We will be celebrating the end of our preschool year in a few weeks. We have a whole-school celebration in our town's high school auditorium for all the family, friends and teaching staff who attend. Last year, instead of purchasing store-bought graduation hats (which were getting kind of expensive to keep purchasing), we made our own. Here is how we made ours to celebrate the end of the school year.

First, cut down 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock into 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares. We then have the children personalize their hats by writing their names on the cardstock or using sticker letters to spell their name. This way, we know whose hat is whose, and it gets children involved in the process of making their own hat. Then, teachers attach the cardstock square to a styrofoam or plastic bowl using a brad.

Next, punch holes into the sides of the bowl to tie on pieces of yarn, which are used to tie the hats onto the child's head. This year, we will try using plastic bowls, as we feel they will hold up better if the child tugs on the yarn. Styrofoam bowls will work also, and is what we used here - but we did find that some of the bowls ripped if children pulled too much on the yarn.

Lastly, make tassels out of yarn using the instructions found on www.ehow.com and attach to the hats by tying to the brad. Adorable way to celebrate a preschool graduation!