Kitah Alef/Bet Art Project

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Thank you so much for attending the BIG EVENT, please look at the process that we used to make some of the beautiful art that you bought for us! These turned into flower petals and fish scales.  We loved to use our pincher fingers to squeeze out the water colors, and watch them spread across the coffee filters.  Dot art is an all time favorite as well.  Enjoy our priceless pieces made with love and concentration.  Morah Elle and Mushky. Kitah

Snow at IJP

The children in KB were able to see the snow when it first began to fall. The snow inspired our art for that day. We did snow painting! We used black paper and white finger paint to create our very own winter wonderland. The morahs also used this as a time to discuss winter and snow. While the snow fell we talked about how it was falling from the sky and that it was cold and we would need our mittens and gloves to touch it! The smiles on their faces and the excitement in their voices was a clear indication that the children were certainly happy to see the show!

Kitah Alef/Bet Painting with Shabbat Candles and Watercolors

With Hanukkah near, we have had many discussions about the Menorah and the candles that it holds. This lead to us painting with candles! The children first used shabbat type candles to "paint" on their papers. After creating their clear designs on the paper, they then painted over their designs with water colors. They were amazed to see that when they painted over the areas where there was candle wax, that nothing appeared!

This was a great way to extend our focus on Hanukkah and make it a fun experience for the children!

                                                 

                                                 

                                                

                                                 

  

Kitah Alef Explores Leaves

This week in Kita Alef we did an outdoor sensory activity. The children played with the leaves that fell from the trees, and the Morah and children  filled the sensory bin with real leaves and Morah also added silk leaves. They really enjoyed throwing the leaves  into the air and crunching them with their feet and hands.  The children were able to tell the difference between real and pretend leaves.   We loved having the chance to immerse ourselves in this activity. The children were able to use 3 of their five senses. The had a chance to feel the leaves, see their beautiful colors, as well as hear the lovely crunching of the leaves as well! The smiles on their faces indicated to the Morahs that they really enjoyed this activity!  And we also went up to the ship area, a part of the yard we don't usually visit.  We are getting so big. 

Shabbat - Dramatic Play in Kitah Alef-Bet

I was lucky to be a guest at this impromptu shabbat Dinner. I tried my best to be quiet and listen to their dialog and follow their play.
Perly brought out the Shabbat candles, kiddush cup and challah. He placed the wooden block with the picture of his dad on the table. "I'm setting up shabbat" he said.
Bryna noticed and came to join. She reached for the candles. "dont touch the candles, they're hot" Perly reminded her. Cassidy noticed their play and brought a stuffed Torah to the Shabbat table. Ziva came to join too, she got the wooden grape juice bottle and poured everyone some kiddush.  Ziva told her friends  "We have to make a bracha and we have to sing all the songs before we can eat the food."
Bryna began to say the blessing "baruch atah ado-nai.." Then bryna noticed an empty spot at the table, "there's still one more spot for a baby" and she brought a baby to the table.
Cassidy announced "now it's time to eat challah" but Ziva said "not yet, we still didn't sing all the songs"
One more thing Ziva remembered had not been done yet, "we need to clean for shabbat" and she dusted the table and everything on it. Josie joined too and sprinkled some salt on the challah. Ziva lit the candles.

Shabbat Shalom!

A Conversation About the Dead Sea

As the children in Kitah Alef Bet grow and grow, and gain new language and conversational skills, the comments during our daily Circle Time have become richer and more expressive.

Many of the books we have read, such as Ella's Trip to Israel and It's Israel's Birthday!, describe the salty, muddy atmosphere of the Dead Sea, and what it feels like to float and swim in it.

This prompted the following exchange among the children:

Libi: "I can swim by myself."
Cassidy: "I don't like salty water."
Josie: "I can swim by myself. I like the salty water!"
Libi: "I love the beach."
Asher: "I got water in my nose!"
Libi: "I don't like water in my nose."

It is wonderful to watch the development of their vocabulary and social skills! They listen to each others' comments, think, and make connections to themselves and their own experiences.

Kitah Alef Bet Gets in Touch With the Holy Land

Artists at work: Making our own versions of the Israeli flag

The last two weeks have been FULL of learning about Israel! From crafts to cooking, Israeli culture has infused all that we do.

Bamba and Bissli are two of the most popular snacks made in Israel (that are currently available in the kosher section of many American grocery stores). We had a blast tasting these. Here are some of the children's responses to taste and texture of the Bamba snacks:

Reyn: I like it! Look, it's in my mouth!"
Amitai: "It tastes like cheerios."
Bryna: "It tastes good."
Josie: "It tastes like peanut butter."
Laylah: "It's crunchy!"

While many were hesitant to try the new snack at first, most of the children were asking for seconds and thirds by the end of snack time. 

Jules points to pictures of the Shuk (marketplace) and Israeli food hung in the play kitchen area.

 On Monday, we tasted another classic Israeli food- falafel! The children put the dry mix in the bowl, measured and poured water in, and took turns stirring the ingredients together.

Josie pours in water

Amitai mixes it up

The falafel balls before they went in the oven.

Morah Goldie highlights the difference between Israeli pita bread (round, with a secret pocket) and American sandwich bread (square)

Perly tries the new food

Freeda loves tearing up her pita!

Ziva takes a big bite

Josie smiles and declares the pita, "yummy!"

Spring is in the Air for Kitah Alef Bet!

 

We are ringing in Spring with lots of arts & crafts. We made a 3-D flower collage using a cardboard paper towel tube as the petals. They will add some sunny color to our class walls! 

We also made some sponge stamp paintings in flower shapes. Everyone used the materials differently. Some classmates printed flower shapes evenly across their papers, while others layered four or five different shapes and colors on top of each other. The vibrant paintings are hanging on our class board, and the children love pointing theirs out during snack and lunch time.

Movin' On Up (On the Playground)

As the year progresses, the children in Kitah Alef Bet are becoming older, gaining new skills, and growing in all areas.

More and more, we see the children venturing to the higher sections of the playground. They are curious about the monkey bars and eager to use the double swings with their friends.

We visited the large ship at the top of the playground together as a class earlier in the year. As the year goes on, and the children continue to grow, we will climb on that structure more and more.

Photo Essay: A Visit from the Matzah Factory!

A man dressed like Paroah told us the story of Passover, and why we eat matzah.

Look at all of the interesting tools and ingredients they brought: wheat stalks, flour, rolling pins, a wheat grinder

We sang Passover songs, including the "Mah Nishtanah"

Now for the fun part: Making our own matzah!

Special hats make everything better

There's more than one way to use a rolling pin!

Flour was flying.

Bringing matzah to the oven- Amitai shows us how it's done.

We learned more about where flour comes from, and even got to pick the wheat kernels off of stalks of wheat

Mmmm! Our crunchy creations were quite tasty.