Nov 03
Throughout this whole year so far, I have been blown away by the amazing conversation skills in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grade and “Branches” for 3rd grade). During כִּיבּוּד (kibud – snack) and in the studio, children talk and share ideas with each other about our theme, תְּשׁוּבָה (teshuva). One of the most amazing things …
Oct 27
In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) we have become totally immersed in our first theme of the year, תְּשׁוּבָה (Teshuvah), which is about returning to the path you want to be on after making a mistake. These children already know so many ways to get back on the path you want …
Oct 28
This week in שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten), we have been doing a lot of thinking and building about Genesis chapter 13:7 (in our אַבְרָהָם וְלוֹט (Avraham V’Lot) theme), when an argument takes place between Avram’s and Lot’s herders. Some children thought that the argument was related to inequity between the …
Oct 14
In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) we have started our first theme of the year! Children have been so excited to play about אַבְרָהָם וְלוֹט (Avraham V’Lot)! The first thing we did was read Genesis chapter 13. We heard that Avram is very rich, the land that Avram and Lot are …
Apr 07
This week, we began our new theme: בִּיקוּר חוֹלִים (bikur cholim – visiting sick people). As we often do, we started by investigating our personal connections to this theme. Simple questions like “have you ever been sick before?” and “what could a visitor do to help a sick person feel better?” helped us open up …
Nov 24
In Anafim (“Branches” for 2nd and 3rd grade), our final projects are really coming along. Throughout this whole theme, we have been practicing sharing our ideas, connecting with our peers’ ideas, and respectfully disagreeing when we have a different idea. The children have done incredible work on this skill to the point where their conversations …
Nov 19
In Shorashim (‘roots’ for nursery) and Shteelim (‘saplings’ for Kindergarten), we have begun working out our final project for our theme, תֵּבָה (teyva – “ark”). The first thing we did was make a puppet of the character, נֹחַ (Noach – “Noah”). As children were adding clothes and facial expressions, I asked some questions about נֹחַ (Noach – “Noah”). In …
Apr 09
With Pesach (Passover) just around the corner, Nitzanim has started designing their very own matzah bags! This week’s work involved creating and tracing a picture of what we thought was the ‘hard stuff’ and the ‘awesome stuff’ of Exodus 1-15, a story some Jewish people might choose to read during seder. Nitzanim worked diligently to …
