Tasting our tears

We have been observing many 'Moshe moments'. It has been so heartwarming to see the care they have for each other and take to heart what Moshe has taught us.

Menachem, wanted to say the bracha on his tzitzis with the Moshe puppet.

We began the conversation about what we eat on Pesach, Matzah!

Using a sensory bag we had some friends use their fine motor skills to get the small pieces into the Challah or Matzah.

At circle time, we learned the differences of a Shabbos table vs a Seder table.

Menachem, counting the Matzah he made.

Ben, using his cutting skills to cut a Matzah for himself.

Chana, counting for us how many cups of grape juice we drink at the Seder.

How did the Jews feel when King Paroh was treating them so harshly? 

Our friends showed us their saddest faces. 

We asked our friends, have you ever tasted your tears?  They are quite salty!

On the seder table we dip  a vegetable into salt water to remind us what the Jewish people went through. We had mixed feelings about tasting the salt water. :)

Creating a Matzah factory. 

Busy making Matzah. 

Building in Mitzrayim.

Leah, enjoying making challah while we still can eat it ;)

                                        Fun finding our friends walking through the split sea ;)

Lotsa Matzah!

 

We jumped right into Pesach preparation this week! 

We began by reviewing the story of Pesach 

The Jewish people were forced to work as slaves for Paroh, building under the hot sun. 

We created our own interpretaions of these buildings with some mixed media art.

His star-gazers looked up at the skies and saw that a boy would be born that would take the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim.

Melting some "hail" and feeling the contrast between cold ice and warm water.

playing a fun bingo game to review the plagues!

When they left Mitzrayim in a hurry, they carried bread on their backs, this bread didn't have time to rise and so it baked flat, that's why we eat matzah on Pesach!

We first learned the process of how matzah is made!

Shmurah matzah is watched from the time the wheat is picked!

After the flour and water is mixed, the bakers only have 18 minutes until the dough is considered chametz. So they have to mix fast!

Making holes in it also helps to keep it flat,

Bringing it to the oven to bake. 

Everyone was eager to try our "matzah" that we baked in under 18 minutes, but many didn't really like the taste.

The matzah bakery in our class was a real hit!

On Pesach we don't eat Chametz, anything that is made from grains that can rise. What does that mean?

We conducted an experiment. in one bottle we put just water, the other had flour and water, after about 25 minutes when we checked back, the one with flour and water had blown up the balloon!

Flour and water create a gas that makes grains rise and puff up.

Sorting chametz from non-chametz

Enjoying some delicious "matzah ball soup chametz" on a cold and rainy day!

Writing our names with playdough

"I Care!"

Two Leaders

The Pesach story came to life by the children helping us create an Egypt/Mitzrayim center in our classroom. It was time to learn about two very different leaders:

King Paroh - he did not like the fact that the Jewish people were getting larger in number. He was an un-caring King and made the Jewish people work hard as slaves. 

Moshe- He was a caring, kind person ; Hashem saw that he had the qualities  to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt!

Our Big idea for our foundation lesson on the Holiday of Pesach, is that we all can be like Moshe and care for one another. Moshe became our role model and leader in our classroom this week.

Menachem, working hard building listening to the two different voices. When Moshe was being so nice it felt so encouraging and we saw the difference in Menachem's performance. 

Building with different size boxes helps us learn about spatial awareness and balance. Menachem, figured out if the bigger boxes were on the bottom it will be more sturdy!

We left Moshe and Paroh at our center for our friends to let their imagination go wild with what it might have been like.

Menachem showing his balancing skills using blocks.

Yakov, brought Moshe to the davening circle to kiss the Torah.

Sensory and building. 

Yakov, creating a Mitzrayim scene using sand and popsicle stickls.

We took the big idea of Moshe caring throughout the whole day. When friends are in each others spaces its a great time to have these conversations about being aware of our friends needs.

We learned that the Jewish slaves built buildings in Mitzrayim. We also heard about what you might find in Mitzrayim which is pyramids. 

Shua, making a pyramid out of cups.

Making a pyramid picture in the salt.

Leah, using magnet tiles to create a pyramid.

We learned it was quite hot in Mitzrayim. Shua, using different mediums to paint a big sun. Menachem, helps stuff the sun!

Happy 3rd birthday to Ben and Yakov!