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. 

Where can we put our pennies?

During the first week of camp, we started our penny drive. Many children brought in pennies from home, but we didn't know what to do with them!

Together, we read the story, How Dalia Put A Big Yellow Comforter Inside a Tiny Box, by Linda Heller. In the story, Dalia tells her little brother that she is putting a big yellow comforter, a butterfly bush, and a banana cream pie into a tiny box. She teaches her brother all about tzedakah.


After reading the book, the children discussed how we could make our own tzedakah box. They said we would need wood, tools, and things to decorate it with.


The next morning, we used mosaic tiles and glue to decorate our very own tzedakah box. It took team work, but we were able to cover all of the sides and the top with beautiful glass tiles.


Once the tzedakah box dried, we began filling it with the many pennies the children had brought in. That morning we counted 43 pennies that we put into the tzedakah box. Since then the children have added many more pennies! The penny drive will continue all summer. You may want to collect some pennies with your child to bring in to put into our tzedakah box!

Will you make one for ME???

Collaborating with Maddie to get it just right

I am so excited he is making one for ME!!

The eyes are just right.

Max Greenstein, our expert artist, held up his picture of a rescue hero. There were immediate requests from his some of his classmates to make one for them. Being the kind friend he proceeded to make a mask for 5 classmates: Drew, Nathan, Sam, Jared, and Maddie. He was thoughtful in his illustrations, asking about favorite colors and even collaborating with Maddie so that the eyes were perfect. Thank you Max for taking the time out of your play to make others happy. This too is Tzedakah in motion. ( Giving the gift of time) 

"Look what I made." 

A Busy First Day for Adom Bet

Our first day of summer camp in the Adom Bet (red B) classroom was filled with activity. The children met new friends and greeted familiar friends.

Rose and Sophie had fun washing the rubber duckies in the sensory table.

The classroom was rearranged a bit and everything seemed new and exciting. Olivia, Sophie, Sophie and Lilah played in the kitchen area preparing picnics. 

 

This week we are talking about tzedakah and what it means to do good things for others. We decorated our tzedakah box, shared our ideas about what people need and what we should do with our tzedakah pennies. There were suggestions of food, shoes, blankets, beds, rings and watches.

The Mitzvah of Tzedakah

Included in the “top ten” early childhood Jewish values is the obligation to give Tzedakah, to help the needy. Judaism requires that we do good things and be good people. We give Tzedakah because it is a mitzvah to help other people. It is one of G-d’s rules.  Our Shabbat helper Samantha goes around the circle as each child puts a coin in our Tzedakah box and fulfills this very important mitzvot.

Learning about Tzedakah

In the Levana class, we have added giving Tzedakah to our weekly Shabbat rituals.  Tzedakah, literally, righteousness, is the Jewish commandment of making charitable donations and giving to others in need.  We have a classroom Tzedakah box that we put coins in every Friday during our classroom Shabbat celebration.  At the end of the school year, we will decide where to donate our money.

Haley surprised us this week by bringing in her own coin to put in our tzedakah box, which she did with great pride.  We will encourage all of the children to bring in their own contributions, too.

During circle, we hand each child a coin and invite him or her to put it into the Tzedakah box.  We teach them that it is important to give to others, so that if they don't have enough food, clothing, or other necessities, they can get what they need.   This is something we have been thinking about, especially in this very cold weather.

Graham and Haley look on as Harold puts his coin in.

Now it's Graham's turn.

Olivia happily adds her coin!

Shabbat Shalom from Levana!

Tzedakah

What is Tzedakah?  Some children said it was giving money. But where does that money go? To whom does it go?? On Friday we showed the children a picture of Rosie's Place, a temporary home for 150 women who are in need of shelter and food.  We talked about how some people have no money, food, or shelter. It is our responsibility to care for them. What could we do to help if we didn't bring money?

Parents have generously donated the ingredients to make a tuna casserole. We decided to provide the children with opportunity to use the fruits of their labor to complete this responsibility. The cut the cheese and butter and waited for the noodles to boil. In addition to making a dish to eat we wanted to extend well wishes as part of our tradition of kindness towards others. Some boys and girls wanted to send a bus, a trolly, flowers.. Their cards were beautifully decorated with love. We are truly blessed.

Illustrating and writing good wishes

Sending good wishes.. What do I wish for you??

It looks soooo good !!!

Tzedakah... Sharing with others as regular ongoing responsibility

Making a casserole for Rosie's Place

Thank you Oliver for your persistence and hard work helping to make our tuna noodle casserole for Rosie's Place. Since we had not made a class casserole for awhile, we talked to the children again about the wonderful work that is done at Rosie's Place. Every month I bring casseroles to the home of an active 90+ year old woman, Sheila Aliber, who then delivers them to Rosie's Place. If anyone is interested in joining the volunteers who make these casseroles, please contact me and I will give you additional information. Happy Shavuot!

Tzedakah and Buddy work!

Ezra, Max and Dylan built very detailed cool ships over on the rug with the wooden blocks and magnets. I asked them to come over to make their challah because I had to put it in the oven soon, so it could bake and be ready to take home at the end of our school day. They asked if they could save their ships and made it clear they did not want anyone to touch them. So I suggested to make a sign, stating their wishes. They asked me to do it, as their hands had challah all over them. I then announced to the entire class, "Who would like to make a sign/note for Max, Ezra, and Dylan? Hannah and Eliza immediately raised their hand and said, "ME!" When they came over to the table I asked them, "What do you want the sign to say?" Hannah said, "Save". Then the girls proceeded to take turns writing each letter in the word save. When they were done with the sign they placed it on the ships!

Now that's what I call working together with a partner, taking turns, sharing, teamwork and Tzedakah too! Eliza and Hannah we have one thing to say...THANK YOU!!!!

Tzedakah!

The children enjoyed preparing a tuna casserole for Rosie's Place. We had to use our big strong muscles to stir the bowl filled with macaroni, cheese, tuna fish and butter. It looked yummy!

A Fruit Smoothie Stand?

Did someone say fruit smoothies? That's right the Lunch Bunchers made fruit smoothies, banana and strawberry smoothies to be exact! We turned the "lemonade stand" a into a "fruit smoothie stand" for the day! Once again the Scientists helped collect the Tzedakah money and poured the smoothies into cups. We all had one thing to say DELICIOUS!

Our Lemonade Stand was a Big Hit!

The Lunch Bunch Lemonade Stand was a big hit! The Scientists, Sunshine/Unicorn, All Star groups all had their part! At our curriculum meeting yesterday the All Stars decided to make a lemonade stand. Today Tel Aviv and Haifa children made fresh lemonade from scratch. The Unicorn/Sunshine friends provided pennies for everyone so they could buy their own cup of lemonade. The money we collected will go directly to Tzadakah. The Scientists were kind enough to organize and run the lemonade stand. (They collected the money and poured the lemonade into cups.)

At peace out time Jesse and Daniel took pleasure in creating a colorful lemonade sign. While we were making the lemonade Aaron started chanting, "Lemonade for sale, fifty cents a cup...Does that sound familiar? Out on the playground we all started chanting, "Lemonade for sale fifty cents a cup!" Making a lemonade stand sure is a lot of fun!

Tzedakah of Time, Talent, Food

Thank you to all the parents for donating the pasta, cheese, butter, and tuna that we needed to make our meal for those less fortunate than ourselves at Rosie's Place.
We asked friends what we could do for those people who might be hungry? Some friends said we could give them money to buy food, or we could buy food.
We proceeded to make our tuna casserole, carefully cutting the Velveeta cheese into small chunks using our child friendly plastic knives. We didn't have a timer to check the pasta so we relied on our eager friends to taste test the noodles for the needed soft texture. When it was determined it was ready, we stirred and worked together to make our delicious meal.
We also decided it would be nice to make a card of well wishes.
They wanted the people at Rosie's place to know that

1) "It is your card"
2) "I hope you have fun eating and a great day"
3) "I want you to put love"

We are so lucky to have such wonderful children who embrace kindness towards everyone!!!

Stanley Gives Tzedakah

Stanley loves to give tzedakah. When Stanley got to Israel he got some Israel money. It wasn't green and white like money in Massachusetts. It has many colors! And it wasn't called dollars. It was called shekels. Stanley wanted to put some of his Israeli money into a tzedakah box. Luckily Stanley was flat enough to squeeze behind the box and fit his money right into the slot.

Tzedakah

Yesterday, Alison's mom came to our class to read a wonderful book to us - THE PRESENT, by Bob Gill. We heard all about a very special boy who decided to give his own birthday present to poor children. Alison's mom also helped us realize how lucky we are to have lots of warm clothes. But because not all children are so lucky, our class donated lots of warm hats, mittens and jackets to be given to children who need them. The donation box that Alison's mom brought into our classroom was just overflowing with warm winter clothing.
And this wonderful book, celebrating a wonderful act of tzedakah, obviously made a big impression on the children. Several people drew a picture from this book, and retold this story, in their journals today. The children were obviously touched by this story of kindness and giving, and wanted to act out this mitzvah.
The Scientist children should feel very proud of themselves for such caring and tzedakah. In fact, we put a mitzvah leaf on our mitzvah tree because the Scientists donated LOTS of warm clothes for children in need - a very meaningful mitzvah!

The Gift

The Sunshines listened attentively today as Ali's mom, Lisa, read The Gift. This story teaches us about giving and the importance of sharing with those who have less than we do. At this time of year, we are very aware of the need for warm clothing, and the Sunshines know that in order to have fun playing outside, they need jackets, hats, mittens, and sometimes boots. Tzedekah offerings were used to purchase some of these items for children whose families may have difficulty providing them. Each child carried a pair of new mittens or gloves to the collection box in our school lobby so that others can be warmly dressed for the winter weather. We are grateful to the mothers who organized and supported the mitten collection. Through them, the children are learning that we give Tzedekah because it is a mitzvah to help other people.