Hugs from above: Feeling protected and Cozy in our Hut!

 Holiday of Sukkot!

How lucky we are, to have so many Holidays one after the other! G-d gifts us with these moments in time, to take a practical lesson, to infuse into our lives.

The children have really absorbed the "big ideas" we have introduced. Some of them are still so passionate about dipping their apple in honey on Rosh Hashanah- so we have made sure the big ideas flow from one Holiday to the next.

A big focus has been how Hashem loves us so so much.

• Rosh Hashanah (when we crown Hashem as King)= Hashem LOVES us like a parent

•  Yom kippur (when we ask forgiveness to Hashem and want a sweet new year)= Hashem LOVES us even when we make a mistake and we need to try hard to fix it.

For the holiday of Sukkot we focused on what the significance of the Sukkah is! 

We took the children back in time, to when the Jewish people were traveling in the desert. When we were in the desert, Hashem protected us with a cloud that was surrounding us from all sides. (CLICK HERE for more on the cloud and Sukkot)

Hashem sent that cloud because He LOVES us and was protecting us with His "big hug :)"

Was such a comforting way for the children to understand what a Sukkah represents.

 

 Using little people we reenacted what it might of felt like to have a cloud next to them. 

What were we being protected from?

 

Each child received a piece of a 'cloud' (cotton piece) and felt it on their feet. To help them imagine what it might of felt like to walk on a cloud.

 

The cloud also helped keep their clothes clean with the moist in the cloud it acted like a moving washing machine. (sounds nice;)

Here we sprayed some water on our hands to feel the water moist and clean any spots we had.

The Sukkah Connection:

This is one of the reasons why we sit in a Sukkah! We all tried reaching some clouds and realized that we can't bring those down -- so to remember this miracle from Hashem,  we build walls around us and place S'chach (branches from a tree) on the top. 

We learned that everything we do in it becomes a Mitzvah!

 

We shake the Lulav and Esrog. 

Devorah Leah demonstrating.

Max shaking the Lulav while we were outside!

 

 

As we were talking about how to construct a Sukkah, the hard work and tools needed...we heard noises outside! It was a construction truck that came in front of our building that had to fix something.

We took this great opportunity to see some of the tools they were using and the hard work.

 

 

Mini Sukkah in our Classroom:

Using the frame from our sensory table, we created a mini sukkah!

Nice and cozy.

 

Was interesting to see how many people can fit. Great opportunity for creating space for our friends and communication.

 

 At the Sukkah center, we placed tape on the floor to help the children create their own walled sukkah with the blocks. With Sukkah books for inspiration and pictures of real sukkahs they really got a good sense of what goes into creating a sukkah.

 

Levi and Aron made a very complex sukkah and added some schach ( Greenery ) on top.

 

 

Sukka inspired art

Block painting, creating their own sukkah on paper.

 

Max being our abc helper ;)

What does forgiveness mean to a 3 year old?

Our Yom Kippur Lesson:

The first circle time back after Rosh Hashanah everyone had lots to say. The children were so eager to tell their friends about their experiences, so we all enjoyed and listened!

Evi told us all about a very fast air plane ride to Florida!

Levi told us how his Tatty blew the Shofar so many times!

Muka played with Faiga at shul.

Devorah Leah heard the shofar with baby Menachem.

Chanie told us all about Shule and lolly pops!

Shua was just like his tatty and blew the shofar

Now it was time to move onto the next Holiday: Yom Kippur.

It very much flows with the theme we had begun learning for Rosh Hashanah.

On Rosh Hashana we established that we want a SWEET NEW YEAR, and that translates into all types of sweet things that the children do already! We also spoke about the fact that Hashem is like our parent who loves us so so much!

For Yom Kippur, we expounded on this idea, by explaining that Hashem loves us EVEN when we sometimes make a mistake! We just need to try really hard and fix it!

This is a very powerful lesson for them (and us!) especially for those starting school. When entering new routines, having to follow new rules and meet new expectations---it may be difficult for the child- and what might happen when they make a mistake? 

The child might wonder, "Does my Morah still love me? Can I fix it?"

Yom Kippur Shule Center

Right next to our dramatic play kitchen we created a little shule which served as a springboard for lots of discussion about how Hashem wants to hear from us, and that's where we daven! 

(Davening is when we are talking to Hashem!)

To create an authentic "Synagogue feel" we placed a Bima (where the Chazzan/Cantor davens)

An Aron Kodesh (where the Torah is kept)

Dressier clothes, Taleisim (Tallit), yarlmukas etc,

We also placed slippers as a reminder of the tradition we have to not wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur.

Shua loved being the Rabbi!

He even had some of his friends attend his 'sermons'

Devorah leah actually brought her babies and shushed them .

Muka joining in the ladies section.

Role playing the davening that they sing everyday and connecting to the concept of that's what we do also in a shul!

Elizabeth so sweetly was handing out the Torahs.

Our Rabbi couldn't part with his gear ;)

Forgiveness:

To give over the concept of forgiveness, through out the week we had puppet shows role-playing a typical scenario of a mistake between friends.

We talked about how they are still our friends and we just need to say sorry and help fix it.

Through the children relating to the puppet show stories, we were able to impart the message that  Hashem will always forgive us for mistakes we might make. We also imbued this lesson into the relationship the children have with us- their Morah's. As they begin a new school year, with so many new expectations, we wanted them to know that their Morah's love them so much, and even if they make a mistake, they can always "fix it"- and we will forgive them.

Song we learned: TTTO Where is Thumbkin:

Lets be friends, lets be friends

Lets share and play, Lets share and play

I'll care for you, you care for me

everyday. everyday

(sometimes we need to add)

Oops i'm sorry, Oops im sorry

what did I do? What did I do?

I didn't mean to hurt you

I want to make it better

I made a mistake, I'll fix my mistake.

Our precious class is filled with friendships.

Evi and Elizabeth took turns reading books to one another

Max ran over to give Shua a big hug!

Aron and Levi coming to a compromise on their story they wanted to tell with all the animals. (Each had a different idea of how it should be told!)

 Evi got a lot of race car stickers and gave them all away to his friends.

Can a preschooler truly understand how much G-d loves them? Can they appreciate what Rosh Hashanah is?

Rosh Hashanah: Day of awe and day to connect to Hashem.

That too much for a 2/3 year old to grasp?

Nope!

 

To make this concept REALLY relevant to the children and empower them to attend synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and appreciate the Holiday in a meaningful way, we chose to connect it to something near and dear to the children.

 

We started with people who are the nearest and dearest to the children: THEIR PARENTS!

Our circle time began with each child holding a picture of their parents. We were privileged to witness how much love they have for their Mommy and Daddy!

Each child had a chance to talk about their parents and we got to see through their eyes what they think about their parents.

Some focused on what they were doing in the picture.
Here, Shua spoke about a wedding and we even got to hear about his wedding some day :)

Muka kept saying "I love Mommy Tutty" and felt so proud looking at her picture.

 

It was also amazing for the children to witness their friends emotions.

Elizabeth told us about kisses. :) so we role played with the picture.

For a couple days we just wanted them to experience and talk to their friends about how much they love their parents. How much they care and are there for them.

Chanie and Elizabeth having discussions about their parents. Using listening skills and sharing emotions.

These pictures followed them where ever they went and seemed to always come into conversation.

Levi "Just like we are friends Aron, our mommy and tatty are!"

Art: Parent picture inspired!

 

Was a great to tool for to take those feelings and love and put it on paper.

Evi commented, "Mommy Tutty watching me make a picture"

(so comforting)

They felt so attached to their pictures that even during outside time we placed them by the windows, facing outward for the children to view. Every once in a while we saw kids visiting their parents!

It was time to connect it to our message:

Hashem loves us, just like our Mommies and Daddies do! Every one of us are Hashem's children!

It made it so much more real and tangible and comforting to know when we do something sweet or even if we make a mistake or cry, Hashem LOVES US just like our parents do!

 

 

Role playing:Taking the big idea to the next step

To take it even further, we set up a baby center to allow the children to demonstrate being a "caring" and "loving" person. What it feels like to love a baby and care for them.

 

We placed diapers, wipes. change of clothing and band aids. It was amazing to see them role play what their parents would do.

 Devorah leah changing her baby's diaper...these conversations brought on a realization of all the things their parents do for them!

Evi and Elizabeth wanted to cook like their Mommies.

 

 

Levi playing house next to his Ima and Aba's picture.

 

 Bridging the knowledge ... Elizabeth brought her baby doll and Devorah Leah brought her picture of her family and were talking together about them.

Cry of the Shofar: Audio Center and Big Idea!

In addition to wanting to teach the children to recognize the sound of the Shofar, we wanted them to appreciate why we hear it on this Holiday.

The kaballah explains that the sound of the Shofar represents a baby crying out to its parent. It symbolizes our collective calling out to Hashem on Rosh Hashanah, to continue giving us all we need..

In our audio center we placed a stuffed ram to show where a shofar comes from. Some real shofars to touch and a tape recorder for the children to press play and hear the shofar sounds!

Max practicing to blow the shofar, accompanying the audio.

Levi experimenting with the other side of the shofar!

Shua playing the sound and Elizabeth trying to blow along with it.

we placed an apple sticker on the play button to give the children independence.

Continuing with our sweet theme....

Now, as we introduce the tradition of dipping the apple into the honey--- it had a much deeper, richer understanding.

Even while eating our snack the children were all excited to share what THEY did that was SWEET

 

Tattle taling is a very age appropriate behavior. In this case we try to focus and put a lot of energy on when the child comes and says something GOOD about their friend.

 

Aron ran over and said "Morah, Max said excuse me!!"

 

 

He even offered to give Max some honey for the sweet thing he did ! 

(This  "sweet board" activity was also a powerful way of helping children to independently look out for the good in others!)

Nothing like a chain reaction of sweetness!
Devorah Leah "I love my mommy"

Elizabeth "Played with Muka"

Levi handing out the honey for all the sweet things his friends did before taking some for himself.