One of the very cool ways we are getting ready for Pesach (Passover) in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), is by having a sensory experience with the items that might be on a seder plate.
Last week, we made and ate חֲרוֹסֶת (Charoset, made with, shredded/chopped apples, banana, cinnamon, and grape juice).
This week, a number of children have already experienced מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish). First, we checked out a whole piece מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish) root, essentially how it looks when harvested.
Part of our process was smelling the מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish) and children guessed that it might taste yucky or spicy.
There was a mixture of apprehension and excitement about tasting the מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish). This might have something to do with the song that we sing about the foods on the seder plate, where we sometimes call מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish) bitter or spicy. But every child tasted it, in fact they all asked to taste it multiple times!
I want to taste it again! I want to be able eat it at my seder!
After tasting the children had a few new words to describe the taste of מָרוֹר (Maror- horseradish) after experiencing it for themselves.
“Its sour!”
“I think its so spicy!”
“It tasted hot.”
“It didn’t taste as bad as I thought, I kind of like it.”
As we continue to taste more of the items that might be found on a seder plate, we will start to think about why they might be associated with Passover.