A home within our home.

Building on the children's innate love for their home, and understanding of what a "home" is. The children at Gan spent this week exploring "G-d's home." The Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple)!

To allow the children to fully appreciate the story and miracle of Chanuka, we began our unit with a full blown focus on life in Israel prior to the Chanuka story. Life was good for the Jewish people.

(This pre-knowledge would give the children a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Chanuka story that they will soon learn!)

Since children learn best through concrete experiences, that engage all their senses- we set up a Beit Hamikdash center:

Menorah- Thank you Elizabeth's Saba (grandfather) for building a replica of the Beis hamkidash's menorah. (For teaching purposes, the original one had 7 branches. For the chanukah holiday we have 8.)





Kiyor- what the Kohanim and Kohen gadol would wash their hands and feet with, before performing their special work in the Beis Hamikdash. (We used a hot water urn, with cold water ;)

Dramatic play- costumes of the Kohen and Kohen gadol to feel like a real Kohen Gadol lighting the menorah.

Olive center- in order to get olive oil they would squeeze olives and work really hard. Using a double zip lock bag we had olives and blocks for the children to see the oil of the olive.

We placed colored pictures all over the center to inspire and illustrate for the children what would go on during those times in Jerusalem when all was peaceful and quiet.

Elizabeth pretending to be the Kohen gadol lighting the Menorah.

Little laminated flames with wicks,
 to practice counting skills and to add to the imagination.

Levi Lubin after putting on his costume looked to see the picture of the Kohen Gadol on the mirror to see if he looked like him.

Levi Lang wearing the choshen - breast plate that had a special stone for each of the 12 tribes.

Sipping on some 'oil' in the Beis hamikdash. ;)

Bikurim Orchard!

To add to the experience of "life in Israel with the Beis Hamikdash," we added another center to our classroom! It was an "orchard" for the children to role play the mitzvah of "Bikurim." 

Bikurim means "first ones"- it was the act of separating the first fruits to give as a gift to the Kohanim (priests) in the Beit Hamikdash. This mitzvah can only be performed in Israel while the Beit Hamikdash was in existence.

During this time period, people would pick the best of their fruits and bring it on their journey to Jerusalem. This act was to show appreciation to G-d for providing His blessing to allow the fruits to grow, and to the Kohanim for their work in the Beit Hamikdash.

 

What a powerful lesson for our students: to think of others and turn their gratitude into an "action."

We mounted Velcro on the trees and fruit to make the "picking" fun for the children.  We also placed all sorts of baskets around the center for the children to use to gather their "Bikurim."

A picture of what it might have looked like with people dancing excited with their fruits and some even balancing baskets on their heads!

The children role played this mitzvah, by bringing the fruits they picked to the golden basket in our "Beit Hamikdash" center, which had a Kohen's picture  posted next to it!

After the Kohen Gadol's hard work, they would get to eat the delicious fruits.

Elizabeth after lighting the Menorah went to pick out her favorite fruits.

Olive oil:

A huge thank you Baron Brothers Nursery for bringing an Olive tree to our school!

It was so special to have a hands-on experience while learning where olives comes from, which are used to make olive oil!

We wanted the children to understand the fact that back then, people couldn't just go to the store to buy olive oil in a bottle! It took HARD work and PATIENCE to create enough oil to light the Menorah.

Looking at a picture how they would get the olives off of a tall tree.

Squeezing olives!
They quickly realized how much patience they needed. After just getting a few drops they realized how precious it is! This was all a great foundation for the children to hear the Chanuka story. (When we get up to the point where there was no oil to light the Menorah, they will truly appreciate how long it takes to make it!)

 
Getting a closer look.

Beis Hamikdash- Hashem's Home.

We learned that not only is Hashem everywhere and in our own home but  He wanted us to have a Beis hamikdash that would be a special home for Him in this world.

During our Shema prayer we do hand motions when talking about how Hashem is in our home. This was a great opportunity to connect to the new knowledge during our daily prayer.

 

Hand motions for "our home" in the "Ve'ahavta" part of Shema.

Each child had a picture of their home. It was so special to hear them all say what is so unique about their home.

Devorah Leah telling us all about her 'stuff' in her home. :)

Creating a home just like theirs through art.

Learning shapes while adding doors and windows.

One morning we placed the photo's of their home on a makeshift road, so they can drive to each others home. We also included a picture of the Beis Hamikdash.

Furniture and play dough was a great way for them to create their dream home.

We want to wish a Mazel Tov to Levi Lubin on his 2nd birthday!!