working hard!

shavous

We've had great fun learning about Shavuos. The children have learned all the names of the Chag and have understood it's various meanings. They enjoyed the stories of Har Sinai and the excitement of receiving the Torah. We have sung many songs pertaining to the Yom Tov and have learned the story of Rus which the children have enacted and played the part of Rus. They particularly enjoyed how she picked up the wheat in a tznius way. They were greatly amused by this. We discussed the farmer leaving the Payos of the field for the poor people. We spoke about giving to the poor, not being selfish with our belongings and sharing with those less fortunate.

We having rings about General life skills, making them aware of the country we live in and learning about our own homes, addresses and telephone numbers. Please re enforce this at home.

We are also doing gross motor activities in the form of running, ball skills, strengthening exercises. This is not only good for their gross motor but for their mental agility.

Have a lovely Shavuos and continue talking to your children, offering information that to you might be trivial but for them is all a learning experience and continue to encourage them to express the ideas we have learned in class.

Good Yom Tov,
Morah Adie

Welcome back

Welcome back to the new term. I hope you all had a good Pesach and received lots of nachas from your children.

We have started the new term with many exciting themes. The children went on a nature walk to collect different coloured leaves and were fascinated by the different colours and textures of the autumn leaves. We have been talking about animals that sleep during the winter. The children learned a new word that fascinated them, that being HIBERNATION.

We correlated the colours of the leaves with those of the fire for Lag Ba'omer. We discussed the danger and beauty of fire and the reason for lighting bonfires on Lag Ba'omer- that being illuminating the light of Torah.

We have also been discussing Rabbi Akiva's story of how while watching the sheep he saw water dripping on a rock creating an indentation and how it encouraged him to start learning Torah. We discussed the role of his intelligent and supportive wife Rochel.

I am sure 'Soccer Fever' is spilling over at home. We have bought new soccer balls and are having great fun getting fit and active (The girls also.)

We have chosen South Africa as our country to explore and learn about. We will be investigating the different foods, animals and plants. Any world cup paraphernalia will be welcome to decorate our classroom. We have now acquired a South African flag.

The Aleph Beis Programme is continuing with Morah Chaya. Some children have even completed their first book.

I believe that Helen, our social workers workshop will be most beneficial to all parents. It will take place from TOMORROW, every Tuesday from 12pm to 1 pm.

I try to keep the children up to date with world events and we have been discussing the volcanic eruption in Iceland. The children are fascinated by it.

Please come talk to me if there are any issues that you are worried about concerning your child.

Pesach Seder

Experiential learning about Pesach...

In order to bring Pesach to life, before going on to the playground yesterday, the Morahs explained that there would be a sensory table out with sand and water for the children to build bricks, just like the Yidden had to in Mitzrayim!
The children loved the experience. They worked together with Morah Nadine's class, enhancing the depth of the experience.


Here are snippets of the conversation between the 2 classes:
Morah: What are you building?
Batya Stern and Aviel: The Beis Hamikdash.
Eitan Henen: This is the wet sand to make bricks.
Morah: Who made bricks?
Eitan Henen: The Yidden.
Morah: Who told them to?
Eitan Henen: Pharaoh.
Zahara: Because King Pharaoh made them work very hard.

Simultaneously at another table this is the conversation that occurred:
Lior: We're making bricks.
Morah: Who had to make bricks?
Batya Waks: The Yidden.
Morah: Who told them to?
All: King Pharoh!
Lior: Bricks are rectangles.
Ora: Some are squares. A shape is a square.
Naama: I'm making a circle.
Ora: How we gonna make a square? You can make a square like this...(and she demonstrates with her hands!)

Batya Stern: Look at all the water.

Ora: Our brick gets dry. It gets water and it gets dry!

In honour of Shushan Purim we joined the primary school for a clown, juggling and dog show. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Center time!!

Working on our fine motor skills through doing puzzels.

"Were making pictures and Queen Esthers for Purim!"

"Aarons making all kinds of motorbikes."

"I'm making a cage for the animals. And this is the farmer."

"Its a police station."