Dear Parents,

 

Integration, integration, integration. This week the Purple Room integrated Chanukah, literacy, science, Alef Beis, fine motor, math, creativity, and more into prepping for Chanukah. You name it and Chanukah was pulling it in.

 

The children had so much fun working on every step. They created paint on oil (art) Chanukah cards for their grandparents. Chanukah cards were created for their parents and the Kindergarten children sounded out and spelled words. The Chanukah gift for their parents began as a science experiment. They created Lava lamps beginning with oil and water (transferring liquids, a Montessori activity). The Purple Room Scientists noted their hypotheses on their Science sheet, then their observations and, finally, their conclusions. The Kindergarten children wrote their own notes sounding out the words (literacy). They discovered that, no matter what, the oil would always rise to the top even when they shook their bottles really hard. Then Jemma had the idea to add a dreidel to the bottle. The Purple Room Scientists noticed that the dreidel floated on top of the water but under the oil. They noted that the plastic dreidel is lighter than water but heavier than oil. They carefully and lovingly wrapped the present, tying it with a ribbon, so excited to give this Chanukah present to their parents.

 

The Purple Room children know why many people use oil to light in their menorahs and why we eat latkes and donuts fried in oil. Ask your child and he/she will tell you.

 

Creating the Chanukah Menorah involved many steps: The Purple Room Artists applied tape to the wood in a design, then painted over it. After the paint was dry, they peeled off the tape (fine motor). They then painted again with Mod Podge and glitter.  Then they were given candle holders and had to figure out if they had more or less than 8 (math). If they had more, how many did they have to take away (subtract) to get to 8? If they had less, how many more did they need to add (addition) to get to 8? Once they arrived at the correct answer they received clay to create a base for each candle holder. After which they received one more for the Shamash (the candle used to light the Menorah candles. The Purple Room Artists painted the clay bases when they were dry. They are so proud of all the extensive work put into their Menorahs and are so excited to light them every Chanukah night.

 

The children brought home their Chanukah song books to share with their families. They so enjoy the many ways one can make a dreidel (see song # 3). They can think of a few to add to the mix!

 

What a special treat the Purple Room children had this week: It rained!

Geffen: I said thank You Hashem for the rain.

The children had so much fun playing with mud, feeling the rain on their hands. They may have brought home muddy clothes but the smiles and shouts of glee were worth it. (Please send fresh clothes for their spare clothes bags J)

 

Happy Chanukah! Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline