So Much Better When We're Together!

Kitah Gimmel has been learning about friendship. To establish what we know about friendship, I asked the children, "What does it mean to be a friend?"

The answers were varied, but not surprisingly connected back to the most salient aspect of children's lives: their play.

Dialogue: What do friends do for each other? What does friendship mean?

Nina: Do silly things.

Yael: Play around.

Asher: Play together.

Jonah: They share, they play with you.

Talia: They hug you.

Dovi: We can go fishing.

Eden: You can make art with them, also you can read a book with them.

Vivian: You can play with them if you have a play date.

Nadav: You can go fishing and share your toys.

Luba: You go to New York and play.

 

Morah: If you feel sad does a friend try to make you feel better?

Max: Yes.

Morah: How?

Max: If you hug or say "Are you okay?"

 

Morah: Can friends tell you a joke?

Children: Yes.

Morah: Can friends make you laugh?

Children: Yes.

 

Making connections: What can colors teach us about friendships?

 

Colors can have relationships just like people! The color red is delightful on its own, but one might become bored if painting exclusively with this color. Blue as well, stands strongly on its own, but there is a limit to how much one color can do. The example given to the children was, imagine if you came to the easel and there was only one color available to paint with. Even if you LOVE the color red, it would become tiresome to make painting after painting in red only.

The magic happens when colors get together! When red and blue exchange each others' properties, they create a new and vibrant hue- purple! Just like with people- having (and being) a friend means we bring something new and enriching to each others' lives. We have someone to play with us, share their toys with us, and make us happy when we are sad.

I took out two jars, one filled with red water and one with blue. I asked, "What do blue and red make when they mix?"

 

Nina and Dovi: Purple.

Yael: They'll be friends together and give big hugs.

 

 

I joined the jars by putting a paper towel in them, one end in each jar.

 

 

Morah: What do you think will happen to the color?

Ezra: It will go over.

Motty: Turn purple.

 

Morah: "If we have two friends by themselves there is only so much they can do by themselves. If they get together they can create something magical and amazing."