Dear Parents,

 

Art

The Purple Room went ‘branch collecting’ in the yard this week for their thankful trees. After using their fine motor skills for cutting out leaves on the outline, they considered some of the very many things they are thankful for. They beautified the leaves utilizing the same style of art they used to create thankful tree jars: the Pointillism style made famous by the artist George Seurat. They were quite amazed to appreciate ‘The Eiffel Tower’, how Seurat could create such a work of art with so many dots. Some of the children imitated this style quite effectively on the jars.

 

Literacy

The Purple Room Writers have been using many mediums this week for practicing letter formation of all the letters with colored sand and chalkboards. They have been focusing on writing the letter ‘a’ which can be quite tricky.

 

Math

The Purple Room integrated Parsha, the sense of hearing and math in one Bingo game. The Purple Room Parsha Whizzes know that because Yitzchak’s eyes were weak, he had to rely on other senses, the sense of hearing and touch, to know who was talking to him. The Purple Room children closed their eyes and heard an everyday sound such as a phone ring or water pouring in a sink. When they distinguished the sound, they covered the matching picture with a disc. When all nine pictures were covered with nine discs they read the number sentence which was written on the whiteboard and followed its instructions. For example: 9 – 6. Then they figured out how many were left and the answer was transcribed onto the whiteboard: 3.  9 – 6 = 3. They followed several addition and subtraction number sentences. 

 

Parsha

Paint is not the only medium the Purple Room used for art. In the Parsha they learned about the lentil soup Yaakov cooked which he sold to his twin brother Eisav for the b’chora (firstborn) bracha. The Purple Room artists used green and red lentils to create original art.

 

Angie: I don’t eat hot soup. (Eisav ate the soup so quickly; he didn’t wait for it to cool down.)

 

Song:

https://www.chabad.org/519440

 

Rivkah Eemeinu had twin sons, Esav was red
He was a hunter, Yaakov learned Torah instead.
Yaakov was cooking beans, Esav was hunting
"I am hungry! Give me soup! Esav came in grunting.

"Please sell me your b’chorah (firstborn bracha)  I’ll give you soup so red."
Yaakov told this to Esav, "Take it!" Esav said.

Rivkah put fur, on Yaakov as a disguise
Yitzchok touched his son, because he, had weak eyes.

"It sounds like Yaakov, but feels like Esav’s hands"
Yaakov received the bracha, of the stars and sand.
When Esav came home, his anger burned
Yaakov had no choice, to Lavan’s house he turned.

 

Discussions:

 

Do you know any twins? Are there ways in which they are similar? Ways in which they are different? 

Jemma: my cousins. They’re sister and brother but they look the same. One’s name is Ian and one’s name is Elana.  Ian is 8 and Elana is 9. 

 

What do you think using a voice like Yaakov means?

Geffen: You talk nicely, you don’t scream to talk, it’s not a nice word.

Jemma: If the person is yelling at you they should take a deep breath and then they should use a regular voice. 

Naveed: Being gentle and being kind and talking nicely. Not like Eisav.

Angie: They should use kind words.

 

Kriyah

This week one Kriyah group focused on Alef Beis letter families. For example, the Beis and Veis are in one family, the Kof, Chof and Final Chof are in another family. The letters in one family may not look the same but they still belong to a family. The Purple Room noticed that Geffen and Carmel don’t look the same but they still belong to the same family. This week’s Parsha also discussed two brothers who were twins but didn’t look the same: Yaakov and Eisav. The Purple Room wants to emulate Yaakov’s ways. 

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

Dear Parents, 

Kindness and Gratefulness

The Purple Room Friends are focusing on kind acts they see their friends do and verbalizing the gratefulness they feel. 

 

Song: 

(TTTO This Old Man)

There’s a Mitzvah, it’s easy to do,

Open your eyes, look around you.

 

Can you speak kindly to a friend?

Invite them to play or share with them?

 

For someone coming, hold the door,

Give tzedakah to help the poor.

 

For someone lost, show them the way

Do Chesed - Kindness - every day!

 

Grateful to Community Helpers

The Purple Room Friends had a wonderful opportunity this week to appreciate the hard work the construction workers do for us. They watched the workers as they worked on the road to create a smooth road for bicyclists and cars to drive on. They saw how the tractor went back and forth, picking up soil and filling the hole in the road, back and forth, back and forth. They observed the cement flowing from the cement mixing truck and the workers (eight  of them – they counted) work very quickly to smooth the cement before it dried. They feel so grateful to these community workers for making the roads for us to ride on.

 

Literacy

Work is progressing for each child at his/her level. Some children are working on Pre-Waseca letter sounds such as c, m, a, t. Others recognize most of the letter sounds and are still practicing the few they need practice in. Some are already spelling words with the moveable alphabet. And some have begun the Red Book which focuses on spelling and writing words.

 

Science

The Purple Room created their very own well. The Purple Room Scientists learned how a well works, how rainwater is absorbed into our soil and rises up in a well so we can access it. They learned that we must take care of what goes into our soil since some of our water is extracted from it. 

 

Fine Motor + Parsha

The Purple Room Artisans created jewelry for their mothers in honor of the jewelry Eliezer gave to Rivkah upon her marriage to Yitzchok. There were many sized beads to work with, some quite small, utilizing fine motor skills.

 

What do you think Eliezer needed to bring along for the trip when he searched for a wife for Yitzchak?

Ronan: Camels and a suitcase.

Geffen: Water. It’s really hot so of course he needs water.

Naveed: A airplane.

Leah: A bicycle

 

What kind of person do you think Eliezer should be looking for?

Jemma: Kind, like helping other people. Like kids need help.

Geffen: Someone that smiles, shares and give presents.

 

What special things do you have/do in your home that are similar to the special things that happened in Rivkah's tent?

Leah: A lot like those Shabbos candles.

Jemma: I have my challa that stays fresh a whole week. Hashem really does that.

Geffen: Candles. Every week they light up. 

Ronan: I have candles but they don’t stay lit. They only stay lit for a little.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

 

 Dear Parents,

Welcome! Boruch Haba!

The Purple Room was very excited this week to enact a Mitzvah learned from this week’s Parsha: hachnosas orchim, welcoming guests. But these guests were no ordinary guests. These guests would become the newest members of the Purple Room Friends. Welcome to Geffen and Carmel Gabay! The Purple Room Friends have been taking turns showing Geffen and Carmel the different areas of the class and how to use all the fun things in the classroom. They have truly made their new friends feel welcome and at home.

 

Literacy

The children will have received their homework folders last week. In the Literacy section, the children may have two sheets: one with sight words for them to practice daily and the other with letters for them to sound out. The Purple Room learns the alphabet letters phonetically as in a is for apple, b is for banana, c is for cup, etc. They will later learn that some letters have more than one sound as in c for cup and c for cylinder.

 

Once the children have mastered all the alphabet letters phonetically they begin using the Waseca drawers. The Purple Room has a big Mazal Tov as another friend has begun the Red 
Waseca drawer this week.

 

When Morah reads a story to the class, the Purple Room Readers read many of the words themselves from the Word Wall by reading the sight words they are familiar with. 

 

Math

The block center was so much fun this week. Geffen showed his new Purple Room Friends how to create the domino effect. The class discussed how people can also have a domino effect. This led to a discussion about how expressing their appreciation for, and to, each other can have the domino effect of increased Ahavas Yisroel, love and acceptance of each individual.

 

Hebrew Literacy

Did you know that Bananagrams comes in Hebrew letters, too? Some of the Purple Room friends played Identify the Letter, accumulating many letters to build a tower until …. it toppled!

 

Parsha

The Purple Room practiced hachnosas orchim by having fun with their individual play-doh packets to create all types of foods: pancakes, hot dogs, cookies… They discussed different ways they could visit people even in this time of coronavirus: calling a friend or face-timing.

 

Song:

Hachnosas orchim, it means inviting guests

Hachnosas orchim, it’s friendship at its best

Hachnosas orchim, it’s something you should do

Hachnosas orchim, invite a friend or two.

 

Science

The Purple Room Friends explored the earth’s magnetic force. They learned about the four directions, north, south, east and west and how Avrohom so wanted to help people and have guests. Avrohom made sure his tent opened in all four directions so travelers would be sure to feel welcome. 

 

Song:

From North to South, from East to West
Avrohom’s tent was open to guests
Three malochim were sent
Each to do something different

 

A son you will have, Sara was told
She laughed and said, "I’m too old,"
The next malach came to destroy S’dom
The third came to heal Avrohom

 

Chorus:

Avrohom ran to the malochim
To be machnis orchim

 

The Purple Room began the experiment with a hypothesis. They then created a compass and recorded the result. The Purple Room Scientists observed that the compass toothpick always ended up facing to the North, no matter which way it was initially set to. They then noted their conclusion.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

 

 

 

Dear Parents,

Literacy

Your Purple Room child will have brought home a Homework folder. An introductory letter has been included in the folder. The Kindergarten children are expected to do their homework each day so they can receive the new homework. The Pre K children are to return their homework folders each Monday and should review the homework each day. Some Pre K children can receive homework more often than once a week depending on each child’s level and ability.

 

The Purple Room is focusing on building the sight Word Wall. Some children have already begun working on the Waseca workbooks which helps the children build and spell words with the moveable alphabet. This can only be attempted once the child knows all the sounds of the letters. This is something that is reviewed each day. Please be aware that the Purple Room focuses more on the sound the letter makes rather than the name of the letter. This will enable your child to learn to read faster and will help them understand the mechanics of the words. 

 

Kriyah (Hebrew Reading)

As with general literacy, the Purple Room is focusing on knowing the names of the Hebrew letters before introducing the nekudos (vowels). There are some children who know the names of all the letters and are now learning how to combine the komatz with all the letters.

 

Math

Purple Room has been engaging with the Montessori Math beads and created number pyramids, building from nine beads down to one. This helps prepare them for the ‘Teens Boards’ which will help them understand numbers 11 – 19. They are also working on the concept of subtraction since they have to consider ‘one less than’ in every instance. Depending on each child’s level, they will or have started working with the ‘Teens Boards’. This is an activity which is conducted one-to-one with the Morah. 

 

The children have been practicing writing their numbers.

 

Middos

The Purple Room Polite People are working hard on improving their Middos (character traits) by trying to swallow their food before talking at Snack or Lunch. They know this is also a safe way to eat so the food doesn’t go down the windpipe. They are also focusing on chewing with their mouths closed.

 

Parsha

The Purple Room learned how Hashem told Avraham to pick up and move from one place (Ur Kasdim) and follow Hashem to a place that He would show Avraham. Avraham listened to Hashem without complaint, not even to ask where Hashem was taking him to. The Purple Room Friends discussed what it would be like to travel from one place to another.

 

Have you ever moved from one place to another? What was that like?

 

Leah: Maybe I went on a trip to a playground and we saw a dead bird there. I brought a lot of things: my suitcase with my pillow, my blanket my Mom packed for me. My lunchbox. There was a kitchen there to cook. There’s two rooms. There’s two beds. I kind of sleeped with my mom.  I was crying because I don’t want to share that kind of ice cream.

Ronan: We went to Texas. We got there in a car and a airplane. We brought my suitcase and I packed my toothbrushes so I won’t forget my toothbrush to brush my teeth. We went to my mom’s poppa’s, his name is Grandpère and my mommy’s mom’s name is Nanny. And that’s all.

Angie: I go on trip on the forest. I didn’t take any food. I went with Moriah. Moriah’s at Grandma’s house. We were in the cabin in the forest. In the cabin is a couch, a bathroom, carpets and a box you can put in things. There is nothing in the box.

Bracha: I was sad when we moved because I liked the old house. But I was excited for the new house.

Jemma: When we moved last year. My dad was like “Help me packing”. I was only 3 years old and I didn’t understand my dad. It was very hard for me because my parents didn’t know yet if I understand and they didn’t know if I was able to listen. So I decided to listen so I went and packed my stuff. But I was still very sad. My parents packed. They didn’t give up.

Naveed: I moved into a new house with an orange door. It has a new pool. But not a Jacuzzi. We just packed everything. Even the fridge. They also packed it up my toys.

 

What were some of the hard parts of moving?

 

Jemma: My parents were very upset at me that I didn’t listen the first time. To pack up all my blankets. I couldn’t listen because I was too sad to move.

Bracha: We have some boxes in my dining room but it’s not taped yet. One of the boxes, it’s for our new house. The hard part is unpacking the boxes. When we go to the new house. I keep on asking my mom because it’s very hard to put things in the boxes. But she says no.

Leah: I think I packed my toys. I bought toys. It was easy to move.

 

How do you think it was for Avraham and Sarah to travel in the desert?

 

Bracha: I feel bad for the man in the front. Because he’s walking (in front of the camels).

Naveed: Their feet hurt and they get a splinter.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

Morah Perline

 

Dear Parents,

Science

This week’s Parsha which tells of Noach and the Flood presented the opportunity to learn about the water cycle.

 

Song:

(TTTO: She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain)

 

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does 2x

It goes up as evaporation

Forms clouds as condensation

Comes down as precipitation, yes it does!

 

The Purple Room noticed that Rainbow’s (class fish) water level went down in his fish tank. They hypothesized why this was:

 

Jemma: Morah took him outside and the sun went on it and the water went up.

Leah: Rainbow drank the missing water.

 

The Purple Room Scientists did an experiment of their own using cups of water which they filled and marked. They are monitoring the water levels every day to see what will happen.

 

Social Emotional

The people in Noach’s time would get angry and make not good choices. It was a shame they didn’t learn from Noach’s ways and make good choices. Noach was a Tzaddik (a righteous person). This week the Purple Room discussed making choices and it fascinated them that human beings are the only creations that can truly make choices. They practiced deep breathing and reviewed the Conscious Discipline song:

 

Song:

When you’re feeling really angry

No matter where you are

There’s a way to feel better

There’s a way to be a star

With this one thing to remember

To stop anger in its tracks

 

Just Stop!

Take a deep breath

And relax 3x

 

Art

After Hashem brought the mabul (flood) upon the world, He promised He would never flood the entire world again. This promise is represented by the keshes (rainbow) which Noach saw when he came out of the teiva (ark). The Purple Room created their own keshes, beading (fine motor) rainbow colored pipe cleaners and painting colors with water. Huh? Painting with water creates color? Ask your clever Purple Room Artist how he/she managed to create a colorful keshes with water.

 

Song:

(TTTO: I Can Sing a Rainbow)

Red and yellow and pink and green

Purple and orange and blue

Noach saw a rainbow, a rainbow

Saw a rainbow true.

 

Discussion

What would you do if you were living in Noach’s time and you saw people taking things without permission?

Jemma: I would say, "That’s not nice. Give it back to the person and ask before you take things".

Bracha: I would call the police.

Naveed: The same thing like Bracha.

Ronan: I would say “Stop it from stealing from people”.

 

Which materials do you think Noach needed to build his teiva?

Bracha: A hammer and needles. And wood.

Naveed: Extrechion (construction) workers and tools.

Leah: A hammer and some tools and something to put on and that’s all.

Angie: He needs a roof.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

 

 

 

Dear Parents,

 

The Purple Room Friends enthusiastically welcomed each other on the return to CJP after the Succos break. Now that we have finished learning all the Parshios (Torah portions) of the Torah, The Purple Room Friends got straight into the swing of things learning about the very first Parsha of the Torah – Parsha Beraishis. They learned how Hashem created the world and what He created on each day. They learned that even though Hashem didn’t need any time at all to create the world, He chose to create it in seven days (on the seventh day Hashem created rest).

 

They have been singing the ‘Creation’ Song (see this link for the tune https://youtu.be/w5qBnlKFQFs):

On Yom Rishon [Day 1] there was light
Hashem created day and night.
On Yom Sheini [Day 2] from the Torah we know
The shamayim [heaven] showed.

On Yom Sh'lishi [Day 3] the earth and seas
Flowers, grass and all fruit trees
On Yom R'vee'ee [Day 4], moon stars and sun
To bring light for everyone

And on Yom Chamishi [Day 5]
Birds that fly and fish of the sea.
On Yom Shishi [Day 6], Hashem did create
Animals, Adam and his mate.

Yom Sh'vee'ee [Day 7], Hashem's day of rest
Shabbos Kodesh, we love best.
Hashem made the world and to show it's true
The Mitzvos of Shabbos we do.

 

The Purple Room Friends created many items that Hashem created with individualized play-doh containers. They filled their World Mats with items they felt Hashem created in the beginning of the world. (See the CJP facebook page)

 

Morah: What is that you’re making for your world, Ronen?

Ronen: Balls.

Morah: On which day is that? I don’t remember Hashem making any balls on any of the six days.

Ronen: On the 22^nd day Hashem made balls.

 

The children enjoyed playing with the 7 Days of Creation puppets and the Creation sensory jars.

 

Naveed: Did Hashem make Hashem?

 

____________

 

Conversations overheard:

 

Ronen: You want to hear a joke Jemma? 

Jemma: Yeah.

Ronen: Where do pencils go on vacation?

Jemma: Where?

Ronen: Pennsylvania!

(A short while later)

Jemma: Where do pencils go on vacation?

Ronen: Pennsylvania?

Jemma: No, Calenonia.

Ronen: You tell your jokes wrong, Jemma!

 

 

(The children passed by the Purple Room bulletin board in the hallway)

Angie: Look! There’s Leah!

Naveed: She looks beautiful!

 

In Outdoor Play:

Naveed: Sonic goes like this (Naveed throws himself on the ground) and like this (he thrashes his legs).

Jemma: There’s one problem with this: there’s shooting. Can we skip that part?

 

The children worked on one of the land masses Hashem created: United States of America! They found all the 50 states and completed the 50 States puzzle.

 

The Purple Room Whizzes added some new words to the World Wall: I, me, a, and.

 

Shabbat Shalom!

 

Morah Perline

 B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

Succos

The Purple Room Friends are constantly checking the luach (calendar) to see how many days are left till Succos. The Jewish month of Tishrei has been so packed with Jewish Holidays, the Friends have been kept in a state of excitement.

 

They enjoyed eating snack in the Succa in the playground in preparation for Succos. They were tickled pink to think one could actually sit inside a Mitzva! The Friends really felt the hug from Hashem and loved sitting together as friends.

 

When I ate in the Succa…

Jemma: I liked how it was cool and nice and how it reminded me of last year, how we used to sit there.

Bracha: It reminded me of last year when I was going to eat breakfast in the Succa with my grandpa. My parents were still asleep.

Leah:  I ate my grapes and it makes me fresh.

Ronen: That it’s really quiet in there. It’s just us. That’s what I like about it.

Naveed: I like noise. When there’s no noise it makes me bored. 

Angie: I liked thinking about trees. I liked eating in the Succa because I like eating.

 

The Purple Room Mitzvah Friends have been exploring the Mitzva of sitting in the Succa and what makes it kosher. They know from looking at the shape of the letters of the Hebrew word סכה how many walls a kosher Succa should have. (4 walls, 3 walls or 2 and a bit walls)

 

They each built their own Succa using plastic straws and joining bits which required them to use their hand muscles, great for strengthening those muscles. Then they created a class Succa and davened in it, ate in it, sat in it, …… You get the idea! They checked out if there was more shade than sun peeking through the scratch (Succa covering of cut branches) - another requirement for a kosher Succa.

 

Thank you, Rabbi Deitsch, for showing the lulav and esrog, haddasim and arovos to the Purple Room. They were so inspired they decided to create their own pretend lulav and esrog set. Rabbi Deitsch asked them which parts of the body each kind appears to represent: lulav – the spine, esrog – heart, haddasim leaves – eyes and aravos – lips. We use our whole body to daven to Hashem and do His Mitzvos. They are looking forward to the Mitzvah of shaking the Lulav and Esrog on Succos.

 

Art and Simchas Torah

Not to imagine that that’s the end of the Jewish Holidays! Oh no! We have Simchas Torah following right after Succos. The children will show you their flags that they made creating a crepe paper Torah.

 

Fine Motor

The Purple Room Friends practiced their cutting skills this week. They have been reading many stories about Succos and noticed the decorations in many of the books. They practiced cutting colored paper on the line to create a vellum mobile with which to decorate their own Succa and the CJP Succa.

 

Imaginary Play

The Purple Room Builders greatly enjoyed creating their own Succa and then building tables and chairs for their ‘pretend people’ to sit on. It was certainly the desired go-to this week. (See CJP Facebook page.)

 

Kriyah (Hebrew Literacy)

The Purple Room Friends found the letter Hey visiting their room this week. They tight roped it each day. The Hey is made from a Daled and a Yud because together they make the word yad – hand. The letter Hey also equals 5 – five fingers on the hand. We have five fingers on each hand that Hashem made for us to do the things we would need to do Mitzvos. 

 

The Purple Room Singers took home a Succos song book home and would greatly enjoy singing the songs to you.

 

Have a good Shabbos and a joyous Succos!

 

Morah Perline