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Graduation Songs & Poem
I absolutely love this Kindergarten Graduation song by DLTK Kids sung to the tune of “New York, New York“. It can be adapted for any of the primary grades.
This is an adorable parody of the theme song from The Addams Family entitled The Kindergarten Class (it could be edited for other grades as well).
This YouTube video collection has a number of popular song remixes for school graduation ceremonies. Includes Dynamite, Shake It Off, Summer Nights from Grease, & many more.
Here is a playlist of songs compiled by Time 4 Kindergarten that can be used in your end of the year DVDs or slideshows.
This ABC Farewell poem can be added to your end of the year DVD or read at your graduation ceremony.
Graduation Hats
When I first started teaching we would always make our own graduation hats. This post from Soduel has the easiest directions for making your own graduation hats. We used yarn for the tassels and had the foam boards donated from a local business.
In later years we started purchasing our graduation hats from Oriental Trade. They have many colors and options from which to choose. Browse their collection here.
Amazon has a 12 pack of child sized graduation hats as well.
Grinning Graduates Graduation Bulletin Board
I have been doing this display with my students for years and it is always a favorite with students and parents. Plus, it makes a great decoration for your graduation celebration! Click here to get the free printable patterns and instructions.
Graduation Party Treats & Snacks
For our graduation, we usually present a program for the parents and then get together and celebrate with special snacks/treats. Here are a few favorite graduation snacks:
This one is so simple yet so adorable! Make editable diplomas by wrapping Hostess Ho Hos with ribbon.
Make graduation cupcakes by using mini peanut butter cups, pieces of a Hershey Bar, and licorice as the topper.
Click here for the directions for these personalized graduation party favors.
Another simple but cute idea is to put out ring pops as “class rings” for students.
Editable Digital Diplomas
Over the past 5 years or so I have started creating and printing my own editable diplomas in Microsoft PowerPoint. I love it not only because I can personalize them with my own text, but I don’t have to worry about ordering / purchasing diplomas each year. I simply edit and print as many copies as I wish. Plus the cost of printing is much less than buying them in packs like I used to do.
I simply create a background and then insert text – simple!
If you would like to save time during the hectic end of the year and don’t want to create your own, I have made mine available in my TPT store. I’ve also created packs for grades 1-6 as well as preschool and kindergarten.
ALL the text is editable so you can customize them for your class / school.
I’ve also included editable graduation invitations.
You can find more details and sample photos of my editable digital diplomas and graduation invitations here.
Graduation Gifts
We give our students personalized gifts at our graduation ceremony to show them how much we appreciated having them as students. Visit this blog post for over 20 ideas for memorable, inexpensive graduation gifts for students.
Graffiti Wall or Keepsake Tablecloth
If you have blank walls because you have taken down your class decor, hang up a large piece of butcher paper and let students write and draw about their favorite memories, give “shout-outs” to one another, tell about summer plans, etc.
If you are having an end of the year celebration or graduation, allow the students to decorate long pieces of white paper with their favorite memories from the year and then use it as the table covering for your end of the year celebration.
Graduation Books
Here are a few favorite read alouds about graduation.
The Last Day of Kindergarten
In this cute story a little girl is sad that kindergarten is ending, but then realizes that graduating and going to first grade is exciting too.
The Berenstain Bears’ Graduation Day
The Berenstain Bears are always a favorite! In this book students get to read about the Bear Country’s school graduation ceremony and learn the true meaning of the end of the school year.
Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl (Junie B. Jones, No. 17)
This is a chapter book that can be read the days preceding graduation. Junie B. Jones is graduating kindergarten and she is supposed to keep her white graduation gown in the box until the big day but she just can’t help herself! Your students will love what happens!
For books about the end of the school year, visit this blog post.
Photo Booth Fun
Set up a simple photo booth at your graduation party or celebration. Provide silly props such as glasses, hats, signs, etc. Send the pictures to the students via their Seesaw journals or via email.
