Feb 25
Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim! As we closed up our eight week Shehecheyanu theme, children in Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd) got to play Purim! We went on a Purim treasure hunt in the snow. Built (or rather, tried to build) Purim character snow people. Drew pictures of scenes from Megillat Esther (The Book of Esther) …
Feb 11
It’s final project time for our Shehecheyanu theme in Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd). This week I had the absolute pleasure of meeting 1:1 with every single Anafimer just to chat about their big ideas. What a gift! (Didn’t make for great photos, though.) I can’t wait for the children to share their projects with you! …
Jan 28
Guess what?! At our session this evening, every single Anafimer (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grade) shared an idea about our Shehecheyanu theme! Now let me be clear: Children in Anafim have many ideas–about our theme, about sledding in the snow, about being a third grader, and about lots more. Sometimes, though, they just don’t feel like …
Jan 14
Hey! Did you know that the Hebrew word חי (chai–life) is the root of our new theme, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (Shehecheyanu)? This week, children recalled times that they felt super alive: Child 1: When I swung for the first time by myself. And I felt really good on the inside and the outside. Child 2: One time …
Dec 16
It’s Chanukah! Children in Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) have been bubbling over with excitement about Chanukah. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Something that has brought me light this Chanukah was watching this gorgeous collaboration between two second graders who were working together on a Chanukah building. I hope it brings you joy, too! Child 1: …
Dec 03
We’re nearing the end of our Teyva (“Ark”) theme, and Anafimers (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) are eagerly putting the finishing touches on their final projects. At the end of our session today, it was time to share our progress with each other. One child, who is writing from the perspective of characters in our text, …
Nov 19
It’s our favorite time of the theme! Final project time! We’ve been exploring text from Genesis 6-9 for six weeks, and now children are using collage, watercolor, and drawing to wrestle with their biggest questions and ideas. Children are so excited to see each other’s progress and share suggestions for how their peers might show …
Nov 05
We’re on the cusp of something big in Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grade children). Check out the connections that children are making between our text from Genesis 6-9 and the pandemic: Child 1:… All day he’s (Noah) feeding the animals, and some need to get fed at night. He’s tired, and he wants to get …
Oct 22
We’re closing out the second week of our תֵּבָה (Teyva – “Ark”) theme, and children in Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) have been full of feelings, both within themselves and for the characters in the text. Most significantly, children are bothered by God’s decision to “wipe away the humans, animals, bugs, and birds of the …
Oct 07
“Imagine that there’s no COVID and all of Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd-3rd grades) is huddled in a sukkah, and we’re cozy in our sleeping bags, and maybe Morah Sara and Morah Maisie snuck you a s’more. What would you want it to feel like in the sukkah?” Sounds like a dream, right? Well, Anafim thought …
