Gan on the GO, how did we leave Egypt?

 

At Gan this week, after returning from our Pesach break, we explored what happened to the Jewish people after leaving Egypt. How did they travel? This led to a discussion about the many ways we travel today, compared to traveling by foot or animal in those times.

Reuvi, visualizing what it might of felt like walking on desert sand.

We took this opportunity to discuss transportation.

Graphing from slow to fast.

What types of animals were in the desert?

Eliara, using paint to make different track marks.

We want to wish a big thank you to Mr. Cohen, Akiva’s father, who is a pilot! 

He shared not only how he flies airplanes, but also so much information about how an airplane works, giving the children a real-life connection to modern travel—such a special experience!

Akiva, his big helper!

Where were the Jewish people walking to?

They were getting prepared to receive the Torah. 

We created counting charts on special mountains to help us get excited and count!

Zalman, placing a special Torah in the gift on top of the mountain that we will receive again on Shavous!

Group painting for our next beautiful bulletin board!

Learning how to count to 7 a full week!

Magna tiles and math skills.

Cheerios was a fun way to count to high numbers!

We practiced our pencil grip  by using tweezers and filling the right number of pom poms.

Making delicious challah dough together!

Thank you Ron for keeping up safe!

Good Shabbos! Enjoy your delicious Challah!

Get Ready, Set, COUNT!

Welcome back! It feels so good to be together with our friends again!

This week we learned about Sefirat HaOmer, a special countdown from Pesach to Shavuot. We count for 49 days, and the children explored big numbers as we practiced counting together. Using our caterpillar counting game, “We did it!”

We made our own countdown and made sure to count together each day.

We discovered that after leaving Mitzrayim on Pesach, the Jewish people began their journey through the desert, traveling all the way to Har Sinai to receive the Torah on Shavuot. Along the way, Hashem made everything comfortable for them. Even though the desert sand can be hard to walk on, Hashem surrounded them with the Clouds of Glory, protecting them from wild animals and anything dangerous. Their shoes and clothing even stayed fresh the entire journey!

At nighttime, Hashem gave the Jewish people a pillar of fire to light the way and keep them warm in the cold desert. They also had a special food called mann, which looked like little white cotton balls but could taste like anything you wanted! Avraham said it tasted like an apple, and Yossi C. said it tasted like a hot dog! Another miracle, in the merit of Miriam, was a special rock that had water flowing from it like a spring, so they always had fresh water to drink. The rock even traveled along with them on their journey!

We explored different traveling vehicles and designed our own!

Mr. Cohen a fellow Gan Camarillo father is a pilot! He came to teach us about flying a plane and all the meticulous parts of it. It was such a treat!

He even brought a special guest… a BANANA!

Pre-K Kria

Let’s add some ayinayim (eyes) to the letter Ayin!

K Kria

Celebrating our chirik siyum!

Academics

We have been learning about birds, with a focus on the bald eagle. We sat in a replica of the largest bald eagle nest on record; found in Florida in 1963 the nest measured 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters) wide & 20 feet (6 meters) deep!

For Science, we did an experiment demonstrating why birds have different shaped beaks, & how their beaks act as “tools” tailored to their specific diets.

Happy birthday Yehudis!

Shabbat Shalom!

Gan Camarillo Model Seder!

This week at Gan, we put into practice all the Pesach learning we have been doing through a Model Seder.

Our friends, are so excited and ready to go to their own Seder! Having all our five senses part of this experience helped intergrade all the powerful lessons of Pesach. 

Kadesh

We get to drink 4 cups of grape juice at the Seder! The first one we start our seder with.

Orchatz

We wash are hands. The Seder is all about the children and asking questions. Well this step definitely  got some curious looks. Usually when we wash we say a blessing and eat the Challah or sandwich. This time we don't say a blessing and we prepare for the next step.

Karpas

Theo, helped prepare the salt water for the dipping of the Karpas. 

While putting on pretend crying faces we talked about how our tears taste like salt water and we remember the Jewish people who had to work under King Paroh.

Tasting the potatoes dipped in salt water was delicious for most and even asked for seconds.

Yachatz

Yocheved Sara, helped break the middle of the three Matzahs. We take the bigger piece and keep it for the Afikoman. We all voted which piece was bigger ;)

Maggid 

We tell the story of Pesach and remember all the miracles Hashem did for us!

Practicing the Mah Nishtana!

Rachtza/ Motzei Matzah

Washing our hands agian and this time saying a blessing for the Matzah! They were so excited to taste it! We brought store bought Matzah since 30 days before Pesach we dont eat the Shmura Matzah- hand baked Matzah. 

On the first night of Pesach we get to eat the special Matzah that is made under 18 minutes in a very special way.

Maror

Smelling real horseradish. This also helps us remember the bitter times the Jewish people have gone through. 

Tasting lettuce for the Maror since horseradish can be a bit too intense for us little ones.

Korech 

Makign the Korech sandwich that the holy Rabbi Hillel made thousands of years ago.

Shulchan Orech

This is the time at the Seder we eat a delicuous meal and we start it off with the egg on our seder plate. Our friends knew exactly where to place it on our very own Seder plates.

                 

Tzafon, Berach, Hallel, Nirtza

At the end of our meal we thank Hashem for our food and miracles he made for us.

A special part of the Seder is greeting Eliyahu Hanavi who visits every Seder. Moshe, lead us with a candle to our door to let him in. We heard friends saying when Moshiach comes we will actually see Eliyahu Hanavi and that made us all excited !

                                                      

Next year in Jerusalem is a custom we say at the end of the Seder. 

WE said hopefully THIS YEAR!!

Thanking Hashem through dancing and singing ended off our amazing Model Seder.