Writing!

  Writing in Kitah Gimmel

        How does a teacher introduce writing?  We don't! The children notice the set-up of our room.  Within a few minutes, they are ready to experience their surroundings.  We offer a small invite--and then we sit back and watch . . .The children make their own decisions to explore the trays and other items in the room. Before we know it, the children are writing.  

     The mechanics of writing are related to fine-motor skills and good eye-hand coordination.  Working at the light table provides the children with the opportunity to follow the curves of a line.  Logan and Annabel grasp the small Lucite shapes and place them on the lines.

     We encourage their interest by placing materials within reach.  Some items are to be expected:  crayons, letter stamps, pencils.  Some items are unusual:  rubber bands, pretzel sticks, seashells, mirrors. 
     Our environment acts as the "third teacher", inviting the children to become engaged in their surroundings.

   The children, at three and four years old, are ready to spontaneously pick up a pencil or marker and make some marks. 
   Often, the children tell us a story related to their "writing."  As they gain skills in the mechanics of forming letters, they are also experiencing the importance of expressing their thoughts through writing.   (Above, Maddy works while Sarah looks on; Below:  Dalia works on her paper.)

 The environment, in and out of the classroom, provides the children with the opportunity to record their ideas.  (Below:  Kitah Gimmel goes on a Nature Walk, making notations about the objects they find.)

(Above, Asher searches the area, ready to record his findings.)

     The importance of written language is built into our day.  (Avraham Chaim knows that his cubby is labeled with his name--as is his kippa!)

 

      In the morning, the children reach for a tray and go to work.  Some of the children write their names.  Sometimes, a child writes his friend's name, or the name of a sibling!  They try some words, too, like "Hi."

                    We have some formal time, where we practice writing our names.

     At other times, we become familiar with the alphabet by "playing."  We're actually hard at work, becoming comfortable with the all the letters of the alphabet.  (Sylvia builds with ABC blocks.)

Above, Menny works with alphabet shells in sand. Below, Harper gives it a try.

                 Even as we make our necklaces, we can reach for some of our favorite letters.  (Annabel and Shane string a mixture of beads, many with the letters of the alphabet.)

     We experience the Hebrew alphabet, as well.  (Above, Rafi handles the sticker-sponge Hebrew letters; below, Maddy "plays" a match game with the Hebrew alphabet.)

And we practice writing numbers, too.  (Below, Ben concentrates as he copies some numbers.) 

   

We have so many reasons to write!  The children write their own important notes, and stick them in envelopes, just like the grown-ups do!  We know how to do it!

Written by the Morahs and Yeledim of Kitah Gimmel

KDH Parsha by our Peers continued

Parshat Beshalach 

Becker and his mom came in with stick puppets and a large poster. The poster was a representation of the Yam Suf, the Red Sea. Look closer, you can pull a piece down. What happened in the parsha?

The Jewish people left Egypt and came to the Red Sea. The Egyptian army came chasing after them. Moshe raised his stick over the water and Hashem made the waters dry up. There were twelve lanes, one for each shevet. There was also fruit growing and water to drink. When the Jews walked through and were all on dry land, Hashem turned the waters back to their normal state. The Jewish people were saved!

We pulled on the paper below the poster and could see how the water had become hard!!!

Moshe led the Jewish people in a song, that is still recited each morning in our tefilla.

What did the Jews eat in the desert? Mann and quails. Becker and his mom had prepared a paper quail for each of us to color. They could be attached to a straw. We blew through the straw and the quails flew!

Wow, what an interactive and fun way to experience the Parsha. Thank you Becker and Mom!

Parshat Yisro

The next week Sammy brought her mother in . They had studied the Parsha together and were ready to teach all of it to us. The Jewish people gathered around Har Sinai. Only Moshe was allowed on the mountain. There were trees and flowers growing on it. Suddenly there was thunder and lightening and a pillar of smoke and then the world stood still.  Hashem's voice could be heard and the Jews were told the first two of the Ten Commandments. The next eight were told to Moshe and he told them to the Jewish people.

Do you know the aseret hadibrot/ten commandments? We all remember to keep shabbos, respect our parents, not to take what does not belong to us.....

Sammy and her mom prepared a Har Sinai project. Using tissue paper, Sammy showed us how to make a beautiful flower to decorate Har Sinai.We enjoyed drawing the mountain and gluing on the colors making a bright and beautiful Har Sinai! Thank you Sammy and mom.

Parshat Mishpatim

There are many mitzvot in Parshat Mishpatim. Levi and his mother reviewed them with us. They chose to emphasize the mitzvah of keep milk and meat dishes separate. We discussed many foods and categorized them into meat or dairy. Then we sat at the tables and colored, cut and pasted. 

Everyone made two hangings, One had all the dairy foods on it and one had all the meat foods.

What are your favorite foods? Is it dairy ice cream or yummy hot dogs?

Thank you to Levi and your mom for teaching us and helping remember this mitzvah!

Parshat Tetzaveh

What is Henia wearing?? Henia came dressed in the clothing that the Kohen Gadol/High priest wore in the Mishkan and later the Bet Hamikdash. She showed us pictures of the Mishkan/Tabernacle and taught us all about the special clothing that the Kohen and Kohen Gadol wore. The Choshen/breast plate had twelve stones in the front, one for each shevet. There were two more precious stones on the shoulders. The stones would light up when Moshe spoke to Hashem and was getting an answer. Wearing a uniform is very important.

Henia and her mother gave each child a piece of cloth to decorate to make a Jewish pride cape. We want to wear something special like the Kohanim. Thank you so much Henia and mom for such a hands on Parsha experience. 

Parshat KiSisa

Who is that man with the long beard? Is that Natalie's grandfather or Moshe Rabeinu? Natalie brought in a very special guest, her grandfather, to teach us Parsha together. They brought along pictures and props! First the class davened and Natalie's grandfather davened along with us 

Then Natalie and her grandfather told us that Moshe asked the Jewish people to donate a silver coin with the weight of a half shekel. The coins were added up to use for a census. Later on they were melted down for the Mishkan's sockets that held the wooden boards. 

In the time of the Bet Hamikdash the coins were collected and used to purchase the animals for the daily collective sacrifices. 

Natalie showed us pictures and handed out coins to everyone. 

That was very interesting. Then the excitement mounted. Natalie's grandfather had brought his guitar along. He played and we sang as we snacked!!

What a fantastic morning! Thank you Natalie.  Thank you Grandpa!

Parshat Shemini

Evan prepared the Parsha at home with his parents and brought in an interactive activity. Evan asked us, "What animals are kosher?" The ones that chew their cud and have split hooves, like cows.

"Which fish are kosher?" Fish with fins and scales, like salmon.

"Which birds are kosher?" The Torah lists the kosher birds. No birds of prey are kosher

Evan's poster board was divided into kosher and non-kosher. Each child was called up and given an animal, bird or fish to attach to the poster. The children sat in their spots patiently waiting to be called up by Evan. Evan kept the poster in the classroom for us to see and use during our center times. Evan gave out a handout with everything he taught and a list of kosher symbols! 

He showed us the kosher symbol on the cookies he had brought in for the class! We snacked on them that day and saved the rest for Shabbat Party.

Thank you Evan and to your mom and dad for teaching us so much and for the delicious treat!

Morah Ruth

Morah Sara