Mordechai and Esther are just like me!

While most classrooms start the Purim holiday with a story, at Gan we like be intentional with laying the foundation of the big idea. 

We first introduce our Jewish heroes in the Purim story, Mordechai and Esther!

Creating relatability will help make Purim more personal.

They had a Jewish home just like us!

Reuvi, chose the Torah in the home to hug just like Mordechai did.

Although so many years ago the Torahs mitzvahs stays the same! Zalman, giving Tzedaka!

Akiva, was so excited to show us the Alef for his name in the siddur. Mordechai, would teach young children the Hebrew Alef beis and all these thousands of years ago we are doing the same thing!

Catching 'Mordechai and Esther moments' is always a hit. 

Role model sharing, communication these are the type of people we are talking about!

Our friends were asked what mitzvah do you like to do just like Mordechai and Esther?

Drawing and documenting their own responses.

Our friends love to be part of the process of making the new theme bulletin board.

Recently, we have been exploring activities that encourage concentration, hand eye coordination. 

Good Shabbos!

 

On a Mitzvah High!

Purim is on its way! Before learning the story of Purim, this week we got to meet the main characters up close - Mordechai and Esther!

When our friends walked into the classroom, they immediately noticed Esther and Mordechai standing on each side of the home we created. Mordi, was so excited to share who they were!

Mordechai and Esther, although they lived many years ago in Paras (Persia), kept a Jewish home and did the same mitzvos that we do every day!

Yehudis, acting as Esther, lighting shabbat candles..

 Mordechai, making kiddush!

Yosef, wearing a kippah proudly!

Yossi said a bracha out loud before he ate, just like Mordechai!

Mordechai was a rebbe (teacher), and he had a Gan just like ours. With this in mind, we created a “Mini-Gan” in our classroom! The children had the chance to practice being the Morah, teaching a lesson and giving out class jobs. Chana, as the Morah, gave star stickers to friends who were paying attention, and Eli B. was so happy to receive one!

Avraham, became the rebbe for the day, teaching his students Alef-Beis!

Shhh.. lesson time!

We saw and heard so much kindness and sharing in our class this week, even more than usual!

Chana wrote a refuah shleimah (get-well) card to our friend who was out sick.

Oops! The tzedakah coins fell! Thank you Hashem, for the helping hands in our classroom!

We blessed the challah for Shabbat, just like Esther did in her Jewish home.

We asked the children, “What is your favorite mitzvah?” Some knew right away, while others needed to think it through..

Moshe’s favorite mitzvah is taking care of his siblings 💖

Eli's, is eating kosher food 💛

Ashira shared that she uses only “mitzvah-safe hands,” and not the “monster hands,” as she called them 💚

Theo giving Tzedaka!

We framed and decorated our favorite mitzvos, creating beautiful reminders of the good deeds we love to do..

In our quest to do more mitzvos, we learned a new morning bracha, Hanoten Layaef Koach. How fitting it is to thank Hashem for giving us strength each day to do many good deeds!
Avraham lifted the very full tzedakah box, showing the strength Hashem gives him!

The pencil-sharpening station was a big hit in our classroom this week!

Prk Kria

We learned the letter Lamed. We had fun cutting a Lulav for the letter Lamed!

K Kria

Cholam Party yay!

Mordi made a cholam malei, and Avraham made a cholam chaser!

Academics

We have been learning about Presidents Day. Here our friends are completing “Presidential “ themed activities! Happy birthday George Washington!

Shabbat Shalom 💜

Becoming a Jew!

At the beginning of the week, we got to celebrate Tu BiShvat together with our loved ones. We enjoyed a heartwarming event where we planted together with our grandparents and community members. It was truly a meaningful and joyful experience 💚

This week’s Parashas Yisro, and we had a very special visit in our classroom! The class was filled with giggles and excitement as Yisro, came to visit and share his story with us. Yisro, told us how he heard about all the miracles Hashem performed for the Jewish people, how they left Mitzrayim and how the Yam Suf split. He shared that he was searching for his son-in-law, Moshe, and that he wanted to become part of the Jewish people.

Yisro, asked the children what he could do to become a Jew, and the children were so eager to help! They shared beautiful mitzvos such as giving tzedakah (Yossef L.) every day and saying Shema (Miya). The children even demonstrated how they say Shema with excitement and pride.

We then learned about the incredible moment when the Jewish people received the Torah and the Aseres Hadibros (10 commandments) on Har Sinai. Inspired by this, we created our very own Torah. Yehudis, worked very carefully and patiently to help perfect her Torah.

Yossi C., practicing writing like a sofer stam, a special scribe who writes a Sefer Torah. He used ink and a feather to experience how a real Torah is written.

Yosef L. was our chazan and held the special Torah so beautifully. Showing us how close and precious the Torah is to our hearts.

To celebrate receiving the Torah, we sang joyful niggunim and played musical instruments together. It was filled with simcha 😁 and a great practice for Stop and Go..

Here you can see the “Army of Hashem,” our boys proudly saying the beautiful bracha on their tzitzis.

A special windy day called us outside to explore and play with our wind toys..

Academics

We have enjoyed observing the ants in our ant farm.  We learnt about the ant life cycle; here Theo completes an ant life cycle worksheet.

Shabbat Shalom!