Purim is around the corner!
On Purim it is a Mitzvah to read from the Megillah and remember the miracle how the Jewish people's lives were saved from the evil Haman!
We always ask ourselves as educators, "How will our children really relate to this story? As well as, "What practical lesson can be learned right now?"
Our goal was to set the foundation of the Purim miracle by first helping the children to connect with the Jewish Heroes; Mordechai & Esther! They do Mitzvahs just like them! They too can be Jewish super heroes and make a big difference!
ESTHER AND MORDECHAI'S JEWISH HOME.
Our dramatic play center turned into "Mordechai & Esther's Jewish home." We filled their home with items that might have been found if we went back in time and were invited by Mordechai and Esther themselves. A lot of Judaica, Tzedakah, Shabbat supplies: candles, challah, Kiddush.
Documented pictures posted of them doing Mitzvahs was a great way to show how they too do so many good deeds!
It was truly inspiring to watch the children on their own gravitate to all the different types of Mitzvahs we left in the center. Mendel and Dovi decided to do a prayer session while placing Tefillin and a Talis on.
We heard sweet sounds coming from Rozie singing the Alef Beis in the Jewish home.
Within the home we created mini centers of different Mitzvahs.
The children were invited to use pretend challah dough and a unplugged oven to create a real experience of getting Challah ready.
Motty following the steps that was placed on the table to help create a braid. He experimented trying to do it upside down.
Moshe noticed himself in the picture making challah dough.
Mendel practicing the three braided technique using stuffed stockings tied together.
Shabbos Candles and Tzedakah
Mina giving Tzedakah before lighting the Shabbos candles.
As we spent more time in the Jewish Home center we started hearing "Who wants to be Esther and make the food?", "I'll be Mordechai making Kiddush". The children were now connecting and relating to Mordechai and Esther and it was beautiful to watch generations in-between melt away.
Tzedaka sensory bin. It was fun finding all the coins in the rice and placing it in the Tzedaka box!
Friends being responsible and cleaning up after themselves!
Tzedaka and math
We took this opportunity to review the different types of coins and counting them while placing them in the Tzedaka box.
An Esther moment
Faiga's little sister, Chanie really wanted to join the fun at the Tzedaka table. Faiga quickly helped her by making her own pile of coins and a Tzedaka box to reach. When asking Faiga who else would do beautiful Mitzvahs like that? She knew right away that Esther did!
Batya spent a lot of time trying to fill up her Tzedaka box. This was quite tricky relying on sound instead of opening it.
Mordechai and the Torah
Mordechai would spend his days gathering children and teaching them the Torah. Mendel helped us reenact by being the 'Morah' for davening circle one day! He did a great job, it was pin drop silent ;)
While talking about Torahs, we had fun one morning painting alef beis letters with a feather and black ink just like a real Torah is made.
We enjoyed davening circle time IN the Jewish home some mornings and it was a great practice making sure all our friends were comfortable and had enough space.
We ended off the week with the children documenting the Mitzvahs they love doing.
Hannah; "I like giving hugs to my friends, I'm just like Mordechai and Esther."
Motty and Rozie shared with their friends what mitzvah they drew.
Rozie " I like to give Tzedaka just like Esther". Motty "I love saying a bracha on my Tzisis".
Each day we sing the Mitzvah notes that the parents write for their child. It was fun including Esther and Mordechai as each child placed their Mitzvah note on them.
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