All Ready for Pesach in Ganon Aleph

 

 
The children brought their leftover chametz from home, and we added it to our classroom chametz for a giant chametz picnic party!  After this, the children were given sponges and soapy water and they scrubbed the classroom to get it ready for Pesach.  We then performed "bedikat chametz" (the search for chametz) with a candle, feather, and wooden spoon, and even performed "biur chametz" (burning of the chametz) outside!

Gan Gimmel at the Model Seder!!

Gan Gimmel had an amazing time this morning at our model Seder! All the children came dressed for yom tov and everyone looking beautiful!
The entire Early Childhood department joined together along with the music maestro Morah Roberta and the super talented Morah Shani. Morah Shani led the children through the seder using interactive slides and a gigantic Haggadah. The children asked and answered many questions and sang so many songs. The children drank four cups of grape juice and many brave children even tried the Maror! Ask your children how THAT tasted. Wishing you a Chag Kasher V'Sameach! Happy Pesach!

A MOLDY BUT A GOODY

Sarah with Bread, Bread, Bread and moldy breads

Gan Daled read the book Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris. The children were eager to learn about various types of bread from around the world. We continued to develop our geography skills by locating some of the countries on a world map.

We left samples of the bread  on a ledge and predicted what would happen to them. We anxiously checked the bread for any changes.

As we observed changes we referred back to our predictions and found that some of them were correct. Mold, which began as fuzzy and white with blue spots, has become a bluish green color and is beginning to overcome most of the breads.

The children learned that mold is not a plant or an animal but rather a fungus and needs moisture to grow. Some mold such as that used in the production of antibiotics can be helpful.

Ganon Aleph's Celebration of Chesed

Ganon Aleph has a chesed jar into which the children put jelly beans every time they do a mitzvah or an act of chesed.  When the jar is filled halfway, the children are rewarded with a popcorn party.  When the jar is filled to the top, we have an ice cream party.  (Nothing beats  some tasty motivation to encourage positive behavior!)  After reaching the top last week, we celebrated with an ice cream party this morning.  Kol hakavod to the children of Ganon Aleph for all of the chesed, mitzvot, good davening, and great clean-ups they have 
been doing!

Gan Gimmel at the Matzah Factory!

Gan Gimmel visited the matzah factory at Yavneh today! Rabbi Bentzi of Chabad came to Yavneh to teach the children all about how matzah is made. First, the children made flour from kernels of wheat. After that they used the flour to mix with water. The children learned that they only had eighteen minutes to make the matzah! They mushed and squished to knead the dough. They rolled it out, flatted it, poked holes in it and eventually baked it! What a fun and interactive experience before Pesach! Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

Pesach is coming in Ganon Bet!

 

In each generation we are supposed to see ourselves leaving Mitzrayim...

 Frogs here, Frogs there , Frogs are jumping everywhere! Ganon Bet made frog puppets for our seder.

We learned about the 6 things on the Seder plate. Ask us what they are!

 We are practicing our Ma Nishtana each and every day!

 We have learned the story of Moshe going to Pharoah to  tell him to let the Jewish people go and we love singing the accompanying song!

We have worked so hard on all of our Pesach projects we felt like we were slaves!

Preparing for Pesach in Ganon Aleph

The children in Ganon Aleph have been so busy working on all the various projects which they will be able to use at the seder table.  They have been using different mediums and skills to create the following:

salt water dishes

Al Netilat Yadayim bowls and towels

matzah boxes

frog puppets

Magid booklets which tell the story of Pesach

Afikomen bags

Eliyahu's cup

and more!  All of these projects will help to enhance their seders and make the experience so meaningful for them.  They can't wait to bring them home at the end of the week!!

What's Your Favorite Pesach Veggie?

Which vegetable would you choose for Karpas?

Potato

Radish

Carrot

Celery

 The children were given  a radish, carrot, potato and celery. They were able to experience the concept of dipping  the vegetable in salt water. They tried different vegetables and they liked them too! After each taste testing,  the child decided which vegetable they liked the best and wrote their name on a graph. 

And the winner is...Carrot!