Rosh Hashana, Math, and Literacy Exploration

 

Shana Tova Purple Room families! The children are so excited for Rosh Hashana! Read on to see how we are preparing for the holiday!

We discussed the greeting “shana tova” and what it means. The children created shana tova cards for their grandparents, which we mailed this week. This literacy activity also let the Morahs note each child's’ letter recognition, letter formation, and interest in writing.

We made Honey Play Dough for our classroom, to have a sweet new year of learning. The children measured and mixed the ingredients, and observed how it smelled and felt:

Carmel: It feels like honey. It smells like honey too.

Jonny: It feels puffy! 

Natan: It feels like a sticky, spinny thing. It smells like play dough to me.

Daniel: It feels like peanut butter, but it smells like honey.

Yehonathan: I think it feels like honey and smells like honey.

Ella: It feels like chocolate. I think it smells like a chocolate cake.

Shepherd: It feels like a sticky marshmallow.

Harvey: It feels like hot, warm, sticky stuff. It smells like challah.

Rylan: It feels soft. It smells like play dough.

We read the book, Mitzva Hands and talked about how we can use our hands to do mitzvot. We discussed what miztvot we can use our hands to do in the new year. Here are some of the students’ ideas:

“Dip apples in honey”

“Give hugs and high fives”

“Eat with our spoons”

“Give tzedakah”

“Wash our hands”

“Give stuff to people that they need. And share”

“Help spread out the morning meeting rug”

“Make decorations for our classroom”

For our Rosh Hashana project, the children made collage place mats for the apples and honey on the Rosh Hashana table. Because the students had shown an interest in combining painting with collage, we examined the collages of the artist, Romare Bearden, who used this technique.

First, the children painted their placemats. There was a lot of interest in color mixing, which led to a read aloud of the classic book Mouse Paint.

 

Next, the Morahs provided many cut out images of Rosh Hashanah items. The children collaged these items onto their placemats. These images also sparked conversation about what each item might be for-- a kiddush cup, a round challah, a pomegranate, a bee…

We added the brachot for the apples and honey, and the finished artworks are being sent home today.

 

 

Math Exploration

 

The Morahs set out several activities to promote matching numerals to quantities. In one activity, the children used fine motor skills to clip a clothespin to the number of items on a card. In another more active game, the children rolled a die and then toss a bean bag at the corresponding number on the wall. Observing the children’s play gives the Morahs useful information about each child’s math understanding. Who subitizes the number of dots on the dice, and who is still learning to count with one to one correspondence? Who rolls two fives and says, “I have two fives! I have to hit the 5 two times!” and who rolls two fives and tries to hit the 10? This type of game gives students of many different abilities the chance to play together and learn.

Literacy Learning

We read aloud three times a day. During Read Aloud the children build reading readiness skills by following a plot, discussing characters and their feelings, and connect ideas from the text to their own lives.

 

The Purple Room has been fascinated by, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which we read aloud frequently this week. The children took the book out for a lunchtime read aloud on Thursday, and before the Morahs could start reading they were retelling and discussing the story amongst themselves. The Morahs also put materials in the Dramatic Play area for acting out the story. The children discussed who would be the troll and who would be a goat crossing the wooden bridge over the fabric river. Did you know being able to retell a story is an important part of learning to read?

 

 

Gross Motor Exploration

We go outside for at least an hour each day, and also play movement games in the classroom. Morah Shaina leads a game of tag. These types of games help students learn to cooperate with rule play, negotiate with each other, and also get plenty of energy out!

 

We wish you a wonderful Shabbos and a very sweet New Year!

Morah Shoshi & Morah Shaina 

Class Community and Rosh Hashanah

 

It has been wonderful seeing the Purple Room settle into our class routines and begin to become a classroom community. New friendships are forming, and new interests are emerging! 

 

We celebrated our first class birthday! 

Happy 5th birthday, Carmel! 

    

Rosh Hashanah Learning

Morah Shaina lead a song during davening. We have been singing many songs about the upcoming holiday! Yehonathan shared that he likes to sing with his voice if other friends want to bang on the drums. Carmel said that he liked the twinkle twinkle of the bells. We also examined a real shofar, to find out what it feels like and looks like up close, in addition to what it sounds like. 

 

We worked on Rosh Hashanah artwork, some of which will become New Years cards to be sent next week. Jonny created apple stamps, and Harvey and Shepherd examined apples to see exactly what details to include in an observational drawing. 

 

Matisse Paper Cut Artwork

This week we began our first multi-step art project. Multi-step projects help children learn to plan and alter their ideas, and they emphasize the process of creating the work over rushing to a final product. For this project, we first examined images of Matisse's paper-cut artworks, and learned about his process. On the first day, students practiced scissor skills by cutting shapes from colored paper.

On the second day, we learned that Matisse often pinned his paper pieces together to experiment with different compositions. The children practiced fine motor skills by pinning their paper pieces to cork board. Trying out ideas in this way teaches about composition, as well as open-ended thinking.

On the third day, the children created their collages by painting their paper cut pieces with glue and making their final composition. Daniel noticed the glue was cool and slimy. This work will be displayed outside our classroom in the coming week!

 

Our Classroom Community

In our sensory exploration area, children learn about measurement and capacity while scooping and pouring. They also learn how to cooperate. Natan and Rylan help Shepherd fill the biggest measuring cup to the top.

Taking care of our classroom space is important. Children learn responsibility, and to feel like they belong. Natan and Shepherd work together to sweep up rice and beans that spilled from the sensory table.

I

We encourage the children to take initiative to fix problems or find new solutions. Jonny noticed that our class schedule had no picture of "home" after dismissal, so he created a picture of home and taped it to the bottom of the schedule. Then Ella created pictures of aftercare to add to the schedule. She counted the students in aftercare and added one picture for each child. 

Show and Tell is a great way for students to learn about one another, to learn how to share about themselves, and to learn how to speak in front of a group. Children are welcome to bring a special item to share on their Show and Tell day as follows:

 Monday: Yehonathan and Jonny

Tuesday: Rylan and Daniel

Wednesday: Harvey and Natan

Thursday: Shepherd and Ella

Friday: Carmel

 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Shoshi and Morah Shaina

Our First Week as a Purple Room Community!

What an exciting week in the Purple Room! 

 

It is so wonderful to meet each student, and to start to build our classroom community. This week has been full of exploration, joy, and learning.

Circle Time is when we come together as a class. We learn so many important skills during Circle Time! Taking turns, listening and responding to others, following a discussion and sharing ideas. We also sing! Singing is a wonderful way to build a sense of community, while learning math, literacy, and Jewish ideas in a joyful atmosphere.

 

 

We played math games to practice subitizing. Subitizing is the ability to recognize the quantity of a small group of objects without counting, and is a foundational skill for number sense. 

 

 The children found a bug outside and were fascinated. We looked it up, discovered it is called a box elder bug, and a discussion ensued about the parts of a bug, why bugs are important to the environment, and symmetry. 

 

Harvey carefully observes an image of a box elder bug as he draws each part.

 

 

Ella and Rylan got to know each other better as they made mud popsicles during outdoor play!

 

Block play is so important! Children learn spatial perception, math concepts,cause and effect, and cooperation in the block area.  

 

Carmel, Yehonathan, and Natan discuss how they can make the wings of their airplane the same length on each side. 

 

Jonny and Ella discuss how to expand the house they’ve built for a tiger.

 

 

 

Rosh Hashanah Learning

We began to learn about Rosh Hashanah this week through stories, songs, and play. We learned about what it means to have a “new year.” We tasted apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah! 

 

We learned about why we eat round challahs on Rosh Hashanah, and the children learned to create spirals from play dough. Play dough is one of the best ways to develop fine motor skills. When children play with play dough, they are strengthening the muscles they will need to use for writing.

 

 

We explored the shape, color, and texture of apples, and then the children created their own apples using loose parts. Loose parts play develops fine motor skills, open-ended thinking, and problem solving. Daniel chose to create a very colorful apple. Yehonathan used loose parts to cover the outline of the apple. Shepherd filled his apple in with all red parts and added blue diamons on top.

 

 

 

It has been a beautiful week in the Purple Room, and we are so privileged to get to know each one of your children. We look forward to so much learning and growing this year!

Shabbat Shalom,

Morah Shoshi & Morah Shaina

 

B”H

 

Dear Parents,

Upon return to school from celebrating Shovuos, the children shared their experiences.

What was your favorite part of Shovuos?

Bracha: My favorite part of Shovuos was when I got to put flowers on the bima and stand on the bima.

Rivka’le: I had lots of things. I got a pretend ice cream. Another thing is I looked under Bubba’s tallis and he saw me. I went under Tatty’s tallis. I got real ice cream but I couldn’t eat the cone.

Davis: When I got to see the Ten Commandments.

Leanna: I got an ice cream bar. With chocolate on top that was melted. And ice cream inside.

Angie: My Mommy likes to wear her dress, it’s black.

Geffen: We had ice cream in Mexico.

Gilad: We had dinner outside.

Jemma: I had fun with Leanna and I had ice cream bars. I also had waffles with whip cream. I ate it and I loved it.

It is hard to believe that we have only one more week together in the Purple Room. The children have accomplished so much in so many areas, academic and social emotional. The Purple Room children are finishing up their Waseca Literacy and Montessori Math objectives as the year comes to a close. Utilizing Conscious Discipline has been so helpful in many ways and the children have become very proficient at deep breathing to calm themselves (be a S.T.A.R: Smile, Take a deep breath, And Relax). They have grown so much in understanding themselves and know that they are each precious. They know to make choices, about what to eat first, to choose kind words to talk to a friend, what to choose to play with etc.

The Purple Room children are feeling a bit sad that the end of the year is coming upon them so quickly. But they are excited to share some songs at the Moving Up and Graduation Ceremony, next Thursday, May 27. You will receive a recording via Whatsapp of the graduation song to help your child practice. For the Moving Up and Graduation Ceremony, please dress your child in a purple top or white top and a navy or black bottom (skirt/pants/leggings).

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

Morah Shayna

 

Dear Parents,

 

Shovuos – The Giving of the Torah

The Purple Room Friends are so excited for Shovuos. Now that the new Jewish month of Sivan has arrived they are counting down the last days of Sefira until we receive the Torah anew on Shovuos. To celebrate Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the new month of Sivan, the Purple Room ran with bubbles in the playground (see the joy in CJP Facebook).

 

The Purple Room Wise Ones know that the Torah is full of the many mitzvos we can do (Naveed: It has 613.) The children collected their mitzvah notes from their Mitzvah buckets which they have been collecting all year. They attached each note to tape – a very long piece of tape – to create a ‘Torah scroll’. For some children the ‘Torah scroll’ reached from one end of the classroom to the other and beyond! It required focus and patience to apply the notes to the tape so that the tape wouldn’t show through. Finally, the children created mosaic covers for their Torah scrolls.

 

Song:

            Aseres Hadibros (The Ten Commandments)

(T.T.O. This Old Man)

 

אנכי ד אלקיך  (Onochi Hashem Elokecho) I am Hashem the only One,

 לא יהיה לך (Lo yi’hi’yeh l’cho) There is no other, not the stars nor the sun.

 

לא תשא (Lo ti-soh) Do not swear

זכור את יום השבת (Zachor es Yom HaShabbos) The Shabbos day is  dear.
כבד את אביך ואת אמך (Kabed es ovicho v’es imecho) Honor your parents and show them you care.

 

לא תרצח (Lo tirtzach) Don't end someone's life

לא תנאף (Lo sin’af) Don't take someone's wife

לא תגנב (Lo signov) Don’t kidnap or steal

לא תענה (Lo sa’aneh) Don't lie or tattletale

 

לא תחמוד (Lo Sachmod) is number ten, Don't be jealous of your friend

These are the Aseres Hadibros, written on the two Luchos.

 

Shovuos + Math

The Purple Room Mathematicians know that Moshe went up Har Sinai for 40 days to receive all the mitzvos from Hashem to give to the Jewish People. They calculated the Gematria (numerical value) of the Hebrew letters of the word    חלב  and realized that this word adds up to 40! The Friends know that  חלב means milk. That’s why we eat dairy products on Shovuos! Yum!

 

Which foods are made from milk?

Geffen: cheese and yogurt

Davis: ice cream

Rivka’le: string cheese

Bracha: butter

Gavin: shredded cheese and yogurt drink

 

The Purple Room made their own ice cream with milk, sugar, ice and salt. Shaking the bag was so much fun and a great way to exercise those arm muscles. In no time at all, they had ice cream and it sure tasted delicious!

 

The Purple Room Artists created their own Har Sinai. They each drew a mountain and then painted it with glittery watercolor paint, trying to stay in the line. The Friends made small cuts into the ends of paper rolls, folding them back to use for painting flower petals. Even though Har Sinai was a plain looking mountain, Hashem made flowers bloom on it so that it was beautiful when the Torah was given. They discussed the lesson we can all learn from Har Sinai (Mt. Sinai): to recognize the special qualities each of us have been given by Hashem and to feel strong inside.

 

Song:

I am a mountain so very high

I can reach way up to the sky

The Torah should be given on me

‘cuz I am as tall as can be, you see!

 

Oh no! I am much wider than you

And there are so many things I can do

The Torah should be given on me

‘Cuz I am as wide as can be, you see!

 

But little Har Sinai stood strong inside

I know I’m not tall I know I’m not wide

But most of all I’m happy to be

The way that Hashem made me

 

Hashem chose Har Sinai from all of the rest

Because he did not think he was best

Let's try to remember to act that way too,

‘Cuz that is the thing Hashem wants us to do!

 

 

In addition to their Har Sinai art and (Mitzvah Note) Torahs, the Purple Room Friends will be bringing home their Sefira counters which they have been using every day to count the days till Shovuos.

 

Thank you, Rabbi Deitsch, for showing the children how a Torah is made: with parchment and a quill and how the letters are formed. The children touched the parchment and compared the difference between parchment and paper. The children had a special treat when Rabbi Deitsch took them to the Shul to actually look inside the Aron Kodesh (Ark) to see where the Torahs are kept. They each kissed the Torahs so lovingly. (see CJP Facebook) The Purple Room Scribes tried their hand at writing the Alef Beis letters the way they appear in a real Torah. They realized it takes a lot of training to become a Sofer (Torah Scribe).

 

Have a wonderful Shovuos as we celebrate receiving the Torah anew. Come to Shul on Monday, May 17 to hear the 10 Commandments!

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

Morah Shayna

 

 

 B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

Shavuos + Math

Counting, counting. Every day the Purple Room Mathematicians count the days of Sefira (the days from Pesach to Shavuos) using the counting beads on their Sefiras Haomer counting cards. On Shavuos we go to Shul to hear the Aseres Hadibros (10 Commandments) being read from the Torah.

 

The Purple Room Friends have been exploring groups of/multiplication. The giant sefira counter in the classroom has 7 groups of 7 reflecting the 7 weeks of Sefira counting.

 

Art

The Purple Room Artists have been experimenting with different forms of art. They made Puffy Paint art, squeezing paint from the bags to create their own art. Geffen: The whip cream made it so fluffy. (The ‘whip cream’ was shaving cream! J)

On another day, the Purple Room Sculptors made their own play dough and created Har Sinai with flowers growing on it.

 

Shavuos and Mother’s Day

In preparation for Shavuos and Mother’s Day, the Purple Room children have been exploring the Aseres Hadibros, concentrating on the 5^th commandment: Honoring their Fathers and Mothers.

 

How do you honor your father and mother?

Geffen: In the morning I cook them breakfast. I make fruit and coffee.

Angie: Me and my Mommy put some coffee so he can drink and bring him some fruit so he can get going so he can work.

Jemma: I give them drinks in the morning.

Rivka’le: When we wake it’s really late ‘cuz I always wake really late. I won’t wake them up when I go in their bed.

Davis: I don’t wake my parents. If I have a bad dream, I just change it.

Leanna: When it’s time to get up I am going to take a bath right away.

Gavin: In the morning I listen to my Mom and wake up and brush my teeth and get dressed and put my socks and shoes and go in the car.

Alisa: When I wake up in the morning I only wake up my brother. I’m not going to wake up my Mom and Dad.

Naveed: When it’s the morning and it’s dark when my parents wake I’ll open the light for them.

Bracha: If I wake up early I won’t wake them up.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline & Morah Shayna