Pesach

Dear Families,

This week we were busy with building pyramids using different materials. In the sensory table, we mixed sand and water, then added ice cube trays to make bricks to build with. At the table top, we had paper shaped in pyramids and we used marble pieces and magna-tiles to build too.  Our friends chose to build the pyramids in different directions like stacking marble pieces or sorting the magna-tiles by color. Our friends noticed that pyramids can be the shape of a triangle or a square.

Baby Moshe

 

In the beginning of this week we set baby Moshe in a basket.  We used some blue fabric, blankets, plants, a baby and a basket.  Morah  told our friends the story about long ago when baby Moshe's mommy was protecting him from King Pharaoh and the only way to keep him safe was to float him down the river.  

 

We asked our friends, "What are some things babies need to feel safe??  

One friend shouted, "A bottle!"  

Another friend added, "A Diaper."  

 

Setting up a provocation is an invitation to play and explore.  This provocation invited the children to role play and imagine what it was like for baby Moshe to be in the basket.  Through this platform we reinforced and learned vital skills such as empathy, sharing, turn-taking, and problem solving.

Next week we will be exploring more about Pesach by opening our own matza bakery in dramatic play, building pyramids with different objects, and getting familiar with the Seder plate.

 
We are continuing to work on social skills such as asking for a turn or a toy before grabbing it, using statements like “Turn please?” Or “My work/turn” if someone is attempting to grab something we have. We are encouraging the children to use words to express if they don’t like something that a friend is doing to them by saying, “Stop” and/or “I don’t like that.” We starting to work a little bit on personal space as well, “Move please.” or “Space.” It is typical behavior at age 1 and 2 for our friends to get frustrated trying to negotiate these things without the necessary verbal skills. This can sometimes be overwhelming for them. We will often see hitting, grabbing and sometimes biting at this stage in their development. Morahs are there to help give alternatives to these unwanted behaviors. 

As always, thank you for trusting your children with us and for all of the support at home. We hope you have a restful and wonderful Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Ora & Morah Rivky

Purim celebration

Dear Families,

This week was filled with fun Purim activities.

Throughout this week we have been dancing and singing to Purim songs.

We had a blast doing Spirit Week for Purim.

On Monday our friends came in pajamas. 

Each friend showed off their pajamas and had a big laugh.

On Tuesday our friends had Silly Day.

Some friends had so many pony tails that we counted to see who had the most! 

Some friends came in in funny shoes or in very creative outfits. It was very funny day.

We celebrated our Purim Spirit Week with Purim costumes and a Purim celebration.

We had a blast bouncing on our bounce house, and seeing the Lovely Buttons clown show.

Our friends filled a box (mishloach manot) with lots of yummy treats to exchange with each other, as we learned that it is an important mitzvah of Purim.

 

We ended our week with Fancy Day, and our friends did not disappoint! We spoke about our fancy clothes and how we dress up to celebrate Shabbat.

Thank you for helping your children participate through this amazing week of spirit and sending mishloach manot baskets to us. We are so grateful for your involvement and generosity!

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim.

Morah Ora & Morah Rivky

Purim

Dear Families.

What a fun week we had!

We began our exploration of Purim this week. We began by introducing the main characters of the Megillah: King Achashverosh, Queen Vashti, Haman, Queen Esther and Mordechai through finger puppets, dancing and storybooks. 

Sensory and Science Exploration

Our friends explored rice, lentils and beans in our sensory table this week. Using funnels and bottles, they each created a gragger or noisemaker. We practiced shaking our graggers to make noise whenever we hear the name Haman and we said, "Be nice, Haman!"

 

Fine Motor Work and Problem Solvin

 Morah hid small, wooden, Purim characters in the manipulative boxes. Each friend opened the box to find a Purim character and named it. We also used glue and pom poms to decorate our crowns to be like King Achashverosh and Queen Esther. 

Dramatic Play

In the dramatic play area, we had big castle to explore! Our friends had so much fun entering and exiting our castle. We also had new dress up clothing and lots of jewelry. Our friends pretended  to be a king or queen. 

During davening, we give tzedakah, but this week we talked about how this is one of the four mitzvos of Purim. We touched on the other three mitzvos: hearing the Megillah, sending food gifts to friends and hosting a festive meal. We will continue to explore more about Purim next week.

Shabbot Shalom,

Morah Ora & Morah Rivky

Chicken soup!

Dear Peach Families.

This week we wrapped up our Shabbos unit by making traditional chicken soup.

We started our week with talking about vegetables and the vitamins they contain. We spoke about how our bodies need vegetables to grow.  Asher said, "Grow high!"

Thank you for bringing vegetables for our soup! Our friends were so excited to see the vegetable that they brought from home to share with us.

Our friends watched how Morah peeled all the vegetables then cut them and washed them. Before we put them in the pot we tasted them.

Leeann loved celery and had two big pieces.

Alma tried the celery and decided that it was not her taste.

Audrey really liked zucchini and said “It's cucumber."

Morah explained that it looks like a cucumber, it has same shape and color, but it tastes different.

The rest of our friends enjoyed carrots, and we could hear a loud crunching sounds in the classroom.

Liran said, "I have carrot."

Leif closed his eyes tightly every time he felt the crunch!

 

After we tasted, all of our friends took turns putting vegetables in the pot and stirring it up. Etai wanted to have lots of turns to stir! He enjoyed stirring very much. Aria noticed the vegetables going around and around. She pointed and squealed so that her friends would look too. Kai said, "Stir, stir."

The song we learned this week:

The Chicken Soup Song

To the tune of “London Bridge”

Put some chicken in the pot

Stir it up, nice and hot

Get it ready for Shabbat, for Shabbat

Put some…(carrots, onions, celery…)

The next day we ate our soup for lunch. Everyone asked for more soup, it was delicious!

 Over the Next couple of weeks we will be exploring the holiday of Purim: a holiday of so much joy and fun.

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Ora & Morah Rivky