Grown Ups Learn Through Play!

Our amazing teachers appreciate the importance of keeping pace with their very young students. That means constantly challenging themselves to learn and grow professionally, just as our children are rapidly learning and growing . We know that the sort of active learning we offer our children is really the best way for anyone, of any age to learn.

This week our Judaic Studies teachers participated in a long-awaited workshop given by Aviya Feuer. Aviya is a Yavneh parent and a Medical Clown, with extensive experience in drama and community theater. Her workshop focused on storytelling, just in time for Purim. Our teachers are wonderful sports, having lots of fun while learning important techniques to use in their classrooms.

Footprints on the Dry Land

Parshat Beshalach came to life today in Gan Gimmel!! After creating the props needed to reenact kriyat Yam Suf, the children took off their shoes and socks, stepped in a pan of paint, and watched as Moshe (Yoni Bernath) lifted his staff, split the Yam Suf, and led B'nei Yisrael out of Mitrayim. The children left footprints on the dry land as they journeyed out of Mitrayim. After the water closed up on Paroah (Ethan Badner), the girls played musical instruments and danced, just like Miriam and the women did.

Also, in connection to the parsha, the children made challah dough, watched it rise and brought home lechem mishne for shabbat! We did this after we learned about the Mann that Hashem sent down to Bnei Yisrael after leaving Egypt.

Wake Up Bunnies!

In connection to our hibernation unit, Morah Roberta, our music teacher, sang a fun song about a bunny who was sleeping. The children loved dramatizing the song! Watch the video and see Gan Gimmel being bunnies!!

Lights, Camera, Action!

From Kindergarten to Broadway....The children of Gan Aleph were transformed into stars as we dramatized the Chanukah story using the Maccabeat's hit song "Candlelight" as our soundtrack. We had Maccabees, Yevanim, Latke flippers, Singers, Dreidel players and more! The children worked hard and displayed wonderful teamwork preparing props such as shields, crowns, latkes, pans etc. for our new music video! We used our Flip video to record the actors and are looking forward to seeing the final product.

The Maccabees Vs. The Yivanim

Chanukah came to life today in Ganon Bet as the children constructed the Beit Hamikdash with big hollow blocks as well as small blocks. They added a menorah in the middle and proceeded to act out the Chanukah story with the various characters: King Antiochus; the Yivani soldiers; the Maccabees and the Jewish people. Teamwork, problem solving skills, and dramatization helped the children internalize the Chanukah story .

Dramatizing Parashat Toldot in Ganon Aleph

Parashat Toldot came alive in Ganon Aleph. The children took turns assuming the roles of Yaakov, Eisav, Yitzchak, and Rivka, re-enacting the story of how Yitzchak gave the first bracha to Yaakov. Ezra, as Yaakov, covered his arms in "goat's hair" to disguise himself as Eisav. Yitzchak was played by Dovi, and Jacob pretended to be Eisav, quite angry that he did not receive the bracha! The role of Mommy Rivka is played by Aleeza. The children had fun with this role-playing of the parasha, while internalizing the story.

Busy, Buzzy Bees

We have been busy around our room and we investigated "bees". the children designed and created special bee headbands. We dramatized the life cycle or a bee and how the bees gather pollen and necter and bring it back to the hive. we learned about the pollen pockets on the bee's leg. We tried to flap our "wings" and do a bee dance. We created "buzzy bee" the puppet. The children used their puppets during the day to tell the bee story.

For more information about bees, please click on the link below:

http://bit.ly/9aXsJp

While learning about Yom Kippur the children were challenged by the question:"What would you share with a friend?" They were excited to illustrate their ideas. We have published our first book called Shared Friends. While learning about Yom Kippur the children created "Buddy' bracelets to give to a friend.

Busy as Bees in Gan Aleph!

BZZZZZ.....BZZZZZZ......
Today, the children of Gan Aleph learned the process of how bees make honey! The children listened carefully to how bees gather nectar from flowers and chew on it all the way back to the hive! When they return to the hive, the bees pass the nectar to their worker bee friends. The worker bees place the nectar into honeycombs, which we now know are in the shape of a hexagon. After covering the cells with wax, over time the nectar turns into delicious honey!
We acted out the "honey making" process outside in Yavneh's beautiful grass field! Some children were bees while others were flowers! We even made a human hexagon where the queen bee lay eggs and the worker bees place the chewed up nectar! The children truly enjoyed playing their parts and look forward to reinacting this process again tomorrow in the drama center with their friends!