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Dig into Great Garden Books for Kids!

flower1 Gardens have always been part of my life. In October of 2008, Jamie Faith Woods, Andrea Katzman and I attended a school garden program in Bristol, RI. That meeting was a catalyst for creating our beloved school garden. Kol HaKavod to Jamie Faith for all her work on our garden and school garden curriculum.

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For several years, I conducted “Giggles in the Garden,” an outdoor JCDSRI preschool story time that resulted in a great garden book collection. In addition, I have created JCDSRI Pinterest boards on gardening with children, garden sensory activities, garden book for children and Earth Day books and activities. VISIT: https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/

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Zimriyah Playlist!

Here is a playlist featuring some of the songs the students will be performing at Zimriyah. Please feel free to listen, practice and share at home!

 

Teaching about the Holocaust with Picture Books

“In order to understand who we are, our children need an authentic exploration of our past, including the Holocaust.” Emuna Braverman  bit.ly/1PQtBpw  Our library has a very good collection of Holocaust picture books as well as novels. One of our favorite books is The Butterfly written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco, an outstanding children’s author. This beautifully illustrated book relates an actual Polacco family Holocaust story.

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Some other outstanding books in our collection are:

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One More Border: The True Story of One Family’s Escape from War-Torn Europe is another true family story complete with photos of passports, family members , newspaper items and maps. The Kaplan family successfully escaped Europe and lives in Canada.

Review this excellent list of children’s Holocaust book by the United states Holocaust Memorial Museum for more selections.  bit.ly/1FN5zU5

 

 

 

 

 

My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks

Students were inspired by Chanoch Piven’s work in the creation of our Hebrew-Art project.  http://www.pivenworld.com/my-dog-is-as-smelly-as-dirty-socks/book-by-hanoch-piven

Each student chose a person from real life or fantasy and described that person’s character: “my mom is funny, my friend is fast, my dog is smart, my sister is sweet, my dad is cool, my teacher is thoughtful, Batman is dark……..”  In the week following Pesach break students will be representing these characteristics with items to create a portrait in art.  From the students’ writing, here are some ideas to get you started….

SMART things: ruler, computer, calculator, owl, Albert Einstein, dictionary

FUNNY things: smiley face, clown, joke book, Tina Fey, book, feather

FAST things: cheetah, train, lightning, bat

PRETTY things: princes, sunset, flower, spring, summer, sun, mom

SWEET things: candy, sugar, lollipop

CRAZY things: monkey, sugar rush

LOVING things: dog, dad, puppy, friend, heart, bear

WARM things: stove, fire

HELPFUL things: tools, internet

COMFORTING things: bed, pillow

LOUD things: megaphone, whistle, fireworks

SHARP things: knife

BUSY things: squirrel, soccer ball, maid, sprinter

STRONG things: gorilla

COOL things: skateboard, sunglasses

After the Pesach break each student will create her/ his person in art class. The people in the art work will be made out of items. Therefore, we ask the help of all the 4th and 5th grades’ students and families to gather the items/ things listed above and bring them to school.
Please don’t limit yourself to materials!

Toda, Mrs. Bend and Rotem

A Pyramid of Passover Books for Kids

A “get up and dance” favorite! (comes with a CD)  passbook4

Visit our Pinterest site for great book selections as well as yummy Passover recipes! https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/passover-books-for-kids/ pinterest

We love books by Tami Lehman-Wilzig , who has been a Visiting Author at JCDSRI. Her website  has  children activities and more. http://www.tlwkidsbooks.com/ You will enjoy the recipes in her book passbook7

JCDSRI library suggestions:

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Books for Girls-Challenging Stereotypes (K. White, librarian)

Looking for some awesome books for girls that challenge stereotypes? Check out the extensive lists of great books at Mighty Girl. https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=2241

Read the informative remarks noted in, “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes with Young Children,” in the next paragraph.

Some of my personal favorites that our students love:

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“Picture books provide role models for children in defining standards for feminine and masculine behavior, yet sexism manifests itself in diverse ways in children’s literature. Nonsexist books, on the other hand, produce positive changes in self-concept, attitudes, and behavior. Children’s gender attitudes may be positively changed through the reading of appropriate children’s literature and other book-related activities (Blumberg, 2008). Parents and teachers are encouraged  to critically evaluate books for gender bias. However, rather than eliminating all books with stereotypes, adults can guide children to recognize stereotypes and increase independent critical thinking about gender and perceptions of gender. Making a concerted effort to provide positive, empowered stories and images of diverse characters will activate positive self-concepts for children and promote anti-bias attitudes.” (Dimensions of Early Childhood. “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes With Young Children.” Vol. 39, No. 3, 2011)

 

Grades 4 and 5: African American Studies-Slavery (K.White, librarian)

Via the triangle trade route, an estimated 8 to 15 million captive Africans were brought to America between the 16th and 19th centuries. Using primary and secondary materials, as well as fiction, we are exploring slavery-the life of slaves on southern plantations and the Underground Railroad.

Students acted out a slave’s day noting what the slave quarters were like; what food they ate; and the work of picking cotton. We learned about the cotton plant and the importance and value of cotton. coton slave-family slaves kids

Students studied the life of the very brave Harriet Tubman. We were amazed to discover she returned 17 times to the South to help slaves escape on the Underground Railroad!

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NEW READING RESOURCE for PARENTS: Brightly (from the library. K. White)

5 Inspiring Picture Books About Women Who Changed History-Women’s History Month Brightly http://www.readbrightly.com

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Brightly is a new online resource that encourages parents to raise lifelong readers. Brightly aims to provide moms and dads with inspiration and guidance around creating a reading life for their families. “Brightly is like your fun, friendly, and well-informed kid-lit pal. Our focus is on celebrating and embracing different kinds of readers, kids, and interests. Brightly gives parents insights into which books and authors their children might get excited about and what activities might enhance families experience of reading,” said Liz Kotin, editorial head.

2014 National Jewish Children’s Book Award Winners and Finalists Announced

This site is a jem! http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/books/ Along with great new Jewish books for kids, adult award winners in many categories are listed. Books for all! Awesome new books to add to our Jewish collections! NOTE: Book list of Jewish books for children http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/Default.aspx?CCID=14253&FID=86704&ExcludeBoolFalse=True&ID=/books-search.html

Illustrated Children’s Books-Louis Posner Memorial Award

Winner:
The Patchwork Torah. Allison Ofanansky; Elsa Oriol, illus. Kar-Ben Publishing.

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Finalists:

Never Say a Mean Word Again. Jacqueline Jules; Durga Yael Bernhard, illus. Wisdom Tales.

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The Whispering Town. Jennifer Elvgren;Fabio Santomauro, illus. Kar-Ben Publishin. NOTE: This book relates to Number the Stars by Lowry read in grade 4. The dramatic story of neighbors in a small Danish fishing village who, during the Holocaust, shelter a Jewish family waiting to be ferried to safety in Sweden.

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Children’s and Young Adult Literature

Winner:
Spinoza: The Outcast Thinker. Devra Lehmann. Namelos.

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Finalists:
Storm. Donna Jo Napoli. Simon and Schuster. A sixteen-year-old stowaway discovers her destiny on Noah’s ark in this riveting reimagining from award-winning author and “master storyteller” (SLJ) Donna Jo Napoli.

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Tucson Jo. Carol Matas. Fictive Press. With a mind of her own, Jo is in constant conflict with her father….when trouble erupts during the election campaign and her father’s opponent attacks him for being an Israelite, Jo has to reconsider what it means to be a Jew. Inspired by Tucson’s first Jewish mayor.

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I lived on Butterfly Hill. Marjorie Agosin. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Celeste Marconi is a dreamer who  lives peacefully among friends and neighbors and family in the idyllic town of Valparaiso, Chile—until one day when warships are spotted in the harbor.

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Happy Birthday to Judy Blume an Awesome Jewish Author!

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Probably many JCDSRI parents have read  books by Judy Blume, who was born February 4, 1938 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her books -old and new- are greatly enjoyed by kids.

“When I was growing up, I dreamed about becoming a cowgirl, a detective, a spy, a great actress, or a ballerina. Not a dentist, like my father, or a homemaker, like my mother and certainly not a writer, although I always loved to read. I didn’t know anything about writers. It never occurred to me they were regular people and that I could grow up to become one, even though I loved to make up stories inside my head. I made up stories while I bounced a ball against the side of our house. I made up stories playing with paper dolls.  But I never wrote down any of my stories. And I never told anyone about them. When I grew up, my need for storytelling didn’t go away. So when my own two children started preschool I began to write and I’ve been writing ever since!”

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Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

NOTE: Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980’s she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read.

Her website is excellent and kid friendly  http://www.judyblume.com/