Rosh Hashana Celebration

Our class had a wonderful Rosh Hashana Celebration today.  The children began the day by making challah.  Then we tasted many delicious foods including apples, pomegranate, dates, carrots, honey and candy fish.  One child commented that "today is a very yummy day".  Morah Schusterman lead the children in songs and shared a special story.  The children are excited to take home their honey cake to share with their families.

Children Created Math Game

I like to put out a variety of different materials for the children to explore each morning.  I usually just put different materials out on the table and let the children decide how to use them.  Today it was really interesting to watch the children determine how to use a set of playing cards and a set of colorful glass beads.  The children created their own game.

Directions:

1.  Each player picks a card. 
2.  Then each player announces what number they have.
3.  Then the player with the largest number gets to put that amount of beads on their playing card.
4.  Then the players pick another card and the game continues.

The children had a fun time playing this game.  They supported each other by helping to count or identify the numerals on the cards.  They took turns and cheered for each other.  Several of the children told me that they were going to teach their families this game.

Letter from Morah Schusterman

Dear Parents,

Rosh Hashana is almost here and we in Ganon have been very busy preparing for this very important holiday.

Song:

What is Rosh Hashanah? Our New Year

When does Rosh Hashanah come? In Tishrei

Which days in Tishrei? The first and the second

What do we hear in Shul? We hear the Shofar

Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah and at the end a Tekiah Gedolah x2

There are many customs and traditions, Jewish families have been practicing for centuries. We shared some of them, and created some projects to represent them. 

There are symbolic foods we eat on Rosh Hashanah, most famous being Tapuach biDvash, apple in honey. We are asking Hashem to give us a sweet year.

Song:

Dip the apple, in the honey

Say a bracha loud and clear

Shana Tovah Umetukah

Have a happy sweet New Year!

One of this week's highlights, was making honey cake! What a fantastic group of bakers! After you taste a piece that your child will bring home, let me know if you want the recipe. 

Children created a book with special foods where we used a variety of materials. Pomegranates, round Challah, apples and honey, fish etc. Our projects are very open-ended and individual. it is your child's representation of whatever item we are focusing on. At this stage in their development, we are encouraging them to observe and then create. The end result is not important, it's the process that they are experiencing that we are aiming for. We encourage them to look at details, textures, colors etc. and of course not to rush!

We had an awesome visitor this week, a RAM!! Ask your child to tell you all about it. 

Hearing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is so important for all ages. 

Song: ttto Old McDonald

Rabbi Cohen had a Shofar that he loved to blow

And the Shofar had three sounds, that all of us should know

Tekiah one sound, Shevarim three, Teruah's 9 in a row you see 

And that is how we blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah day....

Each sound has a name and the Ganon children know them all!

I want to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful chag (holiday) and Shanah Tovah! May you be inscribed for a happy, healthy, and plentiful New Year!

Morah Fraidel Schusterman

Apples and Honey

 

 The Sweet Fun of Apples and Honey Bees

The Perfect Dress

 

 

Exploring the Provocation Table

Enjoying the Music in Judaics

Playing Pass the Honey

Taking 'pollen' from the flowers to the hive

 

 

Creating Honey Combs

Creating Shape Flowers

Each morning the children read and answer questions.

Apple Tasting

After reading 10 Apples Up on Top, the children wanted to try balancing apples on their heads.





 



Apple Picking in the Sensory Table



Creating Honey Bees