Aliza Geller

Author's details

Name: Aliza Geller
Date registered: September 14, 2016

Latest posts

Shema Begins — January 13, 2022
Oh, Chanukah! — December 2, 2021
A Text-Based Play Space Designed by the Children — November 11, 2021
We Have so Many Ideas About the Argument! — October 28, 2021
Exciting Theme Beginnings! — October 14, 2021

Author's posts listings

Jan 13

Shema Begins

Categories:

Shema

by Aliza Geller

It is the beginning of a new theme, שְׁמַע (Shema), children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) have jumped right in. First, we discovered the name of our theme through a scavenger hunt for the Hebrew letters that spell שְׁמַע (Shema). After we found the letters, we worked together to figure …

Tags: collaboration, discovery, Shorashim 5782, shteelim 5782, Torah

Leave comment

Dec 02

Oh, Chanukah!

Categories:

Chanukah

by Aliza Geller

It’s חֲנֻכָּה (Chanukah) and the children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), are fully immersed in חֲנֻכָּה (Chanukah) play! We have had so many opportunities to use our חֲנֻכָּה (Chanukah) vocabulary! We are having חֲנֻכָּה (Chanukah) celebrations! We make latkes, set up the table for guests, “light” the חֲנֻכִּיָה (Chanukiyah) and …

Tags: chanukah 5782, Collaborative Play, yetzirah

Leave comment

Nov 11

A Text-Based Play Space Designed by the Children

Categories:

Avraham v'Lot

by Aliza Geller

This week in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), we have been working on our theme project for Avraham V’Lot! The children have their hands in every part of the process of designing our paper mâché text-based play space. We began the process by asking children to look at different photos, explore …

Tags: building, curated building materials, design, final project, paper mache, partnership, play, yetzirah

Leave comment

Sep 30

Doing the Work of Becoming a Community

Categories:

Sukkot, Uncategorized

by Aliza Geller

The beginning of the school year is always a very busy time, being in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) is no exception. In addition to the Jewish content that we are learning at the beginning of the year, we are doing things like learning new routines, learning each other’s Shemot (Hebrew …

Tags: building a sukkah, building community, Community agreement, kindness, Shorashim 5782, shteelim 5782

Leave comment

Aug 27

Sh’mitah Camp

Categories:

Camp, Sh'mitah

by Aliza Geller

Camp is in full swing, we are getting to know each other, playing fun games together and this week we are learning about Sh’mitah. Sh’mitah can be found in the Torah in several places, including the book of Exodus, chapter 23, the book of Leviticus, chapter 25 and the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 15. These …

Tags: exploration, nature, rest, sh'mitah, Torah

Leave comment

May 27

The End is also the Beginning

Categories:

bikur cholim

by Aliza Geller

We are approaching the end of the school year and the end of our final theme for the year, בִּיקוּר חוֹלִים (bikur cholim – visiting sick people). The children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) have done so much growing over the course of the year! Their perspective has changed a number …

Tags: empathy, perspective

Leave comment

May 13

Shavuot Is Almost Here!

Categories:

Shavuot

by Aliza Geller

Here is an update from the Family Program! We are getting ready for Shavuot, which begins on Sunday night. This is a group that really likes to be creative so we used our creativity to make flower crowns for Shavuot! One of the fabulous things that came out of our creative time together, is that …

Tags: creativity, flower crowns, Jewish Family Program

Leave comment

Apr 28

Cautiously Caring for People Who are Sick

Categories:

bikur cholim

by Aliza Geller

In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), we are exploring the concepts of בִּיקוּר חוֹלִים (bikur cholim – visiting sick people) through pretend play. A few sessions ago, the children shared that visiting people who are sick, “can make the sick person feel better!” Visiting is important, but children were concerned about the …

Tags: pretend play, rabbinic, Shorashim 5781, Shteelim 5781, visiting

Leave comment