Chanukah Story/ Dramatic Play

Antiochus was a mean King and he didn't let the Jews choose how they wanted to pray and do Mitzvot.  He wanted to force them to be like him and the Syrian Greeks.

The Jewish people had to hide in caves in order to learn Torah and do Mitzvot.

When the Syrian Greek soldiers came they pretended that they were playing dreidel, so that they would not be punished.  They tricked them.

The Maccabees said that's not fair and they chased Antiochus away.  But Antiochus and his soldiers made a big mess in the special Holy Temple.  The Menorah and all the oil were thrown around and broken:(

The Maccabees helped clean up the temple and fix the Menorah.
They found one tiny jug of pure olive oil enough to last just one day.  The Cohen Gadol lit the Menorah and  Hashem made a miracle!!  It lasted for 8 days.  The Jewish people were so happy!!

We discussed that this happened many years ago.  We compared how we travel today and traveled back then.
Hannah: They traveled on horses.
Morah Mimi: What other animals helped them travel?
Hannah and Jordan: (Remembering from the book we read "Pini the Pitcher") Donkeys!
Morah Mimi:  Some people also traveled on camels.
We compared travel time in a car or plane to an animal riding and understood why it took so long to get new pure olive oil!

Throughout the next two weeks the children reenacted the story on their own during exploration time.
They set up a Chanukah table on their own.  Here Sammy,  Amanda, and Hannah take out the Shabbat candles as well and later hid them to light them away from the Greek soldiers. 

Here they add a Kiddush cup

Set up a cave to hide from the soldiers

Lighting the Menorah

Amanda, our Syrian Greek soldier

The children set up the scene and chose roles on their own to reenact the story yet again:)

Chana the Maccabbee to Sammy, King Antiochus: That's not fair!!

Aiden uses towel paper and then the cash register to hide the Torahs

Samantha builds a cave for the Jews to hide and play dreidel

Our Pumpkin Plants

Our Pumpkin plants grew really tall.  We did a great job caring for it by watering it, and making sure it was getting enough sunlight.
When Joanna came on Sunday,
she surprised us and moved it into a larger container.
We were all happily surprised on Monday to see our plants lined up with tall sticks to keep them from falling.
We added our own touch with fall decorations.

We keep watering it and making sure it's in a corner for sunlight.
We discussed why it would be best to keep it inside now due to the weather.
We looked at our adopted tree bare and we want to try to save our plant!
Let's see what will happen with our experiment!

Our Polmelo

Amanda's Mom brought a Polmelo for Snack.
When we brought it in the classroom the children wondered what type of fruit it was
since they've never seen one.
We left it in the Kitchen area for a few days and the children explored and played with it
by feeling, conversing about it and of course shopping in the grocery for it.

They were so excited the day we brought it to the snack table.
Morah Mimi:  Does anyone remember what this is?
Sammy:  a big green fruit
Hannah: a big orange
Aiden: a green fruit
Amanda:  it's a polmelo

We showed them pictures of other fruits in the citrus family which the children recognized;
grapefruit, oranges... and then Sammy found the dried Etrog in our classroom:)

After guessing what it would look like inside, we were surprised to see the deep orange/ red color.

At first the children hesitated, but after watching Morah Mimi and Amanda eat it they all tried and love it!!
We learned that it's always good to try new healthy foods.

Turkey Spotting

In preparation for Thanksgiving!

We used the opportunity to count and subtract as they went on their way....

Where did they go???

Will they come back?

Ballet

Remy visited our classroom and taught us some ballet steps.
It was challenging balancing ourselves while we were at it:)

It was both relaxing and fun at the same time.

To end off , we use the steps we learned to dance to classical music.

A Visit from Ruby, Jordan's Dog

Jordan brought Ruby to visit our class for Show and Share.
The children were so excited to greet her.
They took turns petting her.

The children all had a turn to ask a question about Ruby and Jordan answered our questions.
We learned that Ruby is from China and gets bathed and a haircut at the Vet, she doesn't roll over but listens to commands to sit and reach up.

This was a wonderful experience.  

Outdoor Concerts and Fall Imagination and Play

Chana rakes the leaves

The children take a break as a family.
Mommy Hannah tells the children a story.

Jumping in the leaves

The children took turns prefoming on the stage we created.
This has become a favorite.  The children plan in the morning what they will perfom later on outside.
They actually get requests as well:)

Amanda sings, " The More We Get Together".

Sammy sings, "Abc..".

Jordan sings, "Torah, Torah".

Aiden singing Fireman Sam