May 25
There’s not a moment to lose! We only have a few real workdays left, and it turns out that this project we’ve undertaken is actually our biggest and most collaborative project yet. It’s just right for the end of the year, though: Look at how many skills and habits are going into it! Familiarity and …
May 19
“Wait, the chalk slipped. Hold it still while I do it again.” “Can you pull that side so it stays tight?” “But look. If we make the swirls thinner, there’s more room for the scenes.” “Is that the earth and the sea?” “No, I think it’s Noah’s Ark. See the flood and the mountain sticking out?” …
May 11
They’re at it again! ענפים (Anafim, “Branches” for 3rd-4th grade children) are working on a new project; this time, it’s a collaboration as well as a chance for each child to express their own creativity and ownership of Torah texts. So far they’ve reviewed texts… drafted designs… Workshopped their ideas with peers… …and, finally, started crafting their visions …
May 04
What is שבועות (Shavuot; the festival of ‘weeks’) all about? ענפים (Anafim; ‘branches’ for 3rd-4th grade children) know three major things the תורה (Torah) says about שבועות (Shavuot): It celebrates the wheat harvest; it comes after counting the עומר (Omer), which takes place over a period of 7 weeks; and the Ancient Israelites should celebrate it by bringing ביכורים (bikkurim; “first …
Apr 27
ענפים (Anafim, “Branches” for 3rd-4th grade) are just beginning their last theme for this school year: שבועות (Shavuot, “weeks”). One of the sources that ענפים (Anafim) are exploring is a short text from ספר דברים (Sefer Devarim, the book of Deuteronomy) 16, which gives instructions about celebrating the summer harvest festival. But as Anafim know, ספר דברים (Sefer …
Apr 20
On חגים (chagim–holidays), we do things differently at the Jewish Enrichment Center. We put away our writing materials, we don’t take photos or use our iPads, and we spend time as a whole community. It’s our way of marking the holiday as special or different and an opportunity for children of all ages to celebrate …
Apr 07
“Ok, we know all the other parts of the סדר (Seder, the ritual Passover meal). But what is נרצה (Nirtzah)? Our chart just has a picture of moon and stars.” “Let’s go downstairs and look at the הגדות (Haggadot, guidebooks for the Seder) set out at the book fair to see what they say.” “Okay, but we …
Mar 30
Can you hear it? Audio: Groups of ענפים (Anafim, “branches” for 3rd-4th grade) children practicing different songs from the סדר (Seder; “order;” the ritual Passover meal). Pictured: A child reading from ספר שמות (Sefer Shemot, the book of Exodus) as she reviews the story of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt.
Mar 30
“What do you think you know about פסח (Pesach, Passover)?” When asked this question, Alonimers had many things to say! They talked about the Pesach story (“Moshe was in a basket and Pharoh’s daughter found him”), things people might do on Pesach (“There’s a seder plate,” “We recline,” “We sing songs”), and food that some people …
Mar 10
After all the hard work that went into finishing up our קדושה (Kedushah, holiness) theme, what better opportunity to unwind than פורים (Purim)? In addition to making some fabulous מסכות (masechot, masks), ענפים (Anafim, “branches” for 3rd-4th grade children) have been getting into the silly, zany, outlandish Purim spirit with skits and table readings of the Purim story …
