Kohavim Glass Experts

Squeeze it, Squish it, Wet it......

 Our study of trees has evolved into a discussion about forests. Today, the children had the opportunity to use clay and create animals, trees, etc. for our growing forest. They used popsicle sticks to smooth the clay and make lines,  their hands to make ridges,  and their imaginations to tell us about the  caves, rocks, bores, monsters, and porcupines that live in the forest. Tomorrow the clay will return for Act II.

Shamayim Celebrates Joseph's Birthday

The Shamyim  children celebrated Joseph's birthday today with a special story that Joseph chose at circle time along with a very joyful Happy Birthday song.   We also designed a very colorful birthday t-shirt for Joseph to wear. Happy 4th Birthday Joseph!!

Playing with our rock alphabet

With the Rock Alphabet ready to roll, the children were ready to play! Some children began making strings of letters and asking the teachers to read them. As the teacher sounded out the long string of letters, the children giggled. Some children decided to use the rock alphabet to spell their names and the names of the children in the classroom. Some children even decided to spell their parents names! Our Rock Alphabet has inspired so much letter identification, matching of alphabet letters, spelling, and sounding out. And what a wonderful way to connect nature and literacy! 

Rock Alphabet

A few weeks ago, the children in lunch bunch began collecting small stones. We washed and painted the small rocks. This week, we began writing the alphabet letters on our freshly painted stones. As we were writing the letter, the children noticed we did not have enough stones.  They also noticed that some children would need the same alphabet letters for their names. They concluded we would need more stones! Elias, Emme, Jolie, and Ben decided to go outside and collect some more stones.

We set up a station to wash the rocks, dry the stones, and then paint them. Many children in Kohavim helped to paint the stones. We let the stones dry and decided to check back after lunch. When we realized the stones were dry, we continued writing alphabet letters on them.  Adam and Noah put the alphabet stones in order so we would know which letters we still needed. We decided to do a whole set of uppercase letters and a whole set of lower case letters. Our Rock Alphabet was finally ready to be played with! Check out the post called, “ Playing with our Rock Alphabet  “ to see how the kohavim children have been using the rock alphabet! 

Where is God?

On Friday, the kindergartners came in to find a letter from some of the 12th graders here at Temple Beth Shalom who share a classroom with us and the Kohavim children. In their message, the 12th graders explained that they have been thinking about where God is and asked if we had any ideas. The kindergartners used black sharpies and watercolor paints to share their ideas. Below are the children's thoughts that they shared. 

Jacob: In the clouds. 

Dylan: In the ocean. 

Brett Stone: He appears. Like he was always here. 

Evan: In the air. And he comes on the ground on Jewish holidays. I made hearts to love God for all the stuff he gives us. 

James: I think he's in the sky. 

Brett Ellerin: In the sky. 

Julian: He like lives in the like in a rainbow. 

Adam: In the clouds. 

Zack: I think he looks like nothing. Like white. 

Their paintings and quotes will be hanging in the classroom for the 12th graders to see. We can't wait to here where they think God is and to continue sharing our ideas with them and Kohavim. 

Painting a Color Chart

As Adam approached the Easel, he immediately asked, “Are these the primary colors?” He then decided he would use the primary colors to create a color chart. He explained that by making a color chart, the other children would know which colors you could mix to create secondary colors. As he painted he explained that he put red and yellow on top and mixed them together underneath to create orange. He proceeded to mix red and blue, yellow and blue, and red, blue, and yellow. After his color chart dries on the drying rack, we plan to hang it next to the easel for other children to refer to when painting. For the past few weeks, the kindergartners have been exploring color mixing. By developing a color chart, Adam demonstrated his understanding of mixing primary colors to create secondary colors. Thank you, Adam, for making a color chart we can all use! 

Let's make something for Rosie's Place

On Friday, the Kindergartners were excited to explore the flour in the sensory table. As they started to feel the flour they shared their observations with each other.

Dylan: It’s so soft.

Brett E.: But dirty.

Zack: Not dirty, but messy.

They continued feeling the flour and experimented with the mixing spoons, measuring cups, and sifters. As they were playing, Brett S. developed a dramatic play scenario. He said, “We’re making this for Rosie’s place. For people who don’t have food.”  Zack, Dylan, and Brett continued preparing food for Rosie’s Place and asked that the teacher pretend to be the person from Rosie’s Place that comes to pick up the food.

Jesse: Hi. I am from Rosie’s Place. I heard you have something for me to pick up.

Brett Stone: We made eggs!
Dylan: Scrambled.

Zack: And here’s extra.

Brett Stone: We also have little sandwiches.

Rosie’s Place is a soup kitchen for homeless women. The Children’s Center at Temple Beth Shalom prepares Tuna casseroles for Rosie’s place once a month. This is an experience that Dylan, Zack, and Brett had when they attended the children’s center. When children engage in dramatic play, they demonstrate their understanding of the world around them. In this scenario, the children are revealing their experience with Rosie’s Place, their understanding of people who do not have as much food as we do, and the idea of tzedakah.  Together, we will continue exploring the idea of tzedakah and think about how we can help Rosie’s Place. 

Shamayim visits with Dancing Nancy

On Wednesday, we had our first visit with Dancing Nancy in the community room.  Dancing Nancy shared her huge drums with us.  She showed us how we could make all kinds of different noises using our hands and fingers.  Thank you Dancing Nancy. We look forward to your next visit .

Bingo

  
Jacob is the caller for the Picture Bingo game and the children helped each other  to match the cards.  This type of activity is a wonderful vehicle for children to learn how to take turns and it's exciting to watch as they learn how to play the game without adult support!

Working Together

Even our youngest children can work together to take care of our room. Colton and Noa were working hard to master the broom and the dustpan to pick up rice that had strayed from our sensory table. They helped one another by moving into position, and they were able to take turns, waiting, and then handing off the broom and pan to one another in a most agreeable and efficient arrangement!

Shabbat Is Here

Today Sauci gave us a beautiful Kiddush cup to add to our special Shabbat items. Luke was the first Shabbat helper to hold it up for the blessing and to taste the juice. The physical symbols are important to our learning and our celebration. On Thursday our housekeeping area includes a table set for Shabbat; we cover the challah with a pretty challah cover and practice placing the candles in their holders. Together we light candles, bless and drink wine (grape juice), eat challah, and sing Shabbat songs. We are learning that Shabbat is the most special day of our week.

Flip Trick 101

15 children 2 teachers ... it was time to teach the children how to put their own jacket on themselves!

"Flip Trick"  Steps

1. Place jacket on ground with the collar or hood in front of your toes

2. Put hands in sleeve holes

3. Flip  jacket over your head

As you can see Graham can do it!   Great demo Graham, thanks for your help teaching the "Flip Trick".

We would like all of you to have your children practice the "flip trick" at home.  Putting on their jacket is something your children can do all by themselves!

Do You Have Cutie Buns?

You never know where play in the imaginary forest will lead you.  Ellen brought us a tray filled with trees and mountains and pools and tiny frogs and turtles.  We have been creating some intense stories to accompany our play, including Rapunzel and magical turtles.   It turns out the Ruach class also has an imaginary forest.  When they discovered we also had one, their first question was "Do you have Cutie Buns?"   It turns out Cutie Buns are the special turtles in the forest.  During lunch bunch the Ruach children helped define the differences.  "Cutie Buns have spots," said Sophie S.  "And tiny heads," said Jack.  "And they are the most cute, and I love them" said Sophie G.  Sounds like a good starting point for some story sharing between classrooms!  Can you find the Cutie Buns below?

What Should We Do?

Adam and Ben had a problem!  A salt dough challah from our Dunkin Donuts broke into pieces.  They experimented with a glue stick, but the pieces just would not stick together.  Joshua joined in to help solve the problem.   They tried Elmer's glue, but again it would not stick.  Ellen happened to walk by and offered to teach us how to use her hot glue gun.  This seemed to do the trick.  We left it to dry and we'll check it tomorrow to see how our challah is doing.  Great problem solving skills.  Thanks to Ellen for saving the day!

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

Nicolas entered the classroom ready to teach his friends what he learned at last night's game!  Nicolas and his family had gone to the Red Sox, and Nicolas wasted no time showing everyone how to swing and pitch!  Everyone was excited to learn these great tips as Nicolas showed us with such excitement and enthusiasm!  Go Nicolas!  Go Sox! (We believe Nicolas has answered the question "Should I take my three year old to a ball game?")

Meeting Abigail

Earlier this week Olivia made the observation that she knows the teachers and kids at school, and she knows her sister, Abigail, but we don't know each other.  We thought about ways we might get to know Abigail and decided to invite her in for a visit.  It turned out Kindergarten was cancelled today, so Abigail spent the morning with us.  We had a great time playing and learning together.  Thanks for visiting Abigail, and thanks for the great idea, Olivia!

"I made this for you!"

Oftentimes in the Adamah classroom, we find children making different art projects to bring home for Mom, Dad, siblings and other family members.  Today, we thought we'd try something different.  When the children arrived in the classroom, they found art materials and a bowl full of small slips of paper, each with the name of another child in the classroom.  As they came to the art table, the children pulled a classmate's name out of the bowl, and made a picture for that person -- with markers, crayons, hole-punchers and stickers.  We're collecting the pictures until each person has one, then we'll mail them to each friend. 

The children were thoughtful about the art projects, too.  Hayley thought about which color paper Graham would like before she selected blue.  Samantha asked Hayley, (who was sitting right with her!) what color paper she'd like.  Hayley said, "Pink!"  And the girls continued the conversation, about what Hayley might like Samantha to draw, until Samantha finished the whole picture for her friend.

Olivia was excited to pull Sally's name, and chose purple marker on purple paper, because she decided that Sally would really like that.