After the Break . . .

     

     So, how does a hard-working three or four-year old relax and recharge on vacation?  We had a great time over the Winter Break, and each of us had a story to tell.  (Above, Sylvia and Maddy on our first day back--we're warm and cozy, but there's a look and feel of winter!)

     Some us spent our time away busy with playing.  Asher told us he played with his toys, and with his walkie-talkies.  Plus, he went on his motor-cycle.  Maddy also played at home, with her Mommy.  They made believe they were in a music band.  Ben told us, "I played with Mama."  Shayan played Transformers with Ezra.  Ezra played with his toy car.  Annabel played with paints at home with Mommy and Daddy.

     A lot of us took a trip, or two.  Dalia went to Minnesota, Gabi to Orlando, Emmett to Boston, Menny to Florida, Avraham Chaim to Valdosta. Eliza went skiing in North Carolina. Harper saw princesses in Orlando!

     Logan spent time riding his bike over the Break.  Sylvia went to the zoo and saw a giraffe.  Eli L. watched Horton Hears a Who and went to Beach Mountain.  Eli S. visited Morah Estee.  Leah told us she went somewhere fun.  She also told us she had company at her house, "We played with them."  Shane rode on the Pink Pig, a real Atlanta tradition.

     Eli L and Rafi went to Fernbank together.  Ben also took a trip there.  What fun!  

     

     When we returned from the Break, there were so many new activities for us to explore.  Our trays reflected the winter weather.  (Above Shayan plays a snowflake match game.)

      Our Circle Time also involved winter-theme objects.  (Above, Leah plays a missing mitten game.)

Did you know that we are learning to recognize Hebrew letters, and associate each letter with the corresponding sound?  Well, it's true!  (Above, Emmett works with the Hebrew cards and the items that reinforce that sound.)

 We practice sequencing.  Why is this an important skill?  When we put the cards in order (what comes first, then what happened, and finally what happened?), we build up our comprehension skills.  We also learn to track from left to right, a pre-literacy skill necessary for reading.

     Our Sensory Table is full of "snow."  It is also a scavenger hunt.  We have a chart that directs us to find 3 pencils, 4 marbles, 5 buttons--all lost in the "snow."  We count our objects as we find them.

      Our Painters' Porch looks like a snow scene.  We have new art media and we're ready to explore.

     We continue to explore building.  (Above, Emmett creates a ramp for our construction trucks.) 
   

   On Wednesday, we visited the construction site down the block.  So many changes!  Emmett noticed, "It's bigger!"  Maddy was very practical; she saw that the port-o-potty was still near the curb, "Look at the potty!"  Gabi wondered aloud, "How did the man get up there?"  Asher thought about it and said, "How can they get down?"  Morah Estee encouraged us to listen carefully; we could hear the nail gun as the builder worked.

  So, vacation is always good, but we're ready to be back.  We continue to learn, grow, investigate and explore . . .

By the Morahs of Kitah Gimmel, with the busy Gimmelnik investigators