Dear parents,
This week we welcomed a new friend to our class, Maggi!

This week our friends practiced using our fine motor skills as we created shapes on geo boards. We played with light and went over number recognition by playing a fun a game. Some of our friends also finished up some of their Shabbat projects from last week. As always we continue to work on taking turns, using gentle hands, and also using our words to communicate how we are feeling our wants and our needs. 

Next week we will be starting our Tu B Shvat unit. We are wishing you warm peaceful Shabbos and hoping everyone returns happy and healthy next week. 

Shabbat Shalom! 

Morah Felicia and Morah Briele

Shabbot Unit

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.  Here are some highlights

                                                        Dramatic Play
Let's go shopping for Shabbat.  This week we set up our dramatic play as a grocery store.  We also printed out grocery lists for our friends to take with them while they shopped as they found each item on the list they were able to check it off.  Our friends enjoyed pushing their carts with their babies in the front and hunting for their items to prepare for their shabbat meal.


                                                           Table Top/Loose Parts
We created shabbos candles by putting loose parts, such as buttons and bottle caps, on top of candle templates. We also got to identify the word "Shabbat" in Hebrew by tracing the letters (Shin, Bet, Tuf) on tile with loose parts!


On one of the tables during morning centers pictures of challah and braiding templates were put. The children were invited to braid their own play-dough challah by following the step by step instructions.

                                                          Sensory
On Shabbos it is always nice to have flowers on the table to beautify the Shabbat table. We practiced making flower arrangements in the sensory table using flowers and mason jars.

Perhaps the activity our friends loved the most this week was Grape Juice Making! On Shabbos we make Kiddush on grape juice.. how is grape juice made? Well, we found out what that process looks like by stomping grapes outside!

                                                            Group and community
Snack and lunch time discussions were focused on Shabbat.  We went over a Shabbos checklist and talked about all the things we do to welcome in Shabbat.. like cleaning the house, taking a shower, and making delicious food. We asked friends what they do on Shabbat.

                                                              Art
We painted glass candle holders using a new art medium- glass paint.  This paint was a different consistency than what we have worked with before.. our friends enjoyed blending the colors on the glass and then added gems for an extra sparkle.

Our friends made napkin rings with dot art and paint for our School Shabbat dinner. Thanks to everyone who donated cardboard rolls.

On Friday we made our own challah dough from scratch! The children got to explore what kind of ingredients are used to make bread, and had the opportunity to pour those ingredients, watch the yeast bubble, and mix the dough. After the dough was given some time to rise a little, we shaped our dough to put in the oven. We hope our friends enjoy their homemade challah this Shabbos that they worked so hard on!

We can't wait to see you all at our annual Shabbat dinner Friday the 24th. As always wishing a restful shabbos.  Morah Felicia and Morah Briele

Welcome back

Dear Parents,
           Welcome back!  We are excited to have all our friends back in the classroom.  This week we focused on getting back into our classroom, we welcomed returning friends, and even a new friend, Harvey Young!  Here are some highlights of the week:

                                                                        Sensory
 Our friends really enjoyed sand trays this week.  One day they were invited to draw a variety of lines such as zig zags, squiggly, and straight.  Then we extended into shapes and numbers. The children also had fun hiding letters in the sand then hunting for them later.

                                                                         Fine Motor / Literacy
We worked on fine Motor skills and alef beis recognition with a fun activity.  Our friends  matched alef beis letters with popsicle sticks.  Everyone was able to find the first Hebrew letter of their name.

         
                                                                          Process Art
This week our friends were given the opportunity to make their own chalk paint. Firstly, the children chose colored chalk to crush using a mortar and pestle.  They found this to be meaningful work and crushed for long periods of time while watching the chalk transform into powder!  Then they scooped the powder into glass jars where they added water with an eye dropper to make the paint.  Each child was in control of the consistency of their paint, they could make it as thick or thin as they wanted. Finally they painted with their product.  They explored different textures and colors with their paints.  Check out Facebook for pictures.

                                                                      Social Emotional
We had some great conversations during snack and lunch time this week.  On Monday during snack time morah asked her friends what they did or saw on their long break from school?

Shai- "I saw Elsa and Ana at the T.V. show!"

Daniel- "I saw snow and got stuck in the snow.  It was so sticky."

Maddie- "I went to the chicken nugget place with mommy and ate chicken nuggets."

Mila- "I went to Flagstaff, Morah Lisha, and saw snow."

On Wednesday a friend shared they went to Giggles.  So Morah asked what do you do at Giggles?

Ella- "I hang on a bar."

Yehonathan- "I do legos and jumping."

Elliot- "I go to Chuckie Cheese it's 'cause there's games there."

It was great to hear how busy our friends stayed over break.   Next week we will be starting our Shabbat unit.  Thanks for a great first week back.  Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos.
Morah Felicia and Morah Briele