Nov 30
Some children in Shteelim were itching for an Ivrit (Hebrew) challenge this week. We decided to see if we could make the letters א and ב with our bodies! The children had to try it out a few times and help each other position their גופים (gufim – bodies) until it was just right. Do …
Nov 16
This week in Shteelim, one of our children took her Ivrit exploration to the next level by choosing to write out letters without the help of stamps or stencils. The children in Shteelim are all exploring Ivrit at different levels, and we use our Pinat Ivrit to learn words that relate to our current theme. …
Jun 18
Kol hakavod, Nitzanim! What a great way to remember how to write the letters of the alef-bet. Make sure to go right to left! Click on a picture to see it larger.
Jun 07
There are lots of ways to explore the shapes of different Hebrew letters. The child below, through one-on-one interaction with his teacher two weeks ago, learned how to stencil in the letters of his name. The teacher helped him put the letters in order by moving the stencil for him. One week letter, the boy …
Apr 26
This week in Shorashim we learned about Tzedakah by playing with it. We have our own REAL tzedakah that we have been playing with, putting in our Tzedakah jar, and counting… not-so-secretly thanks to YOUR help, the parents, for reminding your kids to collect money and bring it back to Shorashim. =) We have also …
Apr 18
There have been some changes to our learning environment in Beit Shorashim. We have added a Bikur Cholim area (taking care of the sick), and constructed Ohel Avraham v’Sarah (Tent of Avraham and Sarah) which is modeled after the Torah story of Genesis 18:1-8. In this story, Avraham and Sarah welcome passing visitors as guests …
Apr 18
This week in Shorashim we learned the first letter of the word tzedakah: צ (tzadee) We’re cutting out tzedakah coins and dollars that have the letters of the word tzedakah on them. I’m using wikki stix to make the shapes of the letters! I decided on my own that I wanted to trace over the …
Feb 26
Otiyot “Chayot ”* אותיות חיות “Living” Letters In Nitzanim we have been making an Alef Bet out of our bodies. We are putting this Alef Bet up above the Hebrew luach (board) right next to the door in Beit Nitzanim. The children learn the letters through moving their bodies. Physical activity is an effective and …
Feb 21
It’s become a thing. Some of the Nitzanim children want to learn to write Hebrew using script letters. Block letters – the way Hebrew looks in print – had served this set of children well enough until a week or two ago, but now, only script will do. (Script lets you write Hebrew fast, but the …
Feb 14
The other day in Beit Nitzanim, we introduced one of our boys who enjoys working with numbers to the Jewish concept of gematria. Gematria is the study of the mathematical value of Hebrew words. Each Hebrew letter corresponds to a different number, such that every Hebrew word has a different mathematical “value”. Rabbis long ago …
