Dear Parents, 

Welcome to the Blue Room! Some time was taken this week to revamp the Blue Room with some new materials and shelves. Our friends were invited to explore their classroom and centers. Our friends enjoyed the gorgeous weather outside and discussed this week's parsha Lech Lecha. 

Abigail discovers new reading material in one of her favorite spots in the classroom, the library.  

Parsha Lech Lecha

  Blue Room friends discussed Parsha Lech Lecha. Long ago lived Avraham and his wife Sara. Many people didn't know about Hashem back then, and Avraham and Sara taught them all about Hashem.   Avraham and Sara were very old and didn't have any children of their own yet. One day, Hashem came to Avraham and told him he needed to pack up and move. This was going to be hard work! They lived in a desert where the land is dry and hot with very little water or protection from the sun. Avraham didn't even know where they were moving to. Hasham just told him to follow him, and so they did.  Hashem led them to the land Canaan (Israel). When they arrived, Hashem told Avraham he would have as many children as there were stars in the sky and sand on the ground, and the land Canaan would be his forever.

The Blue Room friends created their own starry night just like in the story, with glitter, white crayons and black paper. They worked those fine motor muscles by squeezing their glitter and coloring their paper. As they were working, Lia says, "I did the stars big for my Daddy."

On Friday, we created individual pieces of sand art using glue and sand. First, our friends were given the opportunity to use bottle glue by squeezing it out onto their paper. Then they put the sand on top of the glue. After the glue was all covered, we removed the sand to reveal our design.

Our friends really enjoy being outside. Anything is possible when we are outside! Our friends instantly turn into bakers and bake "Birthday cakes" galore! This week, Luka, the architect, makes himself a cozy chair out of a tire. 

If any families have any sand box toys, cooking trays, muffin tins, or other kitchen utensils that are old and you're not using anymore, we would love to have them to enhance our outdoor play. Also, as we explore and discover each day in school, it's inevitable your child will get messy! We do wear smocks for painting projects, etc. but there is no guarantee they will leave spot free. I encourage you to send your child in clothes that are designated for preschool work. 

Looking forward to another great week at CJP!

Wishing you a peaceful Shabbos, 

Morah Felicia 

Continue learning about days of creation

Dear parents,
 
This week in the Blue Room we continued learning and exploring the days of creation. On day five, Hashem created sea creatures and birds. 

This week we had clay, birds, butterflies and feathers on the table. Our friends used their imagination to explore different ways of playing with the tools. 

On the sixth day, Hashem created animals and people. Our friends played with farm and zoo animals as we made the sounds they make, moooo! Rawr! Hashem created such an amazing world! Blue skies, the sun and the moon, millions of twinkling stars, flowers and trees, oceans, sea animals, and of course people. 

People can do so many amazing things! We can think, we can build, we can drive cars and fly airplanes. How could it be that people can do all these things? Because Hashem gives us so much strength to do so!

Inspired by the book, "My Many Colored Days," by Dr. Seuss, our friends created themselves with color based on how they were feeling. We talked about how we can feel many different feelings at many different times and they are all okay to have because they are a part of us. 

On the seventh day, Hashem decided that Shabbat is going to be a day of rest. When Shabbat came everything stopped, and this completes the seven days of creation. With Shabbat the world was now complete. 

Every Friday in CJP we get in the Shabbat spirit and we bake challah and sing Shabbat songs. We make special brochos and we have a Shabbat party! We will continue learning about Shabbat in depth in January. Next week we are going to learn about the Parsha of Noah and the animals. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Morah Ora and Morah Chaya

Days of Creation

Dear parents!

Welcome back after break.We were so happy to see each other and welcome each other with big smiles.

This week we began learning about Parsha Bereshis. We learned that Bereshis is the first word in the Torah and that in this Parsha, Hashem created the beautiful world we live in. We made many projects to demonstrate what was created on each day of the week.

On day one, Hashem created day and night. Our friends sorted black beans from white beans. In the sensory bin we also had black and white beans, as well as little suns, moons, and stars. Our friends enjoyed scooping beans with scoopers and speaking about how we sleep at night time and say Layla Tov to all our friends and family. When it's light outside, we see the sun and we say Boker Tov. We go to school and play!

On the second day of creation, Hashem created the sea and the sky. The sensory table was filled with blue water, soap (to  make some waves), and gel. Our friends had so much fun using their hands to feel the little gel balls in the water. To explore the clouds in the sky, we created paintings with blue paint and cotton balls. Our friends created different types and shapes of clouds.

On the third day, Hashem created land, trees, and flowers. Our sensory table was filled with soil and grass seeds. Our friends planted their own cups with seeds. We will water them every week and watch them grow.

On the four day of creation, Hashem created sun,moon and stars. Morah Ora created matching game activities for our friends to play. Our friends had fun taking turns to match pictures of sun, moon, and stars.

Next week we will continue learning about Hashem's days of creation.

Shabbot shalom!!

Morah Ora and Morah Chaya

Sukkot

Dear Parents!

This week we covered some exploration about another big holiday - Sukkot.

This week in our library we read a book, Tamar's Sukkah. This book is about how Tamar called on her neighborhood friends to help her build a Sukkah.  

After we read the book, we took a walk to our big Sukkah outside next to our playground. We looked around and saw tables and chairs in the Sukkah, but something was missing...Then again we looked around and we couldn’t see Sukkah decorations.We decided to go back to the class and make some. Our Friends took foam balls and attached some beautiful flowers and leaves to it. When we were done making them, Morah Ora took them and hung them in the Sukkah. Our Sukkah is ready for the celebration of Sukkot.

Dramatic Play

Morah Chaya taught our Friends about why we celebrate Sukkot and what Sukkah means. The Sukkah reminds us that Hashem loves us and protects us, always.

In our dramatic play, we had a Sukkah for our Friends to go in and play a little. 

Morah Ora told our Friends about the miztvah of shaking the lulav and estrog. The lulav and estrog remind us of Jewish unity and responsibility to each other. We used lemons for estrog and branches for lulav. And with the song, we shook the lulav.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Holidays,

Morah Ora and Morah Chaya.