Preschool Graduation

Has anyone ever planned one?

I'm having trouble planning one. I have 16 childern, but only 7 are really graduating. It has to be completely outside and we're having about 45 guests, 65 in all. I was thinking about having a semi-award ceremony for the kids that aren't graduating. They all will be singing "Graduation". And I have a few poems I'd like to read, but I'm not sure what else I should do or how I should put it all together.

Any Ideas?

Re: Preschool Graduation

My son's school did a candy theme and every class sang a song "Sugar, Sugar" "Lollipop, Lollipop, Lifesaver Lollipop". They made their hats that week and went up for diplomas

For a good book, you can do an abbreviated version of Dr. Seuss's "The Places You'll Go"

Message edited 5/23/2006 8:33:03 PM.

Re: Preschool Graduation

You should make a form (or find one online) of questions to ask each student and then read them aloud as each student stands on a little stage (or stepstool). For example, before the ceremony, ask each child to answer five basic questions:

What was your favorite part of pre-k?

What is one thing that you learned?

What do you want to be when you get older and why? (this is a huge hit -- SO cute what they come up with)

What are your hobbies? etc.

Have them draw a picture and hold it up as you read the highlights of their Q&A. Then show a slideshow (PowerPoint) of PreK highlights. This is what I did at my pre-k grad. And of course the songs....

Are they wearing little caps and gowns?

Re: Preschool Graduation

Oh, they also took the photos throughout the year & did a video montage. It was really cute.

Re: Preschool Graduation

When we do our preschool graduation, our 3 year old class does 2 songs to open the show, then the entire preschool does about 3 songs for their parents. Then we hand out diploma's and then the graduates do a song called "Kindergarten here I come"( sung to the tune of California here I come.) Then we usually end the show with the 3's and 4's singing "Your a grand Ole' Flag"

Oh and the kids always enter graduation to Lion King's "Circle of Life"


ETA: My preschool teacher's make a portfolio for each child and we hang different pieces of work they have done for the entire year. We also have each teacher in the school write something about each child on a piece of paper that is entitled "Remembering Child's name" So every teacher that had them puts a memory of that child from each year. Most of my kids are with us from 3 months to 5 years

Message edited 5/23/2006 9:28:45 PM.

Re: Preschool Graduation

Also you can do an "An Autobiography" of each of them. Make'em draw & write about themselves.

Re: Preschool Graduation

I like the idea of doing a video, but I can't seem to put a movie on DVD and get it to play in a DVD player.

Re: Preschool Graduation

Do you have a DVD burner?

Re: Preschool Graduation

I believe so. I know I have a CD burner. I thought they were the same thing.

Re: Preschool Graduation

Re: Preschool Graduation

There are tons of cute songs out there to do....in preschool we did "This Little Light of Mine" and made fake candles from toilet paper rolls...

Now I teach kindergarten and for their graduation we do cute Dr. Jean songs....Tooty Ta and Pizza Hut are always favorites.