Shavuot plans using PJ LIbrary Book Sadie and the Big Mountain

Just as we are getting ready to plan for Shavuot I received the Book Sadie and the Big Mountain from PJ Library.  We are acting out the story each day just as it is described in the book.  We will end with our Rabbi dressed as Moshe, on the hill (Mt. Sinai) next to our playground.  The story touches on what it means to be a "leader" and is a great oppportunity to share a time in our lives when we felt anxious.

A Gift for Gal

As the year comes to an end, the children in our four-year-old program decided collectively to make a pillow for Gal, our young emmissary knowing that she will be heading off to serve in the army when she goes home to Israel.  This is a very special pillow with the Israeli flag on one side and the American flag on the other side, made with love using the children's handprints.  We love you Gal!!!

They Will Remember Crossing the Red Sea

The teachers photographed each child dressed as a slave and then cut out and laminated the photos. The children then sponge-painted the parting of the Red Sea.
They then learned how to "accordian fold" a strip of paper that they taped to the back of their photos. This made it more "3D" and then they glued their photo onto the mural. DAYENU!

Reflections from a thoughtful teacher (Process vs. Product)

Jamie,

Today was a very thought provoking day for me. From the very beginning of the Vision Project, I have struggled with product versus process art projects, especially during Jewish holidays when we want to send home usable items and hiddur mitzvah values. So this week in the midst of Pesach prep and all things crafty, I felt a light go on as I had a chance to sit with many children finishing different product oriented Pesach projects.

Matzah Holder:

description- four square Masonite broads, separated by crafty items of children's choice like dice, letter blocks, scrabble letters, etc...children build till they get three slots for matzah. Each project looks different because of the spacers. (see photo)

Here's what I heard and saw that made this a terrific project/process.

"Hey if I use these shells for spacers, I don't think the matzah will slide in" said Jack O "hmm" I sighed. "Can I get a piece for real and try it, it's too hard to estimate it. I want to be sure." Jack O- ***For me this was it- math, spatial relations, using the word "estimate", knowing how to try out his question- it was all there.

Later, we were finishing this project by putting names of the back. (I want children to be able to look back and see what their writing looks like in the 4's. Jack J started writing his name then said " oh no...I don't like my J." For once I stayed quiet. "I'll start again." he said. This is a child who often has a melt down over such "goofs." Then he had a chance to put a small mailing label saying what year it was made and name of our preschool. I thought for sure he'd cover his "goof J' with the label. Nope. For me this was worth a million observations. I will bring this back up with Jack many times the rest of the year about how he just forged on with the task at hand.

Zach came to put his name on the back of his matzah holder and asked "Is this a sharpie? " "Yes," I answered. "I am not allowed to use these at home." Zach stated softly. "Well ,this a beautiful Pesach item you just made and I want your name to last forever on the back. I would really love you to use the sharpie at school today. What do you think? I said . Zach thought about what I said for a full minute and answered, "This must really be important what I made, cause this is for EVER."

I could go on and on but just wanted to share.
Susie Weiner
4'steacher

Sometimes a Picture Just Says it All..........

Asher and Benjamin are exploring the different objects on the Seder plate in their classroom.

Interesting Matzah Holder Part 1

One of our classrooms used plywood scraps and found objects (many recyclables) to create unique matzah holders. The matzah holder is unfinshed; it will have a large photograph of the artist eating matzah on the top. What's great is that they are all different. Some children wanted each section to be the same height and chose objects carefully and others did not. This was an excellent math activity, the children used rulers to do some measuring. Some of the objects used were shells, bottle caps,bolts, beads, and pegs.

Our fours class has been exploring Israel the entire year. Every week our 19 year old Israeli Emissary Gal comes to visit our class. We have passports and have toured all over Israel. Kitat Shamayim adores her and Israel. Last week I told the class my mom, Grandma Judy was going to Israel. Right away they had some questions for her. I asked how we could keep in touch- they all yelled email of course!


Dear Mom,

My preschool class will be writing you with daily questions about your trip...hope your game!

#1 email to Grandma Judy
Are you going to Jerusalem asked Jack J?
Did you see the Bahai gardens in Haifa? asked Alexa
love you tons, Kitat Shamayim

Dear Awesome Kitat Shamayim,

We will be going to Jerusalem in a few days. Today we took a bus then a train to Haifa. We went to the Hecht Museum at Haifa U. Next we went to a mall dug out of a mountain & ate at a dairy Kosher resturant with Ezri's cousin . Didn't go the BaHai Gardens because we saw them last time but a great question.
Love Grandma Judy

During centers today, three children were splashing at the water table saying- I hope you have good trip Grandma Judy. Hope you float in the Dead Sea.

Then, I read Grandma's reply and they all had more questions.
We were sitting before lunch and every single child wanted me to type their questions- they sat for 20 minutes. (Not that typical)

Did you stick a note the Western Wall ? Jack O.
Are you going to that snowy place Mt Hermon? Sophia
Can you visit us when you come back? Logan
What food did you eat? Mia
Are you going to float in the Dead Sea? Jack J
Are you going to that sandy part, the Negev? Alexa
Are the buildings taller that New York in Tel Aviv? Zach

Then I asked if she could bring us back a treat from her trip but there are 17 of us hmmm what could she bring us ? I thought for sure they would all say candy or food.

Mia-- a cool puzzle
Jack j- a game with pictures of Israel
Mack- Something kids play there

I love this job- I have asked my mom to mail us a postcard with cool stamps and we'll keep emailing I guess.

Susie Weiner