[Graduation from Kindergarten] Make the venue festive! Ideas for balloon wall displays and decorations

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

Many teachers are likely looking for hot-air balloon ideas to brighten up the walls for the kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Because it’s a special day celebrating the children’s send-off, you want the venue to look wonderful.

Wall decorations of hot-air balloons made from familiar materials like origami paper, tissue paper, and construction paper feel warm and are perfect for a graduation ceremony.

We’ll introduce a variety of ideas, such as springlike designs adorned with cherry blossoms, colorful rainbow balloons, and balloons seen through a window.

Some designs let you place the children’s photos or self-portraits in the balloons, so you can create decorations that will make lasting memories.

Please use these ideas as inspiration!

[Graduation Ceremony] Brighten Up the Venue! Ideas for Balloon Wall Decorations (21–30)

Fluffy Flower Balloon

Let’s make a cute hot air balloon using a paper cup and a toilet paper roll! First, glue thin strips of brown construction paper onto the paper cup to give it a basket look—it’s super cute.

Next, prepare eight strips of construction paper, each 16 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.

Using two or more colors will make it look festive! Fold 1.5 cm at both ends of each strip, then wrap and glue them around the top and bottom of the toilet paper roll.

Finally, put a photo inside the basket you made, connect it to the balloon with thread or fishing line, and your hot air balloon is complete.

You can also decorate the balloon with flowers or stars made with a craft punch for an extra cute touch.

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hiyoko sensei

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Hot Air Balloon Made with Finger Painting

How about a wall display idea of hot-air balloons made by kids, featuring adorable finger painting? The method is very simple: let them paint freely with paint on their hands on their favorite construction paper.

Finally, cut the paper into the shape of a balloon, and it’s done! For children who are worried about getting their hands dirty or those who may put their hands in their mouths, place the paper and paint inside a food storage bag and let them paint by pressing and moving the paint from outside the bag.

With this method, even infants can enjoy creating, so to celebrate the graduates’ new beginning, have all the current students make a hot-air balloon wall together!

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hiyoko sensei

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A balloon that looks real

We’ll show you how to make colorful, three-dimensional hot air balloons that look just like the real thing.

First, let’s create the balloon part.

Apply rice paper (shoji paper) to an inflated balloon using glue, and let it dry.

Once dry, paint over the rice paper freely with paints.

Even if some white areas remain, they’ll become part of the pattern and add a unique touch! After the paint is completely dry, pop the balloon inside and remove it—the balloon portion is done.

For the basket, use a paper cup or a pudding cup, and place a self-portrait or photo inside to finish.

You can use them on walls or as hanging decorations—they’re super cute!

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hiyoko sensei

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Hot air balloon sun catcher

Let us introduce hot air balloons with a sun catcher look—perfect for a graduation ceremony venue bathed in sunlight.

You will need black construction paper, paper cups, string, colored cellophane, and laminating film.

If you don’t have laminating film, you can substitute OPP tape and parchment paper.

The method is simple: stick a ring made from black construction paper onto the laminating film, then attach colored cellophane inside the ring.

You can cut the cellophane into fence-like strips and arrange them in a grid, or cut and place them freely for a lovely effect.

Once done, cut it out with scissors, make a hole, and attach a basket made from a paper cup to finish! Display it where light shines through—the shadows will be tinted with color, creating a vibrant atmosphere!

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hiyoko sensei

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three-dimensional balloon

Let me introduce a cute, three-dimensional hot air balloon wall decoration that’s perfect for a preschool graduation ceremony backdrop.

You’ll make it with construction paper: cut pieces in a bowling-pin-like shape with a rounded top.

Make eight of these.

Then, glue the rounded tops together, layering them.

Start by attaching them vertically (top and bottom), then horizontally (left and right), and finally add the remaining four diagonally in between.

Next, prepare a ring made of construction paper or cardstock, and glue the eight pieces around the ring—this completes the balloon part! For the basket, use a paper cup; you can place a self-portrait, a photo, or even small 3D items inside.

Finally, connect the balloon and the basket with string to finish the hot air balloon.

The plump shape is super cute!

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hiyoko sensei

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