Molly Kulwin
Author's posts
Apr 02
Catching Up!
After a full week off, it was so wonderful to reunite and hear about the different seder experiences children had. Our seder reflections mainly revolved around food whether eating it or making it. We all seem to love food!! Charoset, matzah ball soup, chocolate covered matzah.. it’s all so good! Some children had just returned …
Mar 12
Reflecting on Shehecheyanu
Shabbat Shalom! We are just a few hours away from the beginning of shabbat and I hope you all are able to soak up some sun this weekend. Just two weeks ago we celebrated the fabulous ideas and projects children worked on during the שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu) theme. Below are three different vases children made and …
Jan 28
What if you don’t feel that alive feeling when you get something new: should you still say שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu)?
Over the last several weeks, Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th-5th grade) has been exploring the blessing, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu). We began by pulling out the root of שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu) which is חַי (alive). Children came up with different moments they felt SUPER ALIVE. For example, receiving shoes as a gift that “I didn’t …
Dec 04
Celebration Time!!
Next Sunday is Family Exploration and Celebration! We will celebrate the amazing Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th-5th grade) ideas, questions, and creations from this theme, תֵּבָה (Teyva – “Ark”). I spent this week looking back at all the words children have shared through the theme. Wow, I can see how their ideas …
Nov 13
Big Questions from Anafim v’Alonim
What a fabulous few weeks we’ve had exploring the text of נֹחַ (Noach – “Noah”) in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th-5th grade)! Such rich questions and ideas have bubbled to the surface. Children started our theme תֵּבָה (Teyva – “Ark”) theme by revisiting their חברותא (partner text study) skills. Children begin by …
Mar 05
Our Responsibility In Working Towards The World As It Should Be
We are just a week away from Family Exploration and Celebration! The community will come together to celebrate the amazing work our children do and all the steps that go into it. Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) is our current theme. Many children in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 2nd-4th grades and “Oak trees” for 5th …
Jan 31
Who Does It Take to Make the World as It Should Be?
For the last couple of sessions children in Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” and “Oak trees” for 4th and 5th grades) have been exploring what their impact, their communities’ impact, and societies’ impact is in creating the world as it should be. Wow, the ideas were so powerful. A long list was created after children participated in …
Jan 16
4th and 5th Grade in Partnership
For the next few weeks and into our new theme Eliyahu Ha’Navi, we’ll be paying special attention to listening and partnership. This week children worked in partnership with one another. Working with a partner takes different kinds of listening. What does listening look like? Sound like? Feel like? One of the ways we explored was …
Jan 10
Exploring New Vocabulary in 2nd and 3rd Grade
Happy New Year! How wonderful it is to be back together after break. Every few weeks we begin a new focus in our Ivrit (Hebrew) curriculum. Holiday vocabulary (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukah, etc..), numbers, classroom materials, and now the focus is on colors. Children engage with the vocabulary in all kinds of ways. Special …
Dec 13
Retelling The Story of Chanukah through Shrinky Dinks
There are a number of super awesome ways we’ve been remind ourselves about the holiday and story of Chanukah. We’ve played variations of sevivon (dreidel), fun vocabulary games in ivrit (hebrew), and working with Shrinky Dinks. Yes- Shrinky Dinks. Who doesn’t like making itty bitty tiny things?! Children have used shrinky dinks to create different …