Gan Camarillo Model Seder!

This week at Gan, we put into practice all the Pesach learning we have been doing through a Model Seder.

Our friends, are so excited and ready to go to their own Seder! Having all our five senses part of this experience helped intergrade all the powerful lessons of Pesach. 

Kadesh

We get to drink 4 cups of grape juice at the Seder! The first one we start our seder with.

Orchatz

We wash are hands. The Seder is all about the children and asking questions. Well this step definitely  got some curious looks. Usually when we wash we say a blessing and eat the Challah or sandwich. This time we don't say a blessing and we prepare for the next step.

Karpas

Theo, helped prepare the salt water for the dipping of the Karpas. 

While putting on pretend crying faces we talked about how our tears taste like salt water and we remember the Jewish people who had to work under King Paroh.

Tasting the potatoes dipped in salt water was delicious for most and even asked for seconds.

Yachatz

Yocheved Sara, helped break the middle of the three Matzahs. We take the bigger piece and keep it for the Afikoman. We all voted which piece was bigger ;)

Maggid 

We tell the story of Pesach and remember all the miracles Hashem did for us!

Practicing the Mah Nishtana!

Rachtza/ Motzei Matzah

Washing our hands agian and this time saying a blessing for the Matzah! They were so excited to taste it! We brought store bought Matzah since 30 days before Pesach we dont eat the Shmura Matzah- hand baked Matzah. 

On the first night of Pesach we get to eat the special Matzah that is made under 18 minutes in a very special way.

Maror

Smelling real horseradish. This also helps us remember the bitter times the Jewish people have gone through. 

Tasting lettuce for the Maror since horseradish can be a bit too intense for us little ones.

Korech 

Makign the Korech sandwich that the holy Rabbi Hillel made thousands of years ago.

Shulchan Orech

This is the time at the Seder we eat a delicuous meal and we start it off with the egg on our seder plate. Our friends knew exactly where to place it on our very own Seder plates.

                 

Tzafon, Berach, Hallel, Nirtza

At the end of our meal we thank Hashem for our food and miracles he made for us.

A special part of the Seder is greeting Eliyahu Hanavi who visits every Seder. Moshe, lead us with a candle to our door to let him in. We heard friends saying when Moshiach comes we will actually see Eliyahu Hanavi and that made us all excited !

                                                      

Next year in Jerusalem is a custom we say at the end of the Seder. 

WE said hopefully THIS YEAR!!

Thanking Hashem through dancing and singing ended off our amazing Model Seder.

We Became Matzah Bakers!

Pesach is coming! It's time to learn how our special kosher matzah is made! ✨
Rabbi Muchnik came to visit us with the matzah bakery and taught us all about the process. The children had such an exciting hands-on experience and a funny show!

Matzah is made with just two simple ingredients - flour and water!

Collecting the the ingredients from our helpers!

Eli, started us off with the very first mix, combining the flour and water.

The children worked quickly and excitedly, knowing that matzah must be made from start to finish in just 18 minutes.

Poke!

Enjoying the matza!

We went to the Camarillo library for a story reading with Morah Leah.

Tambourines and dancing at yetziat mitzrayim! 🥁✨

The four sons come to the Pesach seder. This week we focused on the wise son, the Chacham. This son loves learning Torah and asking questions so he can grow in wisdom and understanding. Inspired by the chacham, we made our own special wise crowns!

While wearing our crowns, we played a special “Wise Son” game! Using our question bag, the children were asking thoughtful questions about the seder, just like the chacham.

Some of our friends even discovered answers along the way! Mordy, pulled out a seder plate, and Golda found the haggadah. She asked, “Why do we use it on seder night?” Avraham shared that it has the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim in it, helping us remember and retell the journey of the Jewish people.

Learning through art about the seder table and the special objects that go with it!

Academics

We played an interactive game to learn beginning word sounds; reinforcing foundational literacy skills.

Our Kinders played an interactive syllable game. We clapped out the “beats” in each word.

Aftercare

We enjoyed a scavenger hunt, played Matzah/Challah Tic-Tac-Toe, and matching game. The children also created and colored their own board games!

Through play, we practiced fine motor skills, teamwork, turn taking, and problem-solving.

We’re so excited and love learning about Pesach!

Shabbat Shalom!

Matzah bakery at Gan!

We started off this week preparing for our Matzah bakery in our classroom.

Being part of the preparation makes it so much more meaningful.

Painting our very own pretend oven.

Little bakers hard at work making their very own Matzahs.

We learned what Shmurah matzah looks like, round flat and homemade. 

Placing it our oven, and trying to balance our dough on a stick was fun to master.

We had a very special visitor Rabbi Yosef who put on a fun and educational show about how Matzah is made. 

The whole process needs to take under 18 minutes! We needed to work fast.

The flour and water should not be touching before making the dough.

Helpers peeking out of our flour and water station to help make the Matzah.

Getting to make our own and learning how to make holes in it so it stays flat!

Matzah bakery in action!

Water themed sensory table. 

Taking ownership over our own crafts! Learning how to portion size the glue and glitter.

Good Shabbos from the Ima and Abba!

Shabbos dancing is our favorite!