Can a preschooler appreciate the importance of oral hygeine? We think so!

Thank you Hashem for our Teeth!

In continuation from last week's unit on the important Mitzvah of "taking care of our bodies," this week our  class focused on Oral Hygeine.

"Plaque" was a new word we learned at circle time. We spoke about the fact that different foods effect our teeth in different ways! 

 

Levi lang checking out his teeth during circle time!

While teaching about teeth we spotted many very cute "teeth expressions" going on!

What can we do with our teeth? 

smile! :)

During snack time Max went to check out if his food would keep his teeth clean or dirty!

Chanie distinguishing between junk food and healthy foods by gluing it on a yellow tooth or a white clean tooth.

play dough and white beans helped the children creatively make a mouth and teeth.

Aron counting his teeth

We laminated white teeth and the children drew on them to represent the plaque and had wet toothbrushes to clean them!

Elizabeth brushing the yellow tooth with shaving cream tooth paste!

Dentist center:

The children had a lot of fun taking turns to bee the dentist and the patient!

It was great to see them review what we learned as they play.

Devorah Leah being a brave patient,

"At my dentist I wear sunglasses!"

Morah Michaela being the patient :)

To help with our washing line system we placed teeth on the floor!

creating memories!

Torah Tots being sneezed on!

Its that time of year...

With  sniffles and weather changes, we felt it so important to dedicate a whole unit on Hygiene!
Especially with the age and stage of the children in our classroom, it is so easy for germs to be passed around! We also wanted to teach the children that it is a MITZVAH to keep our bodies healthy! Hashem cares about us even how we wash our hands!

Well that's when 'sneezy boy' came to our class to teach a valuable lesson!

A laminated realistic looking child and a spray bottle through his nose helped the children visualize what a real sneeze looks and feels like. 

 

We role played a funny story  of 'sneezy boy' coming to school and  kept being interrupted with a big ACHOOOO, and as we did that we sprayed the bottle :)

Their faces were priceless!

Once everyone got a little wet (with water;) they got the message: germs can get around really quickly! (even though you might not be able to see!)

 

 

 

 

How can we  help sneezy boy??

Levi helped us by getting a tissue! 

 

 

All taking turns blowing his nose and stopping the germs from flying!

 

 

 

 

We then asked, "What if we don't have a tissue near by?"

We practiced with sneezes and coughs blocking the germs with our arms/elbows.

 

 

 later on in the day Evi and Max role played sneezing and blowing his nose!

 

 

 Germs are not easy to teach since they are invisable! So we did a couple of experiments to show what sharing germs look like!

We took glitter and colorful sand and placed it on my hand I than shook a friends hand and we saw it got passed on! It was a lot of fun and eye opening when we went around a circle and each time a friend shook the next  friends hand there the 'germs' were!!

 

 

 

 Without even hesitation they knew exactly how they can finally get it off, they ran to our soap dispenser! 

 

 

 

Washing song to help us wash for the correct amount of time:

(T.T.T.O row row row your boat)

wash wash wash your hands

wash them nice and clean

wash the tops and wash the bottoms and fingers in between!

 

 For some sensory germ fun we placed a rice filled glove and some playdough on a tray. The children were invited to make little germ bugs (which we have been calling them) on the hands.

   

 

 

 

 

  Giving our dolls a bath with lots of soap and water.

The different kinds of soap bars were fun since it was quite slippery!

 

 

 Levi Lubin used our little spray bottle "to make a shower"

 

 

 While we had the bath going in our dramatic play area we added soap and water to the sink and we had very serious dish washing going on!

 

  Our new friend Eva loved the squeezing part!

 

 Max made little germy bugs out of play dough eye balls and pipe cleaners!

 

 Different perspective on painting:

One morning, just for fun we added tin foil to our easel. It gave the paint a more shiny and different look.

 

 

painting together is always fun!

 

 

MAZEL TOV TO EVI GREENWALD AND LEVI LUBIN

ON  THEIR NEW BABY BROTHER'S !!!

 

Friends working together to make two mazel tov cards for each of the families who had a new baby this week!

 

 

We also want to welcome our new friend Eva Catriel to our class!

Evi was so welcoming and as soon as we were outside he offered Eva a ride in his car!

Shaping up: with a purpose! Part 2

Another fun week of shapes!

This week we covered triangles, ovals and rectangles.

Triangle

We used our math skills to count the points.

We gave each child 3 popsicle sticks to create their own triangle. By making a mark on each end it helped the children self correct themselves by connecting the dots.

After just a few tries Shua felt very proud that he mastered the triangle.

Triangle block painting.

Some just enjoy the sensation of sticking their hands in the paint;)

Triangle tracers.

 Max "Thomas in my triangle!"

Square and rectangle

This was quite tricky at first!
When we counted the corners- we found the same amount! 

 We asked them what is the difference?

Once we put the two shapes down on the floor-- we saw it clicked in their eyes as they realized the difference in the length of the sides. Elizabeth pointing out her observation.

Creating trains using rectangles and squares.

Square/Rectangle Hopscotch:

Playing a different form of hopscotch to teach squares and rectangles.

The rules were one foot in the square and two feet in the rectangle. Through using their gross motor skills it was another way to remember the distinction.

Evi thinking before making the next jump. Was a great body coordination exercise.

Reviewing our shapes:

On an easel we placed contact paper and all the shapes we've learned so far cut out in tissue paper.
The children used these shapes to make any picture they wanted.

Group art and connecting to a Mitzvah:

It is very important to us that whatever unit we are teaching to connect to a Jewish concept.

This week we took all the shapes we learned and created a house we talked about how much they treasure their own homes. It was beautiful to hear each of them inviting their friends to their house and we learned that it is actually a Mitzvah! 

Hachnasas Orchim: Inviting and being kind to our guests.

Devorah Leah and Levi discussing their creation and shapes.

Levi taking the knowledge from last week about circles and making them on all his little play dough creations.

Home- made play dough recipe:
4 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, 3 Tbsp oil, 1 cup water. (add any color food coloring)
Has a great consistency and lasts quite awhile. :)

Oval art

  Learning Responsibility:

With out being told to do so,  as soon as the children heard our 'hi ho' clean up song, they began to clean and work together carrying a very heavy lego bock back to the Morah's room!

 

cleaning up after themselves, after a very gluey project!