bubbles besides graduate portraits of them.
Poems for Students and Parents:
“Great Expectations”
It’s time to say good-bye.
Our year has come to an end.
We’ve made cherished memories
And many new friends.
I’ve watched your children learn and grow
And change from day to day.
I hope all the things I’ve done
Has helped in some small way.
So, it’s with happy memories
I send them out the door
With great hope and expectations
For what the future years hold in store.
“You are Special”
You are a very special person
And you should know
How I loved being your teacher
And how fast the year did go!
Please come back and visit me
As through the grades you grow.
Try hard to learn all you can.
There is so much to know!
The one thing I tried to teach you
To last your whole life through,
Is to know that you are special
Just because you are you!
"Now I Know"
Now I know my ABCs,
Colors, shapes, and days.
I sang some songs,
Learned some poems, rhymes, and finger plays.
I played outside on sunny days
And inside when it rained.
My little hands and little feet were busy every day. My teacher was (teacher's name).
I kept her on her toes.
She tied my shoes, combed my hair, and even wiped my nose.
But now it's time to say “Good-bye”
To all my Kindergarten friends.
School is over, summer's here,
But learning never ends!
(I attached a photo of each child to the poem.)
One year I gave each student a sand pail filled with sand toys and attached the following poem:
Here’s a little container,
My gift to you.
You can keep things in it
And have fun too.
Take it with you
To the beach or the pool.
And, remember to have a safe summer
And follow all the rules.
It was great having you in my class.
I’m just sorry that the year went so fast.
Have a great summer and lots of fun,
I’m proud of you for a job well done!
BOOKS:
Biscuit's Graduation Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
It's Graduation Day by Grace Maccarone
Happy Graduation by Margaret McNamara
Summer's Vacation by Lynn Plourde
Last Day Hooray by Nancy Poydar
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
Happy Graduation by Namrata Tripathi
The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
SONGS (including those I've used for Graduation Programs):
"Graduation"
("Mickey Mouse Club" tune)
We are here to graduate
On this special day.
G-R-A-D-U-A-T-I-O-N Day!
We're on our way to First Grade.
We're gonna have a blast!
G-R-A-D-U-A-T-I-O-N Day!
Graduation, graduation!
We are gonna graduate today!
So won't you come and sing with me
And cheer for all of us?
G-R-A-D-U-A-T-I-O-N Day!
"First Grade, First Grade"
("New York, New York" tune)
Start spreading the news
We're leaving today
We want to be a part of it
First Grade, First Grade
We've worked very hard
We're ready to go
We're gonna be a part of it
First Grade, First Grade
We know our ABC's and our 1,2,3's so well
We've worked at sounding out words and stories to tell
Just ask us to rhyme
We'll say tens and pens
We've learned to share and get along with all our friends
So now we made it there
We'll make it anywhere
We're on our way
First Grade, First Grade
"The Kindergarten Class"
("Adams Family" tune)
Da da da da(5X)
We know our ABC's
And counting 1, 2,3,
And now we know all these
The Kindergarten Class!
We've learned how to share
We've learned how to care.
Just ask us if you dare.
The Kindergarten Class!
It seems we just began
And now we're almost done.
Kindergarten was so much fun.
The Kindergarten Class!
So, we must say so long
Here in our little song.
But, we'll be back before long.
The Kindergarten Class!
"You're a Grand Old Flag"
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high-flying flag;
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Every heart beats true
'neath the red, white, and blue,
Where there's never a boast or a brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
*My students sang this after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. They made popsicle stick American flags, which they waved while singing and marching.
C.D's that can be used for Graduation:
One Light, One Sun
Rise and Shine
Singable Songs for the Very Young
We All Get Together
Shake, Rattle, and Rock
Learning to Love
I've Got Music in Me, Volume 1
ART:
1. Self-Portraits- During the first week of school, my students draw a self- portrait of themselves on one half of a piece of paper. They draw one again the last week of school on the other half. The self-portraits usually reveal how the students have made progress in drawing and creativity.
2. Graduation dolls- Students color graduation dolls to resemble themselves. You can also take a digital photo of the child and attach it to the head.
3. Graduation Banner- Children paint or color words and sign their names.
4. Autographed T-shirts- Children bring plain white t-shirt to class. Write "Class of (year)" on center. Children sign t-shirts using fabric pens or Sharpie markers. Make sure to slide a sheet of newspaper between front and back of shirt so ink doesn't go through.
5. Printable Memory Book-http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pages/6059.shtml
