Happiness: Can it be learned?

 

 

Yes! It's the month of Adar!!

 

The Jewish month of Adar is the happiest month of the year!

(Being that this year in the Jewish calendar is a leap year, we have two Adars!)

This week we explored all types of feelings and emotions. We learned that it's okay to feel different emotions at different times.

To be HAPPY is a mitzvah, so when we had a child who felt sad or scared- it was a great opportunity to validate their feelings and also help them to become happy again!

 

To add to our simcha-happiness, we dressed up by our davening circle everyday this week!

 

 

 

Devorah Leah davening as a bee ;)

 

Music for Adar!

 

We learned a Hebrew song which transalates to: "When Adar comes we increase in joy!"

Mishe , Mishe, Mishe- nichnas Adar

Marbim Marbim Marbim besimcha

oooooh Meshe nichnas Adar

Oooooh Marbim besimcha!

 

 

Drawing emotions

We displayed different pictures of children showing all types of emotions on our mirror.

This was a three step process:

1) Name the emotion. What emotion do you see on their face?

2) Can you make that emotion in the mirror?

3) Try drawing that emotion on your paper!

 

 

Levi Yitzchak felt for the boy who was crying in the picture and wanted to draw it.

 

 

After some independent drawing we overheard a conversation..

Chani, Devorah Leah and Levi Yitzchak were creating a whole story with all the pictures they saw.

They were connecting the characters and their emotions to a story plot! It was so creative and inspiring to see them blend all their own imaginations together!

 

Emotions through sensory play

 

Empty laminated faces gave the children the opportunity to fill with play dough any emotions they wanted.

Fun slime!
Shua having fun cutting the slime with scissors!

Levi made a huge gooey smile! :)

 

 

Emotions and a charades game 

 

Using a variety of puppet emotions, each child was invited to make the face they picked and have their friends guess the emotion.

Can YOU guess Levi's emotion?

 

We continued learning about different emotions during quiet reading time. Discussing what each character feels like by looking at their facial expressions and words that they said.

 

Silly Adar puppets!

 

 

In our class we love to encourage the children's independence. A classroom pitcher allows the children to help themselves and practicing portion control pouring the right amount of water in the cup.

 

Sharing Rainbow scales continue!

 

Aron and Levi were showing their friends unique balancing moves that they invented!

 

 

 

"We are making mud challah!"