End of the Year Program

Each year we plan an end-of-the year program for the parents.  We do not do it as a graduation, but we do present certificates.  Lakeshore sells a very cute Kindergarten certificate that congratulates each child for having been a great part of the class.

Some of the things that we included in the evening program last year were:

1.  America to Me  by Jack Hartman  Children sang this song with the CD

2.  Teacher reads Robert Fulghum's Poem of "All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten."  We have a large poster of this in our kindergarten class throughout the year.

3.  Children sing the song, "Kindergarten Wall."  This is a song that I found to go along with the poem.  It is very cute!  You can find the Cd to purchase at this following site.  John McCutcheon is the singer.  http://www.folkmusic.com/record/r_water.htm 

Words: 
When I was a little kid, not so long ago
I had to learn a lot of things I didn't really know,
How to dress myself, tie my shoes, how to jump a rope,
How to smile for a picture without looking like a dope!
But, of all the things I learned, my favorite of them all
Was the little poem hanging on the kindergarten wall.

Chorus:
Of all you learn here, remember this the best
Don't hurt each other and clean up your mess.
Take a nap every day, wash before you eat
Hold hands, stick together,
Look before you cross the street.
Remember the seed in the little paper cup,
First the root goes down, then the plant grows up!

Lately I've been worried as I look around and see.
An awful lot of grownups acting foolish as can be
I know there's lots of things to learn, I haven't mastered yet,
Still it seems it's real important stuff that grownups soon forget.
I know we'd all be better off if we could just recall
That little poem hanging on the kindergarten wall.

Repeat Chorus

3.  The Kindergarten Class (tune of Addams family)

       Refrain:

      Da-da-da-dah (snap, snap)

      Da-da-da-dah (snap, snap)

      Da-da-da-dah,

      Da-da-da-dah,

      Da-da-da-dah (snap, snap)

      We learned our ABC's

      And counting one, two, threes.

      And now we know all these---

      THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS!

      And we learned how to share,

      And we learned how to care.

      Just ask us if you dare---

      THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS!

      (Refrain)

      It seems we've just begun,

      And now it's almost done.

      This year's been so much fun---

      THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS!

      So we must say so long

      With  this our little song.

      But we'll be back before too long---

      THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS!

4.  ABC Farewell Poem    Each child has a letter that we have them hold up for this poem. 

A, B, C Farewell

A is for the alphabet which we know how to say.
B is for busy bodies -- at work and at play.
C is for colors - red, yellow, blue, and green.
D is for drawing pictures, the best you've ever seen.
E is for exercise to keep our bodies strong.
F is for the fun we've had as we have gone along.
G is for the good friends we made throughout the year.
H is for happy faces, filled with love and cheer.
I is for imagination used at every turn.
J is for good jobs and the praises we have earned.
K is for kindergartners -- hip, hip hooray!
L is for learning -- more and more each day.
M is for minding and showing our respect.
N is for numbers. One, two, three...correct?
O is for the obstacles we learned to overcome.
P is for puppets and for playing rhythms on a drum.
Q is for all the questions we've asked throughout the year.
R is for reading stories, even those that bring a tear.
S is for different snacks, several we have tried.
T is for talking. It's not to be denied.
U is for unusual; it fits some things we've done.
V is for our volunteers -- parents and everyone!
W is for the world of words we've barely dipped into.
X is for extra special kids -- it's him, it's her, it's you.
Y is for yes, it has been a great year!
Z is for first-grade zest. We're ready, have no fear!

5. Wonderful World  song with all children singing

 I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

 I see skies of blue and clouds of white

 The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

  And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

  The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

  Are also on the faces of people going by

  I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

  They're really saying I love you.

   I hear babies crying, I watch them grow

   They'll learn much more than I'll never know

   And I think to myself what a wonderful world

   Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

6.  Parents are Very Nice People ( poem)  The lines are divided up among the children.  Usually each child will recite 4 lines each.

7.  First Grade, First Grade (Tune:  New York, New York)
     We edited the song and then sang to new words.

     Start spreading the news

     We're leaving today.

      We want to be a part of

      First grade, first grade

      We've worked very hard

      Our teachers are proud.

      So open up those doors to

      First grade first grade.

      We know our alphabet

      And numbers too.

      We all can write our names

      And tie our shoes!

      So when summer's done

      And we're finished with play

      Our mom's will send us to

      First grade, first grade.

      If we can make it here

      We'll make it anywhere

      So here we come

      First grade, first grade.

8. We have a Power Point presentation of the year in pictures.  Last year we had this transferred to a video and projected it on a large screen.

9.  We had each child stand up and tell what their favorite part of kindergarten was.

10.  We presented certificates at the end of the program.  

*** Parents served cookies and punch at the end of the program.  We also presented each child's scrapbook that we made for the kids.  These were a great deal of work and we are trying to come up with a less time consuming way to save pictures for the children.

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