Celebrating Trees!
Tu B’shvat (which is not a name, but actually the Hebrew pronunciation of the date - the 15th of the month of Shvat) celebrates the beginning of the spring agricultural cycle in Israel.
Tu B’shvat reminds us of our relationship to the natural world, the way G-d intended it to be, including our need to care for and respect it and to act responsibly in order to keep the earth’s environment safe for our children and their children after that.
The first day of this unit, we welcomed the children with a dramatic bulletin board, that really spoke for itself ;)
We recycled Trader Joes bags to create the tree and hanging branches!
To help the children appreciate the fact that SO MANY things they enjoy every day come from trees, we hung all sorts of pictures from the tree of items that COME FROM trees!
(fruit, furniture, paper, blocks etc) At different times
of the day we found kids looking up noticing something else that comes from a tree.
Now it was time to learn about TREES!
The first circle time of this unit we listened to all the information that the children already know about trees! It was amazing to hear and realize how much information they know just by seeing trees everyday!
Levi was very fascinated by the tree book we bought to circle time and noticed many details on the different pages.
"look there's a ducky by the tree!"
After a whole discussion on the different kinds of trees Hashem made, Yitzi spontaneously got up and started saying "hi tree!" He saw one through our window (and our shades!)
Every time we spoke about a tree most of the children kept on using the word BIG! Their body language as well kept on showing that in their minds trees are always big, some children got up and stood up really tall. This observation was a springboard for us to question the children....
How do trees start out??
Hmm... we gave each of the kids a little bit of tiny seeds to feel and discover on their own.
It was amazing to watch their reaction when learning that trees start out as little tiny seeds! This was a great opportunity to learn what the Torah says
"Man Is like a Tree"
Just like a tree....we also all started as little tiny babyies...
... and through the proper care, we grow bigger and bigger!
(this lead to a cute discussion about how their mommy's and daddy's started off as baby's! The children were giving us questioning looks if this was true !;)
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| Levi trying to count the tiny seeds |
After circle time was done we found Shua trying to put back all the seeds in the cup, it was hard work and great motor skill!
There is nothing like a hands on activity for children to discover how planting seeds work!
Through smelling the soil, placing tiny seeds in it, and watering their plant the children enjoyed a full sensory experience.
While on the topic of trees, we chose to put a focus on RECYCLING!
Instead of placing butcher paper on the table we reused newspaper.
Our 'Pots' were egg cartons cut in half.
Working with the soil:
Was interesting to observe some children just dive into it and others started off with a little finger till they felt comfortable.
A cup with little holes on the bottom became our watering can! It helped the children control the amount of water that was going on their plants.
Talking about recycling... we have a big draw in our classroom with a lot of different materials that parents bring in that become treasures in our room!
Tomato cartons from Trader Joes transformed into baskets!
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| Chani working hard peeling off the stickers without assistance. |
We used these baskets for our TU B'SHVAT TREE CENTER.
Three big pictures of different trees were put on our big white board with pictures of fruit with Velcro on the back. The children had to match the right fruit to the right tree and place it in the right spot where there is Velcro.
Our children are used to magnets on our board. Here we watched Rochel try just sticking the fruit on the tree and it slipped right off (we try not to jump right in to explain so the children can discover on their own which is so much more powerful!) and she figured it out!
It was tricky the oranges looked like the pomegranates!
Chani liked collecting all the oranges for the orange tree!
Notice we also put out cut up real tree branches for them to feel and look at alongside the pictures.
Another amazing use for Recycling is developing the child's IMAGINATION!
The beauty of taking random objects to recycle, is that it doesn't say on it how to play with it or make noise or buttons. It gives space for the child's own creativity! It empowers them to come up with their own ideas and games.
This is exactly what Ilani demonstrated one morning:
We had a big cardboard pole that we took out to see if it would attract any child's attention.
Here in California, we are so fortunate with the warm winter weather that we often give children a choice if they wish to play indoors or out!
Ilani marched right outside and decided it was a TELESCOPE!
"I see the stars and birds!"
Then he took it to the sand box, "The sand can go through and make a mountain!"
The creativity continued and included his friends! A BASEBALL game!
During the week we kept on bringing out different recycling material from our big drawer.
Here the children used playdough and their imagination!
Rochel and Menucha said they were making pancakes!
Tree library books in our dramatic play area.
The best way to learn about trees is ...
Go out side and observe trees!
We set up a blank easel and paint in front of different trees next to our school.
Here Ilani was pointing to what he was creating on his picture.
This was the tree.
Levi "I am making a TALL tree!"
(He was standing on his tip toes:)
For a different dimension we added a picture tree book for them to get inspiration from as well.
We covered it in plastic ;)
Team work!
Menucha concentrating on her tree.
Shua observing.
One of the benefits of having the mixed age group during the first hour, is the great role-models the older children can be for the younger ones!
Rochel added white to hers.
"The tree has some white in it!"
It was a two person activity which helped the children practice their patience waiting for their turn.
Fruit Party on Tu Bshvat
Morah Lisa had a kumquat in her lunchbox ! The children learned about a new fruit, and were fascinated that the peel was edible!
We created an edible fruit tree...and then enjoyed feasting on it!
