Colorful Patterns in Ganon Bet

Ganon Bet has been exploring the world of color. We have done experiments, projects, and even ate a variety of colorful food. We culminated our color unit with a patterning experience. What better way to learn patterning, than through food??? We used Fruit Loops to practice our different patterns. Ask us to create a pattern at home for you!

Avraham's Tent

Last week's Parashat Vayera took us to Avraham and Sarah's desert home where they especially enjoyed performing the mitzvah of "hachnasat orchim" (welcoming guests.)  The children in Ganon Aleph and Ganon Bet have been enjoying acting out this parasha in our classroom tents, complete with floor pillows to sit on, a small table with pretend food, and a water pitcher for washing the feet of Avraham's guests!

Election Day in Ganon Aleph

Tuesday was Election Day, and we had our own secret ballot election in Ganon Aleph when we voted on what to have for snack.  The votes were tallied, and . . . round crackers won!  The children know, of course, that the adults voted for who would be the president of the United States, not for what to have for snack!

We then went into the cafeteria where the middle school students were running a school-wide election. The older students and staff members took turns going into the voting booths to cast their votes for president.  The results were announced before dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.  Mitt Romney won by a landslide!

Gan Aleph Votes!

The children walked into to the classroom today and noticed the Morot wearing a special pin. "What is that?" they asked. The morot  answered "It's our special pin and it says "I VOTED TODAY!" Gan Aleph learned that today is Election Day and we are voting on who will be the next president of the United States! They learned that the candidates are Romney and Obama and that there are special private voting booths that grown ups go to to vote on who they want to be the next president. We set up our own Gan Aleph secret ballot and decided to vote on which Thanksgiving foods we like the best. The first vote was between apple pie and pumpkin pie and the second vote was chicken or turkey. The children took turns going behind the curtains of our booth and casting their vote by checking off the correct box. When the whole class finished, we looked at the results and tallied how many liked each food type and which food types won with a popular vote! The entire class received "I voted today" stickers and were so proud of our own Gan Aleph election.

We're Off From School. WE'RE OFF TO DO A MITZVAH!!!

At Yavneh Academy, we are using the days off from school to make the most of mitzvah opportunities at home! All of the yeladim are encouraged to choose a mitzvah to do, have their parents take a picture and then send it in to our Early Childhood Blog so we can highlight all of the wonderful mitzvot taking place, even on a day off from school!

Baking for our guests....mmm...mmm....good!

Big sister helping mom big time!

Helping out a neighbor after the storm! Yasher Koach!

Cleaning up & helping out......with a smile!

Playing so nicely and taking turns.....super siblings!

Preparing for Shabbat with a tasty mitzvah!

Tidying up...what a mitzvah girl!

Hakarat Hatov served with a cup of soup for our dedicated civil servants!

Thanking Hashem for a yummy meal. Beautiful Bentching!

Giving tzedakah........PRICELESS!!!

Building a gingerbread house together. So sweet!

Playing so nicely while her younger brother is napping! What a mitzvah!

Cleaning out the pantry & building a new shelf! Wow!

Davening SO beautifully! Check it out!

Starting the day with beautiful and melodious tefillot!

Mopping the floor! What a helpful crew!

Not only washing the dishes like a pro but offering to do it!

What an incredible trio! Triple the nachat!

Dynamite davening! Super proud!

Playing so nicely! Check out the room number!!!

Giving tzedakah. What an important mitzvah!

Making Edible Rainbows in Ganon Aleph

Inspired by the rainbow at the end of last week's Parashat Noach, we had "Color Week" in both Ganon classes.  Every day we all managed to find something in our closets to match that day's color, and even our snacks were color-coordinated!  Joseph's mom came in this morning to help the children make delicious rainbow cookies.  We're happy to share this easy recipe if you're interested!

"Our Bags Are Packed, We're Ready To Go.."

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Ganon Bet learned this week how Hashem asked Avram to leave Eretz Charan and move to Eretz Canaan. We designed our own suitcases for travel. We filled our suitcases with different objects that we would need to take on a long trip such as food, drink, toys, etc. We then carried our suitcases with us as we went on a trip to Eretz Canaan. We walked all around Yavneh asking people if they could help us find Canaan. We brought with us a map and a compass but it was really hard to find! We don’t know how Avraham made it, boy were we tired when we got back from our trip!

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We brainstormed how Avram knew which way he was traveling. What helped give him direction? Then we noticed that when we look out the windows in our classroom in the morning the sun is very bright. But in the afternoon the sun isn't as bright. We realized this is because of how the earth rotates. We first see the sun in the east and the day ends with the sun setting in the west. The sun can help direct us when we travel.

A Trip to Mezuzahland with Gan Gimmel!

How exciting it was yesterday when Gan Gimmel got to participate in the very special mitzvah of mezuzah! Rabbi Penn came to help us hang the brand new mezuzah on our doorpost. After all of our renovations in Early Childhood it was such a special zechut for our class to hang the mezuzah on the door.  The children learned that mezuzah literally means "doorpost".  We recited the special bracha over hanging a mezuzah. Then we read the story "A Trip to Mezuzahland" by Sara Lieberman.  What a special and exciting experience for the children! How many mezuzot do you have hanging in your house?

Welcoming Shelley to Ganon Aleph

We welcomed a new member to Ganon Aleph this week:  Shelley the tortoise!  She spent the year in Gan Daled last year and has now joined our class.  The children love to watch her eat, and it was exciting to bathe her for the first time!  They are learning all about the responsibilities of caring for a pet in a fun, hands-on way!

Handle With Care!!!

With recent additions to our Early Childhood wing, construction has become the ongoing theme in Gan Bet.

From learning how to read blueprints....

To measuring and making our own blueprint of our classroom...

To adding construction materials to our centers...

Gan Bet is the newest construction site around!