Working hard but we have a choice!

After putting away and reflecting on how our Purim was, it was now time to start our Pesach unit!

Before we started we did a KWL chart - learning what knowledge they already have on the Holiday. 

We also created a Venn diagram to see how Pesach is different than what is most familiar with them which is Shabbos.

We started off our week talking about construction and how it was very different when the Pesach story started in Mitzrayim.

Learning the names of different trucks.

The Jewish people in Mitzrayim were experiencing the bracha that was given to Avraham Aveinu that his children will be as many as the stars and the sand! The mommies were pregnant with six babies at once! 

Our friends, testing that out what that might have felt like it was quite the juggle.

King Paroh got intimidated and wanted to stop the Jewish nation from growing so he made them work! At first for money and eventually as slaves.

Without trucks it took a lot of time and patience. 

Making our own bricks using wet sand. After it collapsed our friends are used to hearing kind words like "Oops lets try again". King Paroh and his workers did not sound like that!

 This week we kept talking about how we can work really hard but thank you Hashem for our freedom of choices.

The Jewish people made storage houses. But for some fun building skills we talked about how there is also pyramids in Mitzrayim. It took some math skill to create a big pyramid.

There has been a lot of construction in the back of our school and this was a great way to exsperience hands on the difference.

Sholom trying to life a heavy rock similar to what the Jews had to do. Shmuel naturally jumped in to help him!

The Jewish families were still growing so the King made a rule they need to make their own bricks which took more time.

We experimented with cement this week creating our own molds and learning the process of it. We couldn't even imagine making a whole building and having mean Mitzrayim talking to us!

We continued learning about how Moshe was born during a time when it was quite dangerous for baby boys to come into the world. Esther acted out Yocheved and created a basket for her baby with clay on the inside and tar on the outside. She was quite sad to have to let him go.

Chana Rochel, who played Miraim his sister hid and watched her baby brother.

Batya who was super excited to get to this part played the special princess Batya who named and saved Moshe!

Yocheved was excited to learn that she could nurse moshe till he was two before he would  be sent back to the palace.

Menachem played Moshe when it was time to go to the palace.

Yanky, the king enjoyed Moshe but when he took off his crown there were some nerves, maybe he was the one they were nervous about that would take the Jews out of Mitzrayim.

They tested Moshe to see. He was about to smartly reach for the gems but a Malach pushed his hand to touch the hot coals which caused him to have a lisp for the rest of his life.

We have started working really hard on our Hagaddahs. Handwriting practice and directions of the Hebrew vs the English language. 

 

I can be like Moshe!

 This week, in preparation for learning the story of Pesach, we dived into the life of Jews in Mitzrayim (Egypt.) We turned our dramatic play area into the desert and introduced the characters of Pharoh and Moshe. Using life-size puppet props, the children were able to roleplay the 2 characters.

 Coming from Purim, we compared Haman to Pharoh because it was still fresh in their mind and they were both very not nice,  mean leaders. Moshe was compared to Mordechai, because he was so kind to the Jews and always made sure the hard working Jews had water and kept their Jewish faith strong!

Sand play making the storage buildings!

Pyramid brick drawing.

We spoke about how hot it was in the desert and how strong the sun was, constantly on their faces. We consciously went outside to feel the sun and noticed when we got really hot.

Painting our own sun!

The Jewish people had no choice but to work really hard when they were in Mitzrayim. They were slaves. We discussed the concept that slaves don't get to choose what they want to do. They are forced to listen to their master.  Baruch Hashem we are not slaves, we have many choices now and our friends discussed what they like to do when they can choose !

"I can be like Moshe"

We created a "Moshe Mitzva Jar" to learn how we can be like Moshe Rabeinu! When we catch our friends doing kind things, we put a gem in the jar! As a family, together,  when we fill it up to the top- we will celebrate with an exciting Mitzvah Party!

Visitor at Davening Circle

Sometimes its hard for our friends to focus on Hashem when we are davening. To help us all, Morah dressed up as Pharoah. The more the children sang together, with enthusiasm, the weaker Pharoah got--> by taking off the costume. When we daven to Hashem we can fight anything, especially our yezter Hara, the little Pharoah voice inside us that tries to distract us.

Purim Story comes to life!

We started off this week by bringing the palace into our classroom! We introduced king Achashverosh and how different he was from Mordechai. He loved to show off all his treasures. He  invited all of our friends into his palace for the big big meal aka the feast.

Tracing and building a palace!

At the feast, King Achashverosh decided he didn't want Vashti to be his queen anymore. 

So he needed to find a new queen! Most girls wanted to be the queen, but there was a Jewish girl Esther who really wanted to just stay in her Jewish home. When Esther was chosen as the new queen she was not happy about it.  We learned that Esther had to hide her special Jewish things (like shabbos candles) in the palace, so Achashverosh wouldn't find  out that she was Jewish.

Some friends hid the mitzvos while the other friends went to look for them in the palace

Making our own crowns like Queen Esther

Decorating Masks!

We learned the personality of Haman and how important he thought he was and to everyone. He made everyone bow down to him. We role played with the Haman puppet to try to get Mordechai to bow down but they Knew Mordechai only would bow to Hashem! Haman got angrier and angrier whenever he would pass by Mordechai because he wouldn't listen to him. 

See how much Jelly you can fill in the hamantaschen, using magnetic rods!

Getting ready for Purim with our graggers!

Building together :) 

How we 'fight'

Acting out the Purim story. 

We have been delving into the details and lessons of the Megillah.

Some of our friends using their creativity to make a palace for themselves.

One of the big lessons we learned this week is that we bow down to Hashem unlike what Haman was trying to get everyone to do. We learned a part of the 'Aleinu' and how to bend our legs and bow to Hashem.

Creating our own graggers to use while hearing Haman's name during the Megillah reading.

Batya demonstrating what a gorel- lottery is. Haman used a lottery to decided the Jewish people's fate. 

During some parts of the Megillah when it seems so dark and even on our friends faces there is a look of concern - it is then, that we must remember Hashem is right next to us. He is just hiding.

We decorated masks.

Working hard on our Megillahs.

We watched a powerful Rebbe video discussing the importance of the children being in the army of Tzivos Hashem. By saying the pasuk (verse) of 'Hareini and Ach Tzaddikim' we can physically make a difference to the state of the world. We created beautiful signs with these pesukim (verses) on it.

We took this opportunity to invite each child to draw what they are committing to in the Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel.

Giving Tzedakah while singing 'Hereini' with such beautiful concentration.

Having some Adar fun!

Reviewing our Hebrew vowels by matching the top and bottom of toy eggs.

Hearing a word and writing it down.

Getting a workout in ;)