Students will sing songs, recite a poem, and share what they can do now in kindergarten. As a result, students will be able to see that they have accomplished.

Students will:

1. Learn the poem, "When I Was One" by A.A. Milne (PDF).
2. Learn to sing the songs: "ABC Rock," "We All Live Together," "Friends," and "Goodbye Song." (All songs are by Greg and Steve on We All Live Together CD, Volumes 1 & 2.
3. Recite the phrase, "Before I went to kindergarten I didn't know how to _________, but now I do!"

Directions

Day 1

Step 1: Read Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Krauss 

Step 2: Have the class share what they can do now, at the end of kindergarten, as opposed to what they could do at the beginning of kindergarten.

Step 3: Orally, Have each child fill in the blank.

Before I went to kindergarten, I didn't know how to _____, but now I do!

(Depending on what the students say, I have them demonstrate their competency. Example: "Before I went to kindergarten, I didn't know how to count by 10s but now I do! 10, 20, 30, 40 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.")

Write this on a paper for each child. It will be needed for recitation practice.

Day 2

Step 1: Practice accomplishment recitation. Have each child practice saying their lines and demonstrating their competencies. I have my students sit in chairs in a rainbow formation facing the audience. One child at a time comes to the center mark to recite his or her competency.

Day 3–10

Step 1: Teach the songs: "Friends," "We All Live Together," "Good-bye," and "ABC Rock" from the We All Live Together CD. Play the songs over and over again. The teacher reads a line and the students repeat it. Do this every day until they have it memorized.

Day 11, Day of Celebration Program

Step 1: The children march in to "Friendship March" from Greg and Steve's We All Live Together Vol. 1. They march on stage and stand in front of their chair. When everyone is in, you can signal for all of them to sit.

Step 2: Welcome everyone to the celebration. Reiterate that we are here to celebrate a year's growth in kindergarten. Point out that, as a teacher, you notice growth at school. As parents, your audience may notice a different growth at home. The students may notice an even different kind of growth. We are here to celebrate it all.

Step 3: Read Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Krauss to the parents. Have the children read along with you.

Step 4: Mention that the first obstacle for students was learning how to get along with others. Sing "We All Live Together."

Step 5: Mention we needed to learn our letters. Sing "ABC Rock." Hand out letters A–Z. (Some kids may have two letters.) As students sing the song with the CD, they raise high the letter they are holding.

Step 6: Have students recite the poem, "When I was One" by A. A. Milne.

Step 7: Have students recite their accomplishments.

Step 8: Sing the song "Friends."

Step 9: Leave the stage to the "Good-bye" song. I hug each student and hand out Kindergarten Certificates.

Lesson Extensions

1. Make graduation hats. I attach yarn and add a tassel to an 8" X 8" piece of construction paper. The children draw a picture of one of their accomplishments to glue onto the top of their hat. Example: counting to 100 by tens would have the numerals 10, 20, 30, etc.
2. Display baby pictures at the celebration.

Evaluation

• Did the students participate?
• Interview parents. How do they feel their child has grown? Did they see their child's growth in this celebration?