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

B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

The Purple Room has been so involved in learning and doing for Shabbos this week. They have created a Shabbos bag full of Shabbos goodies they made themselves.

 

Math happened when the Purple Room Bakers made the challa dough. The Bakers measured the ingredients and checked the eggs, mixed and mixed and watched as the yeast rose. And rose. And rose! They kneaded the dough and so enjoyed the sensory experience.

 

The Kiddush cup and plate were created with nail polish. It was interesting to see if nail polish would mix with water or not. The Purple Room Scientists were divided as to whether it would or not. After putting the nail polish on top of the water and then mixing with the water, they found that the nail polish would not mix. The swirling designs floated on the surface of the water and the Purple Room Artists quickly ‘caught’ the design with plates and cups. They will enhance the Shabbos table for Kiddush.

 

The Challa board involved many processes in its creation. First, the Purple Room children cut out the Hebrew letters of Shabbos from contact paper, then removed the backing and applied them to the board. It was a real fine motor challenge to remove the backing! Then the boards were painted and left to dry. The next day, the children removed the contact paper letters and applied mod podge for a professional finish.

 

The challa board needed a challa cover. The Purple Room children made sure to make one! The Artists roller painted and then decorated with pomp oms. Some made patterns and some designs.

 

But what is Shabbos without a candle to light? The Purple Room Sculptors created a candle holder for Shabbos out of clay beautified with stones and beads.

 

They so look forward to Shabbos at the end of every week but feel sad when it goes away. Not to worry! The Purple Room Friends created B’somim boxes for Havdala, the ceremony after Shabbos to say goodbye). Smelling the B’somim makes one feel revived so we can start the new week and fill it with lots of Mitzvos.

 

The Purple Room Friends are so excited to bring home their own creations to show you. They roller painted the Shabbos bag to make it beautiful and special.

 

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

Morah Shayna

B”H

 

Dear Parents,

 

The Purple Room children are excitedly preparing items to include in their Shabbos boxes for the upcoming Shabbos Party with their parents. Swirling nail polish in water, they created original designs for Kiddush cups and plates. It was interesting how the nail polish didn’t combine with the water and how it rose to the top after they finished using it. The Purple Room Artists are working on stencil painting lacy Challah covers with roller brushes. 

 

This week’s Parsha (Torah portion) discusses the idea of ‘Kadosh’ – holy. Hashem gave us many mitzvos with which to act in a holy way. For example, they know there is a ‘holy’/special way to eat: make a bracha before eating. The Purple Room Friends know that Shabbos is the holiest, most special, day of the week.

 

What can we do on Shabbos to show it is a holy day?

 

Davis: Be kind.

Angie: Get dressed in shorts and a dress.

Leanna: Drink wine.

Geffen: Put on special clothes and make a bracha on your food.

Gilad: Drink grape juice for Shabbos Kodesh.

Rivka’le: Be kind.

Bracha: Go to Shul.

Jemma: Eat Challa.

Leah: Eat pancakes.

Naveed: Eat Challa.

 

Song:

https://youtu.be/gxRkI3l1BaY

 

The Shabbos angels  are peeking through my window

As Ima lights the candles and we all go to Shul

 

Shabbat Shalom, Shabbat Shalom, Shabbat Shalom to every one of you (2x)

 

For the Havdala ceremony after Shabbos they mod podged B’somim boxes with stars to remind them that Shabbos is over after 3 stars appear in the sky:

 

Song:

https://youtu.be/WX6b8sV8APY

 

Shabbos is going away

The sky’s getting dark

It’s the end of the day

Oh ,Shabbos, you really should know

We’re sorry to see you go.

 

But you will come back next week, we know

You will come back ‘cuz we love you so

So let us thank Hashem, who will bring Shabbos back again.

 

The Purple Room children are continuing to work, each at their own pace, in Waseca (Montessori Literacy) and Montessori Math.

 

 

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Perline

Morah Shayna