Sukkot and Yom Kippur Art with Morah Jessica

Kitah Daled

Sukkah Decorations

Kitah Daled children have been extremely interested in building. 

Observing this preoccupation, wood pieces were offered for this project. 

Recycled materials were also presented.

Last year in Kitah Gimmel, many of these same children collected recycled materials for Earth Day. 

The children used those collected materials for this project.

The children also used metal loose parts, chain, beads, feathers, wire and fabric scraps to complete their creations.

Simchat Torah Flag

The children used brightly colored paint to create a tie-died pattern on white fabric.

They took turns squeezing the liquid water colors all over the fabric.

Once dry, the fabric was cut into rectangles.

Since the torah is what is being celebrated on Simchat Torah, we decided that is what should be illustrated on the flag.

Children had the choice to draw a torah using permanent and/or paint markers,

stamp a torah using tempera paint, 

or stencil one on the front of their flag with dotters.

Kitah Gimmel

Sukkah Decorations

Kitah Gimmel incorporated Sukkot's connection to nature in their sukkah decorations.

Their creations were assembled of mainly natural materials.

wooden shapes, twine, fabric scraps,

shells, leaves, twigs,

feathers, spiky gumball pods, 

and conifers were all strung together to create striking textured ornaments.

Simchat Torah Flag

The children painted white fabric using bright, liquid water colors.

They squirted the paint all over the fabric creating a tie-dye effect.

They were offered a stencil, 

a stamp, 

paint, 

and markers to depict a torah on their flag.

Kitah Bet

Sukkah Decorations

The children of Kitah Bet have been working with fabric.

They enjoy looking at the colors and patterns, 

playing "ghosts," 

and then ripping it into ribbons.

That interest is featured in their sukkah decorations through the use of ribbons and fabric scraps in their creations.

The children strung together wooden shapes, 

recycled materials, felt balls, 

and, fabric scraps

onto pipe cleaners and twine.

Using pincher grip, twisting pipe cleaners and, stringing objects help children build their fine motor skills and strengthen the muscles in their hands.

Kitah Alef

Sukkah Decorations

Kitah Alef also celebrated nature through their Sukkah decorations.

They drew on large Magnolia leaves with paint markers.

The Morahs noticed how much the children enjoyed mark-making, 

so much so that they did not want to stop drawing.

We plan to honor this interest in future art offerings.

The children chose fabric to be tied onto their leaf as the final touch!

White Rabbit's Color Book - A Color Mixing Project

Each day during our many reading opportunities, at least one child will ask a Morah to read White Rabbit's Color Book, a book all about mixing colors. This book has become very popular in the class, and the children enjoy guessing what color the rabbit will be after taking a quick dip in the different paints, which always makes for an engaging story time.

After reading the book several times, the children expressed interest in trying a color mixing activity. In conjunction with a reading of the book, the class used droppers to mix red, yellow, and blue-colored water. They were able to make the three secondary colors that appear in the book as well as a host of other shades by making all sorts of creative combinations with their initial mixtures and the primary colors.

The children also used paper towels to view the colors from a different perspective. The orange dye in the photo below looked red in the cup, but when the paper towel was dipped in the cup, everyone could see that red and yellow made orange! Other students chose to use their droppers and the different color mixes to blend the colors on the paper towels in front of them.

Rosh Hashanah in the Atelier

The first few weeks of school have been busy! All of the classes have been working on projects centered around Rosh Hashanah. Every class has made honey jars to bring home. Through our art experiences in the Atelier, we have explored the shapes, colors, fruits, and insects associated with the holiday. 

Kitah Daled

The children made elegant Shana Tova cards by stamping hexagonal shapes onto brown cardstock. They used yellow and gold paint to recreate a honeycomb design. The children sprinkled imitation gold leaf on top of the honeycomb. 

Next the children traced images of bees onto acetate sheets using permanent markers.

Finally, the bee drawings were cut out and adhered on top of the honeycomb print.

For their Honey Jars, the children first wrapped their jars in washi tape and then coated the jars in Modge Podge to make the design more permanent.

The children made a bee on the lid by coating their thumb in yellow acrylic paint and stamping it on the lid.

Once dry, the children drew wings, legs, antennae, and stripes onto the yellow bee body.

 Kitah Gimmel

Last week the children of Kitah Gimmel shaped bees out of Air Dry Clay to top their Honey Jars. 

They used different images of bees for reference as well as a large plastic bee. 

They rolled the clay into round and oblong shapes for the body. 

They then pinched smaller amounts of clay into tear drop shapes for the wings. 

Some children used rollers to flatten their clay and pointy tools to carve lines and dots into the clay for stripes and eyes. 

A few children took it a step further and used small pieces of pipe cleaner for their insect's legs and antennae.

This week the children painted their bees using black, yellow, gold, and white acrylic paint.

 They added sparkle with copper colored glitter and imitation gold foil. 

Once dry, the bees were coated with Modge Podge and glued to the lids of hexagonal shaped jars.

Kitah Bet

Kitah Bet children used various hexagonal shapes as stamps. 

They dipped these shapes in yellow and gold paint to make a honeycomb pattern on white fabric. 

The children then sprinkled copper glitter and gold foil onto their designs. 

Once the fabric was dry, it was cut into squares and glued on top of hexagonal glass Honey Jars. 

 Twine was tied in a bow around the top of the jar and gems were glued on top as a finishing touch!

Kitah Alef

The children stamped round-shaped sponges onto white fabric.

They dipped the sponges in yellow and red paint then stamped them on the fabric.

Some friends even chose to paint with their hands instead of sponges.

They then added accents of green and brown to create leaves and stems on the apples.

Once dry, the fabric was cut into squares and glued onto the lids of hexagonal honey jars. red and white string was tied around the lids as a finishing touch.

We hope you enjoy your child's creations as you celebrate the holiday.

Shana Tova!

-Morah Jessica