We have been getting ready for Shabbat this whole week in preparation for the Friday Night Dinner at IJP! There are many themes that emerge when discussing Shabbat. One of them is the concept of light and dark. We made our own light box for the children to experiment with, placing different objects on top for different results.
Our sensory table became our Shabbat table, resplendent with a white tablecloth and wooden Shabbat set. White Shabbat candles serve as great loose parts, where the children can choose to use them as traditional candles in candle holders or as drinks in their cups, objects to roll down the slide, or tools for playdough. We used the playdough to make candle holders as well.
Each Friday morning we bake challah! Working with food is a wonderful, organic sensory experience. We alternate poking, patting, squeezing and doing all kinds of things with our challah dough. It's a great fine motor workout too!
Our role in table decoration was to make the table runners. Morah Jessica joined us to make it happen in a dynamic way. We used two different methods of ball rolling to make designs in the paint on our runners. One time we rolled the balls down a ramp, and another day we held a kiddy pool together and lifted up and down to make the ball roll. Way to combine art and ergonomics, Morah Jessica!
Another day we engaged in art that will serve as our over-the-cubby displays. We glued purple collage items onto shiny foil to represent grape juice in a shiny kiddush cup.
Every Friday we have a Shabbat party while the children eat their lunch. We turn off the lights, a morah lights the candles and we say the bracha. Next we sing Shabbat songs, have a little grape juice for kiddush and taste some freshly baked challah.
Shabbat Shalom!
Wonderful creative teaching...so glad my grandson is able to participate. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteKathy Lane