All about me!

During the last couple weeks of Gan we wanted our friends to realize and process just how much they have grown!

First, we stared with how unique we all are. Taking turns looking in the mirror helped us realize all the different features each of us have. 

                                                     

Graphing our eye colors.

                    

Over these next couple of weeks we are working on a special "All about me" craft. A special place where we can document what each of our tastes are and what we are able to now do!

Zalman and Akiva, working on their favorite colors. 

Color graphing was a fun center to learn names of colors we might not know yet.

What is your favorite food to eat? 

Talking about our emotions is a good way to learn more about ourselves. 

Making self-portraits of how we were feeling.

We also worked on a fun summer craft since we are getting excited for summer to come!

Playing in our sandbox is more than just play. Scooping, pouring, digging helps children build regulation, focus, creativity, imagination, and connection.

In a fast-paced world, children still deeply need open-ended sensory experiences like these.

What looks simple on the outside is actually powerful brain work underneath the surface

Thank you Hope and Ken for visiting us and reading books!

During aftercare, we had fun with learning about gravity and building. 

Thank You Hashem! ❤️

This week, we learned what it means to be thankful from King Dovid. We read a book about his life and learned how, as a young shepherd, he lovingly cared for his sheep and all their needs. While watching over them, he would play his harp, sing songs to Hashem, and thank Him for always watching over him. We also learned how, even after becoming a mighty king, King Dovid continued to dance and sing with joy and gratitude to Hashem! 👑

Yosef and Avraham, making King Dovid’s harp! 🎶

Even though he had a difficult life, King Dovid wrote the book of Tehilim — songs to thank and praise Hashem. Every person has their own perek (chapter) in Tehilim according to their age, which is special to read every day. We created beautiful artwork inspired by our chapters, and our kinders can already read their perek in Tehilim! 

Writing our own songs to thank Hashem. Yosef wrote, “Thank You Hashem for the Torah I see!” 

Drum circle with Morah Rachel!

Listening to the beat of our hearts… Thank You, Hashem! ❤️

Yossi C. showed us how to listen to the beat of your heart through your wrist.

One of the ways we can show that we are grateful to Hashem is by being b’simcha — happy! We learned this from King Dovid, who danced and sang to Hashem with so much joy. The children had so much fun performing on our “Simcha Stage” with songs, puppet shows, jokes, and lots of laughter...

Eli B. and Yossi shared jokes on our “Simcha Stage” that cracked us all up! 

By the end of the week, after learning so much from King Dovid, each child drew something they are thankful for.

Chana wrote, “Life, the Torah, and everything!” 

Ashira and Yehudis, wrote that they are thankful for their moms, and drew beautiful pictures of their families! 💕

Moshe, is thankful for strawberry ice cream :)

Eli B. drew King Dovid himself!

How fitting was the new Bracha of “She’asah Li Kol Tzorki” — “Who has provided me with all my needs” — that we learned this week!

We earned the gemstone of gratitude, inspired by King Dovid! Mordy was so proud. 💎

Pre-K Kria

Theo working hard on his letter Shin!

K Kria

The children learned to read words that we usually use on Shabbat and during our Shabbat party at school. First, we read the words together with matching pictures, and then the children matched the words to the correct items from memory!

Academics

For Social Studies we learnt about Memorial Day & the importance of honoring our military personnel.

Science time! We have been learning about gravity & did an experiment comparing how quickly different objects fell to the ground.

Aftercare

This week in aftercare, we created a sweet ice cream project! 

Each child made their own colorful ice cream scoop and proudly wrote their name on it.

“We're like a scoop of ice cream, each one of us unique, but when we join together our cone is complete!

Thanks for making our aftercare class a special treat!”

One of the highlights of the week was working together to build a giant balloon tower, which quickly turned into a fun filled balloon celebration full of laughter and excitement.

As we prepare for the end of the school year, it’s been so special watching the children grow in confidence, friendship, and imagination. 

Shabbat Shalom!

What’s Cooking for Shavuos? 🧀

This week we learned about the minhagim (customs) of Shavuos!
On Shavuos, we eat dairy foods. Just like a baby needs milk to grow strong and healthy, our neshama (soul) needs the Torah to grow and become closer to Hashem. Eating dairy foods reminds us of this special connection.
We turned our classroom into a dairy farm and found Mooooo-linda the cow ready to be milked!

What’s cooking on the dairy farm??

The kids got to use the fresh milk from Mooooo-linda to make chocolate milk or strawberry milk!

Avraham chose strawberry milk! Making choices on their own helps children build confidence, independence, and decision making skills. Especially hard ones like deciding between chocolate and strawberry......

Now that we have our milk, we should bake something special for Shavuos! Lots of learning moments while reading the recipe, sharing, and taking turns together.

Yehudis, is using her fine motor skills to carefully pour the milk into the bowl.

Yumm cheesecake! 

When the Beis Hamikdash stood in Yerushalayim, people traveled from all around the world on Shavuos carrying baskets filled with their freshest fruits. They proudly brought their bikurim (first fruits) to gift to Hashem.

We played the song “Saleinu Al Kteifeinu,” which means “Baskets on our shoulders, we are bringing Bikkurim!” and passed the basket around. When the music stopped, whoever was holding the basket added a fruit from the center pile into the basket. We kept going until the basket was full!

Eli F. gifting the big melon!

We even waved our own baskets!

And filled them with the seven fruits of Eretz Yisroel!

Time to go to Yerushalayim!

Har Sinai was a small mountain that was brown and plain. But even though it wasn't the prettiest or tallest mountain, Hashem chose it to be the mountain that the Torah would be given on. Right before the Torah was given, Hashem made a miracle, and covered Har Sinai with flowers, so it would be extra beautiful to receive the Torah! Because of this, lots of people decorate their houses and shuls with flowers on Shavuot, to remember the beautiful flowers that grew on Har Sinai.

We made our own vases and flowers to decorate our Shavuos tables. Eli B. showed his true artist side with the beautiful colors he chose for his vase!

Flowers were frozen in our sensory table, and Theo worked hard to rescue them using warm water!

Pre-K Kria

Practicing writing the letter “Reish.”

K Kria

Playing World Builders, this time with a Shavuos theme!

Academics

As part of our science curriculum we have been learning about the five senses. Here some of our Pre-Ks complete a 5 senses booklet.

We did a sense of taste science experiment (salty/sweet/sour/bitter) and discussed and documented our observations.

Aftercare

This week in after care, we got creative for Shavuot!

We made beautiful flowers using spray paint, watercolor, and coffee filters to celebrate the holiday and all the beauty of spring. The children loved exploring different colors and textures while creating their own unique masterpieces. 🌸🎨

We also made special “Torah Glasses” aka our mitzvah glasses! To see the good in the everyone/everything! Just like Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai were excited to receive the Torah, we are so excited for the holiday of Shavuot. Through this fun craft, the children imagined looking at the world through kind eyes filled with mitzvot, learning, love and joy. ✨

We want to wish Miya, Golda, and their family a happy and smooth move! We already miss you so much!