Letter Tzaddik

Tzaddik has a big line on the bottom, a big slanted line up and a little slanted line that goes up.

In the Hebrew language, the word Tzaddik means a righteous person. We imagined that the letter Tzaddik even looks like a righeous person. He has his hands stretched up because he is praying for other people.

Wonder Time

How do we move? Friends said that feet, bones and all our skeleton help us to move. Morah told friends that all our bones could not do their job without mighty muscles. They make us move, by pulling our bones around. Even when we smile or cry we use muscles. When we speak or eat, walk or skip we use muscles.
Then Morah asked friends why do strong people have big muscles. Some friends said it is because they eat a lot of healthy food. Morah said that muscles get bigger and stronger if they are used a lot.

2011-03-24

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Show and Tell

This week host of Show and Tell was Ariel who brought one of his favorite toys- Wolf. When friends asked Ariel why he brought the wolf he said that the wolf starts with the letter of the week-W. It was very thoughtful!  

Ariel shared with friends that his parents bought him the wolf in a toy store. He also said that wolves like to eat "kurochka" and other meat, they are wild animals that can't be pets like dogs. Friends discussed if the Ariel's wolf is alive. Some friends said yes, some friends said no and they were right. Toys don't need food or water, they don't grow or change.  

Thank you, Ariel for the interesting Show and Tell and showing us the cutest wolf.

The coming week Show and Tell host is Zaylin.

This week we learned

The letter W! To make the letter we need four big lines. The W says /w/ like in words water, winter, what, where, why and whale or

Chava Evalyn's Wallet

and Ron's Watch

To review the letter W go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-w/load.htm?f

To preteach the letter X go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-x/load.htm?f

Pesach

We started to learn about the history of the holiday of Pesach, (that is coming up in three weeks.) We spoke about the mean rules that King Paraoh made against the Jewish people so that they won't overtake Egypt. Jewish people were forced to be slaves! Slaves are people who have no choices and must do whatever their masters tell them. They eat simple food and must work very, very hard. 

Hashem was not happy that the Jews were so sad and had to work so hard. He wanted them to be free and happy and able to do Mitzvos. Hashem picked Moshe as a leader who would take the Jewish people out of Egypt.

Moshe is born.

Moshe's Mom Yocheved hides him in a basket the Nile River.

Princess Batya finds Moshe and raises him in King Paraoh's palace. 

 Moshe went to Paraoh and asked in the name of G-d that he free the Jews. Paraoh did not believe that G-d was directly controlling the world and refused! G-d tells Moshe to give Paraoh different signs to show him that G-d is the one in charge and can direct the nature of this world. He send the Egyptians plagues, one at a time, but after each one, Paraoh refuses to admit that these are actions on Hashem and forbids the Jews from leaving Egypt!

Blood

Frogs

Wild Animals

Boils

Measuremets - height and lenght

What will we use to measure with they want to know how long or high things are? A ruler.
What will we use to measure temperature of water? A thermometer.
What will we use to measure weight of something? A scale.
This week we learned about measurement tools and  how they help us. Boys measured boards, papers, tables using rulers and measuring tapes. They found a lot of use for measuring tape in the Block Center.

Body Parts

This week we talked about body parts that we can't see because they are inside of our body. They are very important. One of the important organs is the brain that is like a central computer of our body. There is all learning and thinking is happening. It is where our memory get stored. Brain is connected with all other parts of the body. It knows what every part does. We did a little experiment in the class. Morah asked Nosson to stand up. Then she asked friends if they know who it is. Friends answered without hesitation. Morah explayned that eyes send a message to the brain and brain tells them who it is. Then Morah asked everyone to close their eyes and try to recognize their friend listening to his or her voice. Friends did an exellent job recognizing Alan and Ron. How could they do it? Morah said that friends' ears send message to their brain and it tells them who it is.

Another important part is a Heart. It is a strongest part of our body. It pumps blood to all parts of our body day and night. Our heart size  is a size of our fist. There are a pair of lungs in our body that are protected by a rib cage. When we breath in our lungs become big, when we breath out they become small.

Kidneys are bean shaped parts of the body. There are two kidneys. Some of the food what we eat is not used by our body. We call it body waste. Kidneys help our body to clean the waste. Other part of the body that helps to get rid of body waste is Liver. In the class we practiced to recognize parts of the body and find their right location.
To learn parts of the body go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvOzimJY_o8

Fay Sofis

This week we learned the letter fay sofis. Fay sofis, like all the "sofis" letters, only comes at the end of a word. You can make a fay sofis by making a big line across, an extra line that comes down and a small curve coming down from the top.

Parshas Shemini

Parshas Shemini

This week’s parsha talks about the laws of Kosher. Kosher is a term that refers to food that is good for Jewish people to eat. There are different types of food in this world, some which are healthy for our bodies, like vegetables, meat, fruit and breads. There are other types of food that is less healthy like candy and fried foods. Kosher food is food that is healthy for our neshama (soul.)

Parshas Shemini discusses the different animals that are Kosher. You can notice that Kosher animals are generally peaceful animals that eat plants, not other animals. One of the reasons for this is that what we eat spiritually affects how we act. We want to be peaceful and happy just like the peaceful animals that we eat.

Hashem tells Moshe to tell the Jewish people about the animals that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten. Kosher animals, have two signs: they chew their cud and have split hooves. Kosher fish must have fins and scales. We are given a list of the non-kosher birds, and a list of four types of locusts which are kosher; the Torah tells us that all other insects are not kosher.

Kosher Song:

All the animals that I eat chew their cud and have split feet.

Kosher meat just can’t be beat, I want only Kosher!

So every time I’m in the market, I only buy food with a kosher sign on it,

It’s good for me and it’s good for you,

And what do you know? Hashem loves it too!

This is the way we celebrate Purim!

Look at us! The Torah, a Bumble Bee and a Lady Bug!

Pharo, Indian girl and a Beatle guy

Firemen, Boxer, King and Pirate

Hawii man (Morah Minna) is telling the Purim Story

Give a tzedakah!

Give Shlochmones :)

Happy Purim!

Why and how we measure? Height

 What is height? It is a distance between bottom to the top. Last week we learned that to measure things people use a ruler or measuring tape, but in times when measuring tools are not available people use something else-  shoes, feet, paper clip or Lego.  We call them nonstandard measurements. There are some rules which we follow when we use nonstandard measurements. We use only one kind of items in a time to measure things. Other rule is we can't leave any space between nonstandard units in order to get accurate measurements.    

Friends measured the height of the table. It is 27 lego pieces high. Everyone was curious to find our how tall they are. Everyone made a predection how many lego pieces he or she is tall. Below you can see the Pre-K Friends Measurement Chart.

 That is how we measured our height.

Japan News

In light of recent shocking events that have happened in Japan, it is important for information to be shared on an appropriate level for children.  They hear conversations or pieces of news but don't understand it. Therefor, we tried to explayn the children what has happened in Japan.

When Morah asked friends what is a volcano there is what they say.
Volcanoes are not safe. (Chava Evalyn)
Some volcanoes are nice, some are not. They have different actions. (Zaylin)
Fire comes from a volcano. (Ron)
I saw a video. It was scary. (Aaron)
Big smoke and fire come from a volcanoe. There is a hole and there is fire. (Emy)
Volcanoe is a big space shuttle. (Nosson)
Volcanoe is huge. (Jacklyn)
Smoke and bubbles come from volcanoes. (Shimon)
Volcanoes are big. Some volcanoes are small but some volcanoes are huge. (Alan)

We learned that Japan earthquake occured from the under the sea volcano and caused a huge wave known as a tsunami. When it reached the shore it destroyed the land constructions leaving people without homes.

You can find tips how talk to kids about earthquake and tsunami on http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/news/pr/2011/talking-to-kids-about-japan.aspx

The Letter of the Week

The letter N was the letter of this week. To make the letter we need three big lines. The N says /n/ like in words night, nine, nose and nickel. Thank you Alan for bringing a treasure that start with the letter of the week- NECKLACE:)
Pre-K friends were excited to learn that Nosson's name, Chava Evalyn older brother's name and their last name, Emy mom's name and Zaylin father's name start with the letter N.

To review the letter N go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-n/load.htm?f

To preteach the letter W go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-w/load.htm?f

The letter W treasure guide: white, watch, wagon, water, wig, wolf, word, waffle,whale, walnut, watermelon, whistle.

Skeleton System

Everyone has a skeleton. It what keeps our bodies in shapes. Pre-K Friends learned that our skeleton made up of 206 bones. Do you know that babies are born with much more bones but with years some bones grow together forming one bone. As we grow our bones grow. When we will be 25 years old, our skeleton will be completely mature.

Every bone in a body has a name.

To learn the names of the bones go to http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/interactive_fs.asp?swfpath=science/bodyandmedicine/skeleton.swf

Remember that the skeleton gives us shape, protects our organs and helps us to move around. We should take good care of our bones. Firstly, drink milk and eat dairy products like yogurt and cheese. Secondly, exercise. And thirdly, protect your skeleton by wearing a helmet when you ride a bike or play active games.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/podsmission/bones/

Purim Celebrations

We finished learning why we celebrate Purim  last week, this week we learned how we celebrate Purim!

1) We hear the megilla two times! When we hear Haman's full name, we shake our graggers (noise makers) and make a lot of noise, because we don't even wanna hear such a wicked person's name!

Alan and Aaron make noise!

Gragger Song:

Did you ever shake a gragger, a gragger, a gragger?

Did you ever shake a gragger on a Purim day?

It rattles and shakes, oh what noises it makes!

Did you ever hear a gragger make such a loud sound?

Zaylin and Yonni create their graggers.

2) We eat a festive meal!

3) We give money to poor people so that they too, can celebrate Purim and have a festive meal.

4) We send a friend Mishloach Manos. We want everyone to be happy on Purim and we want to make sure everyone has enough food for their festive meal. We give at least one friend, two (or more) different types of foods as a gift. 

Friends prepare Shalach Manos baskets to give to their friends in Kindergarten. 

5) We get dressed up! In the story of Purim, Hashem was actively involved in saving the Jewish people. However, it could seem that he was not involved, because Hashem was hidden. That's why it is customary to get dressed up on Purim. Even though we may look different, it is still ourselves that we have hidden underneath our costumes. (http://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/366310/jewish/Masquerade.htm)

Who am I????

It is for this same reason, that we make Hamantaschen, three cornered pastries with fruit or chocolate hidden inside!

Pre-K Hamentaschen

First we make the dough.

Then we make Hamentaschen!

Hamentasch Song:

·       1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened

o      1 cup white sugar

o      2 eggs

o      6 tablespoons orange juice

o      1 tablespoon vanilla extract

o      2 teaspoons baking powder

o      4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

·      1 container date spread/ chocolate spread or any other sweet filling

·       DIRECTIONS

o      In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the orange juice and vanilla. Mix in the baking powder, then gradually stir in the flour until the dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. I like to do mine overnight.

o      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

o      On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch circles using a cookie cutter or drinking glass. Place circles on the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon 1 teaspoon of filling onto the center of each circle. (Any more and it will ooze out) Pinch the sides of each circle to form a triangle, covering as much of the filling as possible. The cookies may be frozen on the cookie sheets if desired to help retain their shape while cooking.

·      Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light golden brown. These are best undercooked slightly. Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Happy Birthday, Morah Minna!

Happy Birthday
Our Dearest Morah Minna!
Pre-K friends wished Morah Minna
years and years of happiness,
with plenty of kosher cakes, rainbows,
and racing cars!

We love you!

Why and How do we measure? Length

People measure things in different ways. This week Pre-K friends learned that some things are long and some things are short. Friends learned that to know the length of the thing means to know how long thing is. To measure things people use rulers or measuring tape, but in times when they are not available we can use something else-  shoes, our feet, or paper clips. When we use something beside the ruler we call it nonstandard unit. As you see above, Nosson uses nonstandard units-  small paper clips to measure the length of his shoe. There are some rules which we follow when we use nonstandard measurements.  We can use only one item in a time to measure things. For example, in the class we have big and small paper clips. Measuring friends used only one kind of paper clips.  Other rule is we can't leave any space between nonstandard units in order to get accurate measurements.

We decided to measure the length of our room with nonstandard units. We measured it with body rulers - Sholomo and Yonni.  Our room is 8 1/2 Shlomo's body ruler long but 7 1/2 Yonni's body ruler long. Why? Friends said that is because Yonni is taller that Shlomo.

Show and Tell

Pre-K Friends are happy to announce that at Wednesday, the Show and Tell cycle has started its second cycle. Yonni was the first host of Pre-K Show and Tell. Do you know who Yonni brought into the class to show his friends? His youngest brother Bibi:) Yonni showed the friends Bibi's pictures when he was a newborn. Yonni said  that Bibi is eight months old and he had changed a lot from the day he was born. He learned how to sit, to crawl, and even to say "agah" when he calls mom. Pre-K friends were very curious about where Yonni got Bibi from and how Bibi got into mom's belly. Yonni honestly said that he doesn't know.

Next week Show and Tell host will be Ariel. Friends could not wait to see what Ariel will bring to show and tell about.

This week we learned

The letter of this week was the letter M. To make the letter M we need four big lines. The M says /m/ like in mom, Monday, March, and Milk. Aaron's father, brother and sister names, Emy's best friend's name and Morah Minna's name start with the letter M.

Friends filled the Treasure Box with motorcycles, Music CD, McQueen car and markers.  

To review the letter M go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-m/load.htm?f

To pre-teach the letter N go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-n/load.htm?f

The letter N treasure guide: net, nine, nickel, numbers, napkin

 

Pay

This week we learned the letter pay. Pay has a big line on the top, a big line that goes down one side and a little line that goes down the other. It has a big line on the bottom and a dot in the middle.

Pay looks like a Pushka (charity box) with a slot for a penny.

Pushka Pay

Our Tzedaka

Our Pushka is full this week.

We sorted and counted our money and have a grand total of $13.57.

We evaluated different choices of where we can give our money too and the majority of children wanted to give money to friendship circle. Friendship Circle is an organization that organizes programs and assistance to children with mental of physical disabilities or delays. They also match up young volunteers with a special friend. We talked about how Hashem made people different and how we should be kind and accepting of everyone.

Check out friendship circle at:
http://www.friendshipcircle.com/

The Purim Story Continued

Achashveirosh is so happy with his new wife Esther and it is all thanks to Haman’s suggestion. Achashveirosh makes Haman his new prime minister. Now anytime Haman passes by, everyone has to bow down to him. Everyone would bow down to him except for Mordechai. Mordechai refuses because he has a big idol on his neck. Haman get's really mad.

Haman goes to Achashveirosh and says there is a people who are very different, they don’t eat our food or speak our language. Lets get rid of them. Achashveirosh allowes Haman to carry out his evil plan,  he even gives him his signet ring which enables  Haman to do whatever he wants.

Haman sends out a message that on the 13th of Adar all the Jews will be gotten rid of. Mordechai realizes that we must ask Hashem for help. He realizes that children have a very special ability to connect to Hashem. Even though he is a great and leader of the Jewish people and chief justice of the Jewish people he makes it his business to be involved with and teach the young children.  

 Here Mordechai gathers all the Jewish children.

It is only after the Jewish people pray and ask Hashem for help that Esther goes to the king. She asks that he  and Haman to come to a party. They are honored, and attend. Esther invites them to attend another party. One night, as Haman begins to build a gallows for Mordechai, whom he is completely angy at, King Achashveirosh can't sleep. A servant reads an entry from his chronicles that tells of an incident where Mordechai saves the kings life and is not rewarded. The King asks Haman how a man whom he wishes to  honor should be awarded. Thinking it was himself the king was referring to, he offers the idea of a royal parade, with the honored person riding the kings horse and wearing his crown and clothing.

The king then instructs Haman to lead Mordechai in the parade!

"Mordechai" in all his glory!

The night after the parade where Haman is completely humiliated, he attends Queen Esther's party. It is at this party that she reveals her identity as a Jewess and tells King Achashveirosh that Haman is trying to get rid of her and her people.

Achashveirosh is fuming at Haman and orders him to the gallows he had made for Mordechai! A new decree comes out allowing for the Jewish people to live in peace with their neighbors. Esther then establishes the holiday of Purim to celebrate this victory and Hashems help in saving them!