Doughnuts...just my size!

We wanted to do something fun & yummy each day of Chanukah...

yet at the same time...not overload on sugar...

We came up with Doughnuts- JUST THE RIGHT SIZE!

Using cheerios as the doughnuts- the children dipped into 4 different toppings! Chocolate & sprinkles, powdered sugar, cinnamon & Strawberry!

The process is sometimes more fun than the product!

Each child took home a box!

Just my size!

Another day this week we made edible Dreidles...

children copied hebrew letters onto their Marshmellow dreidle using edible markers

Here's my Dreidle! YUM!

Latke Center!

We are not always lucky enough to have the whole week of Chanuka with our preschoolers! 

This year, we had so much fun- each day- experiencing the Chanuka traditions and excitement with the children.

On Monday we made latkas from scratch- and turned our dramatic play /kitchen center into a "Latke Center!"

We stocked up the shelves with all the ingredients...

Starting with a visual recipe card...

 

children followed along from the card, placing items in the bowls!

 Eggs...

ping pong balls placed in empty egg cartons!

 

Potatoes, onions, spices....

 

Frying pans, spatulas, latkes (some burnt and some raw)...

Morah keren turned some old socks into soft play latkes for the children!

After practicing and having lots of fun in our play kitchen...

we brought out the real thing! What a blast we had working on our fine motor skills peeling those potatos! 

And taking turns to place them in the blender! We all know how to be safe around a blender that has a sharp knife in it!

 

 

Menorah + Candles = Math Mania!

The Chanukah Menorah gives us such wonderful opportunities to focus on the children's math skills!

From simple rote counting, to corresponding a written number to its value in object...

We had lots of fun with these different Menorah Math Centers!

 

  We put out lots and lots of candles... the children found the number on the can, and placed the corresponding number of candles into it!

counting and placing real candles

placing them in the correct order, from Right to Left.

 

More Math....

  This activity also included color matching. How many of each color?

Chanukah Shape discrimination! Creating a menorah, spinning top, latkes, and more using familiar shapes!

Art with Ice

In the spirit of winter and Chanuka too... 

 

we placed chanuka items into buckets and cups, filled it with water...placed in the freezer...

Using droppers & water colors-  to work on fine motor skills- the children colored the ice

We also made ICE PAINTS!

The Chanukah Story

This week the children enjoyed learning the story of Chanukah. Having spent a week appreciating life for the Jewish people in the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple), it was very meaningful for them when we told the story of King Antiochus messing up the Beis Hamikdash, and then the story of finding the oil with a special seal.

 They understood the 2 miracles that we celebrate:

1. The Miracle of the SMALL group of Jews, being able to chase away the HUGE army of King Antiochus.

2. The miracle of the TINY bit of oil, lasting for 8 days (instead of 1) and that was exactly how long it took to make new oil!

witnessing Antiochus men breaking the seal of the kohen

gathering around the pitcher of oil, to witness the special seal of the Kohen.

Kohen lighting the Menorah

Judaic Mosaic Inspired Art

We are always looking for new and different opportunities to allow the children to not only learn about different forms of art, but to express themselves through art.

 

Open ended art, inspired by specific items is a springboard for children to articulate their thoughts and opinions on things.

 

One morning this week, we put out 3 pictures of Judaic Mosaic Artwork from Synagogues in Israel, made in the 6th Century. There were Menorah's and other patterns that are still mounted in Israel today. 

We put out tiles and work boards for the children to make their own impressions.

Traditions from Morah Keren's Kibbutz

This week we introduced a new dimension of excitement to our Chanuka Unit. Morah Keren brought this to us all the way from the Kibbutz she grew up in, in Israel!

The carpenter on the kibbutz would build a large "Sevivon" (Dreidel) out of wood, and it would be filled with treats, and then hung from the ceiling...high up... until the grand Chanuka Celebration!

Each day, in anticipation of the Chanuka Celebration, it was lowered just a little bit...until Chanuka arrived...and all the children would enjoy the treats! 

The children at Gan are very excited about OUR OWN grand "Sevivon" that they painted and is now hanging in our classroom!

painting the "Sevivon" Dreidel!

Look at our BLUE HANDS!

Sevivon is now proudly hanging from the ceiling!

Children are jumping and dancing with excitement, as they anticipate it getting lowered each day!

Can't wait to share pics next week, of the joy in the children's faces, as the "Sevivon" gets lowered to the children's reach...and Morah keren empties out the special Chanuka treats that are waiting inside it!