Graduation

For this theme, we have prepared various activities which can be organized with the children in your group, parents, and grandparents to celebrate your young graduates. (Open diploma-Graduation) Print.

CIRCLE TIME

Honour your little graduates. You will need their parents' collaboration. Invite each child to bring a bag or a box filled with cherished objects and family photos. Give children a chance to present the content of their bag or box to the rest of the group (tell parents that the pictures will be used for your graduation wall). Depending on how many graduates you have in your group, you may choose to give one child a turn in the morning and have a second child present his items in the afternoon. Invite parents to attend their child's presentation.

AREA SETUP

Create a special graduation wall which includes pictures of each graduate. Display pictures of the children when they were younger as well as recent pictures. (Open memo-Graduation) Print and add small anecdotes. Glue the anecdotes around the pictures. We have prepared printable material which can be used to decorate your daycare for your graduation theme. (Open garland-Graduation)

NEW! Thematic poster-Graduation

(Open thematic poster-Graduation) Print, laminate, and display where children (and parents) are sure to see it.

NEW! Educa-decorate-Graduation

(Open educa-decorate-Graduation) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

NEW! Stickers-Graduation

(Open stickers-Graduation) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create a collection of unique stickers. Use them to reward children throughout the theme.

NEW! Educa-theme-Graduation

(Open educa-theme-Graduation) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and children’s parents) while decorating your daycare.

NEW! Garland-Graduation

(Open garland-Graduation) Print and have children decorate the items. Cut them out and hang them in your daycare to create a garland.

NEW! Photo booth-Graduation

(Open photo booth-Graduation) Print the various accessories, cut them out, and glue a drinking straw behind each one. Purchase glasses, school supplies, etc. at your local dollar store. Create a special décor using a large piece of cardboard or chalkboard. Invite children to pick the accessories they prefer and pose for you. You can take individual, group, or family photos. Print the pictures and display them on a wall for everyone to see.

NEW! Menu model for Graduation

(Open menu-Graduation) Print and laminate. Use a dry-erase marker to write your menu and display it where parents will see it.

NEW! Scrapbook-Graduation

(Open scrapbook-Graduation) Print this new page for each child. Insert it in their scrapbook once it has been completed.

PICTURE GAME

NEW! The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific corner. (Open picture game-Graduation) Print, laminate, and store in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bins.

ACTIVITY SHEETS

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Graduation)

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

Have fun with these wonderful workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.

Construction/building blocks:

• Blocks of all kinds children can use to build THEIR school.
• Provide as many figurines as possible.

Arts & crafts:

• White glue, scissors, construction paper.
• Show children how to make their own graduation caps (model available in educatall club).
• Make diplomas and frame them with construction paper. Children can decorate their frame too!
• Invite children to paint a picture of their new school.
• As a group, make a three-dimensional model using recycled materials (milk cartons, empty paper towel rolls, etc.)

Drawing:

• Coloring pages related to the theme.
• Creative coloring activities (classroom, school supplies, bus, etc.)
• Pens and pencils which can be used for drawing. Add rulers, erasers, highlighters, etc.
• Ask children to draw themselves or one of their friends.

Role play:

• Organize a corner which looks like a classroom. Include small tables, chairs, a pencil case filled with school supplies, exercise books, books, a map, etc.
• Transform your role play area to make it look like a school bus. Line up a few chairs. Add a paper plate to represent the steering wheel and blocks to represent the pedals. You can draw a yellow bus on a large piece of cardboard and display it on the wall. The wheels on the bus go round and round...

Manipulation:

• Memory game which includes illustrations of various school supplies.
• School bus puzzle.
• Modeling dough which can be manipulated with scissors or rulers.
• Word flashcards.
• Bells which can be manipulated to represent the school bell.

Pre-reading:

• Books about school, the school bus, etc.
• Workbooks children can admire. We all have old school books on a shelf somewhere.
• An atlas.
• An illustrated school day (snack, games, recess, etc.) displayed on the wall.

Pre-writing:

• Pictures of schools or graduation caps and gowns children can trace.
• Two similar illustrations children compare to find differences.
• Various activity sheets related to graduation.
• Games with educatall.com word flashcards.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards

The flashcards may be used to spark a conversation with your group, in your reading and writing area, or to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Graduation) graduation, gown, diploma, ceremony, cap, souvenir, party, show, presentation, graduate, school, emotion

NEW! Educa-chatterbox-Graduation

(Open educa-chatterbox-Graduation) Print and laminate the cards. To create your chatterbox, you will need an empty shoebox or a small bin that you can decorate as you see fit. Fill it with tiny objects, illustrations, pictures, and accessories related to your theme. To help you, we have created a series of cards that you may use. During circle time or, for example, when children are waiting for their lunch, have them take turns picking a card or object out of your chatterbox and naming the corresponding item.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

NEW! Modeling dough activity placemats-Graduation

(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Graduation) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

NEW! Educ-clothespins-Graduation

(Open educ-clothespins-Graduation) Print and laminate. Children must find and identify the matching illustration using a clothespin.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Graduation lunch
(Open perpetual calendar-Graduation lunch) Organize a special lunch with parents and grandparents. Ask each person to prepare a dish. Award each little graduate with his diploma and take pictures. Children can wear their graduation cap and throw them in the air at the end of the ceremony! (Open diplomas-Graduation)

Graduation evening ceremony

(Open perpetual calendar-Graduation ceremony) Prepare a special ceremony for your little graduates. Do not hold back! Invite children to dress up, take pictures, prepare a speech, and roll out a red carpet... Of course, a gourmet menu is required (complete with your graduates' favourite foods). Set up a sundae bar for dessert. Present pictures of the graduates, then and now. You may even make your own little yearbooks complete with the year's highlights. Discuss funny memories, children's little victories, etc. Give each child his diploma. Play music throughout the evening. (Open diploma-personalized) Children may also enjoy preparing a show and presenting it for their parents and grandparents. You could select the type of show a few weeks before the big night, with your graduates' input.

Suggestions:

• A cute choreography involving a song or rhyme they particularly like. Prepare costumes and decorate.
• Prepare a theatrical version of one of their favourite storybooks.
• A dance, a magic trick.
• A talent show. Each child can perform or present a picture of one of his favourite daycare activities.
• Create a unique farewell song.

School day
(Open perpetual calendar-School day)

Arrival: Children arrive with their lunch in a lunchbox.

Circle time: Discussion period about school, visit a kindergarten class.

Lunch and snack: Children eat whatever is in their lunchbox.

Special activity: Children can play school. They may take turn being the teacher. Provide activities they may complete in small workbooks. Arrange the daycare so it looks like a classroom with desks, chairs, and a table and chair facing the desks for the teacher. A chalkboard, chalk, notebooks, crayons, and a few school bags are also great additions. Follow a typical school day schedule. Enjoy worksheets, activity sheets, a craft, a song, recess, lunch, and a pretend bus ride. Use the letters of the alphabet, activity sheets, and a bell to make the experience even more real. At the end of the day, reward children with a diploma for each of the challenges they succeeded.

Challenge suggestions:

I can tie my shoelaces
(Open poster-I can tie my shoelaces) Print, laminate, and display in your daycare. Offer old shoes or toy versions children can use to practice tying their shoelaces. (Open diploma-I can tie my shoes-Back to school)

I am learning to cut
(Open game-I am learning how to cut) Print and staple the pages together to make a booklet for each child. Children must trace and cut the shapes on the dotted lines. (Open diploma-I am growing)

I know my numbers
(Open I'm learning numbers) Print, laminate, and display for children to see. Using Velcro, children attach the correct number of symbols to each number. (Open diploma-I know my numbers)

I am learning about colors
(Open game-I know my colors) Children take turns rolling the die and moving their game piece to the correct color. Encourage them to name the color. (Open diploma-I know my colors)

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Coloring hunt and seek-Graduation

(Open coloring hunt and seek-Graduation) Print and laminate. Children must find and color the items.

ARTS & CRAFTS

NEW! Models-Graduation
(Open models-Graduation) Print the models and use them for various crafts and activities throughout the theme.

Cap and gown
You will need a black plastic garbage bag for each child. Cut a hole for the head. The bag must be open on the sides, like a gown. (Open model graduation cap) Print. Use black construction paper to make the cap. As an accessory, children can have a rolled up diploma with a ribbon wrapped around it.

Diploma
(Open diploma-I am growing) Print. Have children draw all the things they are now able to do. When they are done coloring their diplomas, laminate them. You can reward each child with a diploma before they go off to kindergarten.

Invitation for graduation ceremony
(Open invitation-Graduation ceremony) Print for each child. Have children color their invitation and give it to their parents.

Yearbook
(Open yearbook) Print several copies of each page and have children color them. Take pictures of your little graduates wearing their cap and gown and add a copy to each child's yearbook. Add personalized comments (what they enjoyed most, kind words, etc.) Glue the cover page on heavy cardboard and use ribbon to join the pages.

COLORING PAGES

NEW! (Open coloring pages theme-Graduation) Print for each child.

SONGS & RHYMES

To kindergarten we'll go

by: Patricia Morrison

sung to: A hunting we will go

To kindergarten we'll go, to kindergarten we'll go
On the bus and off to school, to kindergarten we'll go
To kindergarten we'll go, to kindergarten we'll go
We'll learn our ABC's and 123's
To kindergarten we'll go

Have fun!

The Educatall team