Preparing for the Early Childhood Bake Sale

Ganon Bet helped raise money for "Keren Malki" an organization in Israel that helps children with disabilities. We planned some classroom activities to try and understand what it might be like to live without the use of sight, hearing and physical abilities. First the children were blindfolded and tried walking around the room without help. Next they had to follow directions without being able to hear them. Then we used ace bandages and wrapped their arms to their sides. They learned that it can be hard to cook, clean and play with only the use of one hand.

Me And My Shadow

Gan Daled learned about the great artist, Rembrandt, who lived in Holland. He is known for his use of light and shadows. Rembrandt painted many self portraits. The children used charcoal to make their own self portraits which resembled Rembrandt's etchings. Even though charcoal is difficult to work with, the children used their fine motor skills to produce beautiful self portraits in Rembrandt's style.

Gan Daled became print makers and discovered that it is possible to make many copies from a single master. They engraved pictures onto a piece of foam to make a plate and covered it with paint. The children put a piece of paper on the plate and pressed down carefully. They observed that the picture that was printed was reversed.

Gan Daled was excited to imitate one of the greatest artists of all time. Have you ever seen a Rembrandt painting?

To learn more about Rembrandt visit :http://www.rembrandtpainting.net/

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!!

Fun and Run in the Snow

What a fun time we had in the snow. Everybody put on their snow clothes and we went to the giant hill outside. The children built a snowman and tried to build an igloo but decided it was more fun to climb the giant hill! Everyone waited their turn and went sledding. At the end of our snow adventure we returned to the class and had a special treat-- hot cocoa! It was yummy and it warmed our tummies!

Sheleg Sheleg Sheleg

Ganon Bet has fun in the snow inside our snow table! Enjoy our winter song:
Sheleg, Sheleg Sheleg,
Sheleg Mi Shamayim.
Choref Ba Vkar Ba Chutz Kar Li Bayadayim.
Kar Li Bayadayim,
Kar Li Baraglayim,
Kar Ba'af Ubapsanter,
Kar Li Baoznayim!

Fun in the Snow

We were happy to have a snow day on Monday, but even happier to return to school so that we could go sledding on the hills of Yavneh and play in the snow with our friends in Ganon Aleph! We also brought some snow into our classroom to keep in our sand table, which the children renamed the snow box! We will continue to have fun in the snow, outside and inside, until it

melts away!

Making Bricks Like the Slaves in Mitzrayim

The children learned that King Pharoah forced the Jewish slaves to make bricks. We tried to make our own bricks in Ganon Aleph by mixing dirt, grass, and water. The children then put the mixture into small milk carton molds and dried them on the heater. We opened the molds and, voila, we had bricks! The children then had fun building with their home-made bricks.

I Wish I Were A Polar Bear!

Can you imagine what it would be like to be a polar bear in the winter!? Well, Gan Aleph did just that! The children were bursting with excitement on Thursday as they brought in their favorite "sleeping" items from home (stuffed animals, pillows etc.). We began our class hibernation by searching around the room for cups of food that were hidden. As each child found their food, they ate and ate and ate until they felt full. We then snuggled up with our favorite nighttime belongings and pretended that our body temperatures dropped and our heart rate slowed. We "slept" and slept and slept...until spring came! The children yawned, stretched and awakened when they heard it was spring time. This activity put the children in the place of a polar bear and helped them imagine what it would be like to be a polar bear in winter. Above all, it was just plain FUN!

Let's Do Lunch

We had very special guests in Gan Daled, Emma Shore's great grandmother, Mickey Bernstein and her friend Rose Weinblatt, both residents of Daughters of Miriam, came to our class. Emma's father, Jonathan, and her brother, Ben, came as well. After joining us during music where they enthusiastically sang, clapped and played on rhythm sticks and tambourines, they watched the children dance. The ladies shared lunch with us. Mickey and Rose admired the tablecloth designed by the children and asked to keep the floral centerpieces made by the class. As Jonathan had to return to work, as well as drive Mickey and Rose home, the two friends took the delicious cake
baked by the children with them.

It was a wonderful and moving experience to see three generations in our classroom. We are so glad that we were afforded the opportunity to observe the mitzvah of Hachnasot Orchim in such a meaningful way.

Basket Weaving in Ganon Bet

One of the objectives of our Pre-K curriculum is to build the children's fine motor skills. Lots of practice with scissors and crayons will strengthen the muscles needed for handwriting, which begins in Kindergarten. Everyday the teachers look for opportunities to bring fun manipulatives into the classroom for this purpose.

This week's parsha study presents a great opportunity to work on fine motor skills. The children are weaving baskets for baby Moshe, using dried grasses and berry baskets. It's actually quite challenging!