Class Blogs

Creating B’samim (aromatic spices)

The secret sauce of teaching T’fillot (prayer) to tired 4th graders at the end of the day is tapping into their creative juices. Our 4th graders are an incredibly talented and sentimental group of students.

Last week, we were inspired by the 5th grade TEVA theme to “Renew and Re-purpose” whenever possible. With this heightened sense of environmental consciousness, 4th graders poked dozens of cloves into 4 leftover etrogim (plural for one etrog, the citrus fruit used during the holiday of Sukkot) . They created their own B’samim (a mixture of aromatic spices) to be used during our Monday Havdalah service. The Havdalah service marks the end of Shabbat and sets a joyous tone to begin a new week. Some Rabbis say that the items used in Havdalah — the special braided candle, aromatic spices and wine (or grape juice) — are used to awaken our senses of smell, taste and sight in preparation for the week ahead. Our students were very proud to share these little sweet smelling and prickly creations with the rest of the school.

Project Mizrach

This week, 4th graders were introduced to an important tool used by Jews, the Mizrach (lit. means east). A Mizrach is a decorative sign that marks the direction of Jerusalem, which is east (for us). Jews traditionally face east/toward Jerusalem when they are praying. After seeing many examples of Mizrachim (plural), we used a compass to find the eastern wall in our classroom. Once that had been established, we went and checked the architecture of our chapel and Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is an amazing space. If you stand in the center of the room directly under the dome, the echo is amazing. Of course, we spent some time enjoying this architectural wonder when something unexpected happen. Some of our students remembered a sweet memory of Mrs. White, our beloved retired Librarian hosting “Tea Time” in a special spot above the Torah ark, where the organ is played.  It was a great sentimental adventure to find this special spot then back to the classroom to immediately begin designing their own Mizrach.

Let’s call these photos- Day 1 of Project Mizrach 

Music helps us learn Hebrew letters and vowels

If you walk past First grade, you might hear the sweet sounds of children’s voices singing. The Aleph-Bet song, the Hebrew months of the year or a medley from past songs from the Zimriyah (our annual Hebrew song festival) are all sung with First grade gusto. Integrating song and music into our daily routine has been instrumental in teaching to read Hebrew letters with vowels, sight words and comprehension.

As we approach the Thanksgiving break, students reviewed all of the letters, vowels and sight words introduced over the past three months.  Students categorized words by letters, illustrated a letter album and designed board games using the various letters and vowels. “Can we listen to the Zimriyah songs as we work?” is a common request from these creative thinkers!

Here is an example of the board games they are working on.

Below are some very proud Lego designers

We are learning about the creation story in the Torah. During our conversations, we discovered that HaShem (God) created our world so that it could take care of itself. In turn, we as human beings are also responsible for making sure that we treat HaShem’s creations with respect and kindness.

We took this opportunity to interpret this story through art and to enrich our Hebrew vocabulary.

After we learned that there was nothing in the world before creation, I asked my rabbis:

What do you think was the first thing that Hashem created ?

Jake: Hashem needed light to see what can be done.

So from nothing HaShem created or (light) and choshech (darkness) in the first day.

Then what ?

Sasha: God thought about spreading the light again in the sky so God could see all the work God needed to do.

 

Asher: Hashem separated the mayim (water) from the adamah (earth)and shamayim (sky).

What do you think Hashem created in the third day ?

Joseph: I think animals and people.

Maya: Maybe worms.

Sidney: No. If you put people and animals before trees they would die. They need trees for oxygen.

So Hashem created everything that grows on the earth like: etzim (trees), prachim (flowers), and deshe (grass).

 

Maya: Hashem gave the trees roots to take care of themselves.

What Do you think next?

Sophie: Animals and fish.

Ruben: People.

Eli: No. The fish will die out because if there is no gravity they will fly and die out.

Sidney: They will go to space.

Eli: They can’t go to space because of the atmosphere, they can’t break the atmosphere.

Sidney: Woodpeckers can break trees so they can break the atmosphere.

Jake: No, they can’t the atmosphere is harder.

Asher: They will die before they get to the atmosphere because when you go up the air it is thin and you can’t breathe. 

Then HaShem created the lights in the sky: shemesh (sun), yare’ach (moon), and kochavim (stars).

What happened in the fifth day?

Sasha: I think animals now.

Joseph: And people and school.

Jake: Animals before people because if God created people before animals they will cut down trees and plants and they will not leave room for animals. And if Hashem will create animals before people the animals will just make habitat to live.

Eli: If it is animals, it needs to be only plant-eaters. If you put people before animals they can die out because people didn’t know about predators.

The next was all the life in the water and in the air: dagim (fish), parparim (butterflies), and tziporim (birds).

Finally, the world was ready for human beings and animals: yeled (boy), yalda (girl), and chayot (animals).

And on the last day, HaShem rested and it was Shabbat.

As we prepared our Bereshit book, we noticed how, in each page, the world becomes more complete and more beautiful. We learned to appreciate the wonders and miracles of our creation and our world through this story in the Torah.

Solar System Showcase

Last month students began thinking about the concept question, “What can we learn by exploring different communities?” Their interest in various communities led to their fascination about space.  They wanted to explore MORE about space, the solar system, and specifically the planets. Throughout the past month and a half students researched their planet of choice while learning about the solar system. They learned about the planet’s location in relation to the sun, other planets around their planet, if their planet is an outer or inner planet, and special unique facts about their planet.  In addition, in Jewish Studies, students learned more about the Jewish calendar and the earth’s moon phases.  To celebrate their hard work and expertise, students invited fellow students in grades K-4, along with their parents to our culminating Solar System Showcase.  During this showcase students shared their handmade 3D representation of their planet using various materials, held mini presentations in small groups to teach others about their planet, and also put on a “skit” to show the different phases of the moon in the Jewish month.  It was out of this world!

 

Every time the pre-k class went on the playground, they noted how the Maple tree changed.  It was so sad when it dropped it’s leaves, but we learned a song to celebrate this fall event: “Oh Mrs. Tree it seems to me you dress a little silly.  When it’s hot you wear a lot, but nothing when it’s chilly.”

Autumn has inspired the children to create marvelous fall trees and Leaf Man collages.  Each project is unique and allowed the children to observe the changes outside and express themselves in the classroom.  The favorite tree was the Maple with it’s rainbow of colors.  We also examined Oak, Sassafras, Poplar, Honey Locust, Ash, and Wild Cherry to name a few species.  The children especially enjoyed the acorns, berries, and seed pods they observed.  We read many books on the subject of fall, but the favorite by far was Leaf Man.

                

                          

                                        

When the children took a fall walk, they most enjoyed crunching in the beautiful red leaves in front of the building!