Dear Parents,

This week in the Blue Room we introduced the theme of Israel. Here are some highlights of the week:

  Our friends took a trip on an airplane and we "flew to Israel"  the children took turns being passengers and pilots. We talked about what would we need to fly on an airplane, and what we would see in the sky?  The children enjoyed using their imagination playing in the shuk in the dramatic play they took turns using shekels to pay for their food.

We turned the sensory table into the "Dead Sea"  our friends had fun hunting for seashells and playing with sea creatures.  We conducted  an experiment and added salt to the water to see if adding salt would make objects that would normally sink float just like the Dead Sea. We discovered that it didn't and we would need a ton of salt.

Our friends also created beautiful Stained glass art inspired by Stained glass around Israel.  We used white glue mixed with watercolor paints.  Our friends painted on top of contact paper mixing and blending the colors one friend even used their hands to paint and discovered how sticky the paint was and liked to stamp his hand on the paper and watch the glue string from his fingers.  Once they were dry we were left with a stained glass appearance.

Next week we will be making our own Israeli dish with Mia's mommy and special project with Naveed's mommy.  Thanks for a great week.

Wishing a restful Shabbos,
Morah Felicia and Morah Menucha

Shabbat

Dear Parents, 

    Here are some of the highlights of our second week of Shabbat:

 At the beginning of the week we discussed some things we do to prepare for Shabbos.  We read a book called, "Is it Shabbos, Yet?"  This was great because it went over the preparation of the special day.   Is it Shabbos yet?  First, Gavin and Naveed prepare for Shabbos by cleaning all the dishes in the sink.  They worked together to scrub everything clean.  Even though the work space was tight with both of them working there, they found a way to work together.  They took turns using the sponge to wash then switched and took turns rinsing!

Is it Shabbos yet? No, we need to set the table now! Our friends created a beautiful tablecloth to set the table.  This week we created a colorful tablecloth using bubbles and watercolor.  We set up a bubble painting station by just adding some liquid watercolor to some bubbles and our friends went to town using their own straw wands to blow out bubbles. They enjoyed watching the bubbles land, pop and leaving behind bubble prints!  Rivkale and Ronan especially enjoyed this activity.  Ronan beamed with proud excitement when he discovered how to blow out of the straw gently to form the bubbles, and Rivkale liked to watch the bubbles pop onto the tablecloth laughing every time.  

Is it Shabbos yet?  No, we need to have candles.  In our Sensory table this week we used colored sand to fill bottles that we later turned into candle stick holders.  All the children loved pouring and scooping and got so excited when they discovered that the sand trickled out of the funnel.   Davis, Mia and Leah explored the longest figuring out different ways to get the sand into these tiny bottles.  Once their bottles were filled they would pour out the sand and start all over again.  They created layers of colored sand and a mixture of colored sand.  We discussed that the candles welcome the Shabbos angels and there should be a candle for each member of your family.

Is it Shabbos yet?  Not yet, we need a special cup for Kiddush.  This week our friends painted their very own Kiddush cup. Our friends used many techniques to paint.  Some friends dot and dab their cups and others use long strokes and some splatter the paint onto the glass.  Each technique created a different masterpiece. Morah Menucha tells us the special bracha we say on kiddush: "Baruch atah A-donay Elo-heinu Melech Ha'Olam Borei Pri Hagafen."  The children enjoy reciting their brachas. 

Is it Shabbos yet?  Yes!  we prepared all of our essential pieces to use for each Shabbos to come.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be introducing a unit on Eretz Yisrael. 
If you have any items that remind you of Israel or are from Israel that you would feel comfortable sharing with the class, please bring them in.

Thank you!
Morah Felicia and Morah Menucha

Dear Parents,

This week we started focusing on Shabbos concepts.  What does Shabbos mean to you? What are some things we do on Shabbos? We kept these questions in mind as we set up our centers.  At the end of our Shabbat Unit our friends will take home their very own "Shabbat box"  with some essential pieces they can use each Shabbat, hopefully for years to come.  Our class will be making challah covers, candle stick holders, and Kiddush cups.

  

 Dramatic Play

This week in the Dramatic Center our friends were invited to set the table for Shabbat.  What goes on a Shabbat table, is it different than any other night?  Yes, we see candles, a Kiddush cup, nice tablecloths and dishes because Shabbos is special and we celebrate.  As friends set the table we played a game. The Morahs asked who lights the candles on Shabbos?  Gavin shouts "Ima!"  Morah asked who says Kiddush and Shabbos and Leah shouts, "Papa!"  Our friends Ronan and Naveed placed plates and silverware on the table along with bread and they get ready to take turns serving each other pretend food. Our friends also enjoyed dressing up and putting fancy ties and shoes on to go to shul. 

Sensory

Our sensory table was filled with beans, pasta, vegetables, pots, spoons and ladles and the children were given the opportunity to make their own pretend chicken soup for Shabbat, yum!  Our friends enjoyed pouring, scooping, and searching for vegetables to put in their pot.  As we made our soup we sang a song

                       'Put some ____________ in the pot stir it up so it's nice and hot

                        Get it ready for Shabbat for Shabbat.'

Then after our soups were done we all tried a taste but we had to blow on it first!

Table Top

This week Morah Menucha introduced some basic braiding techniques to our friends using different color yarn.  We can't wait to practice on our challah dough.

We also played with purple wine playdoh this week.  Mia and Rivkale enjoyed shaping and hiding"grapes" in their Play doh.  Our friends also worked hard using tongs to pinch and count raisins in Challah.

Group Project

This week our friends started to create their own challah boards.  We used watercolors to paint the base of our challah boards then continued to decorate them with mosaic tiles. We are working on squeezing and using glue bottles. The boards are coming our great and we are eager to send them home.  

Next week we will continue our Shabbos unit. We hope to see you all at our Annual School Shabbat dinner on Feb. 8  @ 5:30. 

Wishing a peaceful Shabbos, 

                                                     Morah Felicia and Morah Menchua