שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten, are really taken with our שְׁמִיטָה (Sh’mitah- agricultural sabbatical year). This week we introduced a new set of principals that apply to שְׁמִיטָה (Sh’mitah- agricultural sabbatical year). הֶפְקֵר (Hefker), for our purposes, this means that anything growing in the fields in the שְׁמִיטָה (Sh’mitah- agricultural sabbatical …
Tag: play
Feb 24
Purim Is On Its Way!
Children in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) are starting to get ready for Purim. We have explored different ways that Jewish people might celebrate Purim through storybooks and photos. One of the ways of celebrating that we explored through play was a סְעוּדָה (Seudah– Meal/Feast, Association with the Purim story). We …
Nov 16
Shalom, Chanukah!
The children in Shalom, Chaverim! (“Welcome, Friends!” for ages 0 – 3 and their grown-ups) are starting to explore Chanukah. They used a variety of media to place Chanukah candles into chanukiot (menorahs or candle-holders) including foam shapes onto contact paper, felt Chanukah shapes, real candles in play-doh, and a toy Chanukah set. In this way they …
Nov 11
A Text-Based Play Space Designed by the Children
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 …
Feb 23
“Epic” Special Days
No school? No problem! When the children in the School-Day Program have a day or two off from remote learning, we gather for a fun day of Jewish enrichment. In addition to art, building, cooking, and running around indoors and outdoors, our usual plan includes movie-making based on a book with Jewish content. First we …
Jan 28
A little playfulness
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 …
Oct 21
It’s a Sukkah Time Machine!
The children in the School-Day Program at the Jewish Enrichment Center built an indoor sukkah out of PVC pipes, fabric, twine and branches. One child commented that he did not want to be transported back to ancient times while in the sukkah, and the concept of a sukkah time machine was born! The children individually made paper chains, then attached …
Jan 10
Celebrating Rosh Chodesh in Anafim v’Alonim
Yesterday was the first day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Rosh Chodesh (head of the month) is celebrated on the first day of each new month. In Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 4th and “Oak Trees” for 5th grade), we bring in the new month by celebrating our accomplishments and recognizing the tefillot (prayers), that …
May 24
The little things
As our final projects for the year draw to a close, I keep noticing the little details: those day-to-day parts of life in our classroom that make all the big, amazing achievements possible. Like… Our כיבוד (kibud– snack) routine, where the whole group joins in reciting the ברכות (berachot– blessings). These ברכות (berachot) then become …