By Beth S. Pollak
Congratulations to all of the recent graduates! With most festivities moving online, this spring is a great time for a Caribu Call to connect with the graduates in your life. Try Caribu’s graduation coloring pages, or celebrate with your favorite Caribu activities and books. Here are some additional ideas to mark this milestone in a meaningful way:
1) Invite Teddy: Invite Preschool and Kindergarten grads to bring their favorite stuffies, dolls, and teddy bears to a mini-graduation in your family’s home. Line them up to be audience members or classmates. Make a graduation cap with cardboard and construction paper, or wear a favorite hat. Play the tune “Pomp and Circumstance” for a rousing entrance march. Invite siblings to give speeches and share songs or poetry. Don’t forget to award diplomas to the proud graduates! And of course, give them a chance to toss their graduation caps at the end.
2) Color with a graduate: Pick a Caribu graduation coloring page, and contact a classmate for a virtual playdate. Celebrate graduation on a video-call with conversation and artwork. Kids can fill in the outlines of caps and gowns with school colors. Share favorite moments from the classroom, and make a wish for the years ahead. You can find the graduation coloring pages in the “New and Noteworthy” category of the Activities section in the Caribu app. Save your drawings, and post them on social media with #Caribu so we can celebrate with you too!
3) Decorate: Make festive signs for your graduate to honor their achievements. Create a bright poster for your front door and add some balloons and streamers at the entrance! If you have friends or relatives who are graduates, consider dropping off graduation signs or banners for their yard. You can also make a photo collage with year-by-year pics from school, family, and friends.
4) Make a cake in a Caribu Call: Treat your graduates to a sweet baking activity with a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen! Try the Chocolate Raspberry Mug Cakes recipe from the “Let’s Cook Together” section of Caribu’s in-app library. Use simple ingredients to whip up a chocolatey cake that you can microwave in a mug! The recipe includes large photos and step-by-step instructions. For more kitchen fun, try some of the other recipes and cookbooks on a Caribu Video-Call.
5) Honor student achievements: Pick an old favorite book to read with your graduate on a Caribu Call, and notice— what’s easier about this book now? Which words can they read on their own that they didn’t know before? Celebrate reading growth with a certificate, stickers, or activity. Write a story together with some of their favorite characters and vocabulary.
6) What do you want to be when you grow up? In Caribu’s in-app library, you can find the book To Be Or Not To Be, which introduces kids to the idea of careers. In the story, a teacher describes a dream she had about her students as adults. Even though she pictured them in all different types of jobs, she says that it’s most important for them to be the best they can in whatever career they chose. This is a colorful choice for kids to learn about many occupations, and a great way to dream big about what is possible. Read it with your favorite graduate on a video-call, and talk about their dreams for the future. It is also available in Spanish (Ser O No Ser).
7) Level Up!: Graduation is a great time to try a harder reading book. Invite your child to pick a text on Caribu that is for one age-group higher. Or pick a text that has seemed challenging, and give it a shot! Take your time and read the book slowly over a video-call. Don’t forget to hit the heart button and add it to your Caribu Favorites list so that you can practice it again.
However you choose to recognize your graduates, Caribu is there to help your family connect, celebrate, and enjoy. Best wishes on your accomplishments, and may you have many magical moments of learning and success in the future.
Beth S. Pollak is a writer and educator based in California. In addition to working with Caribu, she consults with educational organizations and EdTech companies. Beth has worked as a teacher and journalist in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. She holds degrees in journalism, bilingual education, and educational leadership. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, picnics, and dance.