Chanukah!

Chanukah was a very busy and festive week in Class Bet.

After learning about the history and the story of Chanukah, and creating our menorahs; we discussed that there are Jews around the world celebrate Chanukah with various types of menorahs. We looked at pictures of different types of creative menorahs around the world, such as a chocolate menorah in Massachusetts, a seashells menorah in Florida, a car menorah in Hawaii, an ice menorah in Manhattan, as well as a Menorah in the White House.

Together we decided to build a lego menorah, and worked as a team to build our own lego Menorah in our classroom. Everyday of Chanukah, we lit the beautiful menorah, and brought the light of Chanukah into our classroom.

The children practice spinning the dreidel and finding the matching hebrew letter.

Discovery Center:

 After conducting a science experiment in the classroom, the children extended the experiment in the discovery center. The children mixed various liquids with oil, and mixed the liquids together. The children made predictions as to whether the mixtures will mix together. After they mixed the ingredients, they checked to see if their predictions were correct. 

We couldn't let Chanukah pass by without making dreidels out of clay..

...and then some friends decided to paint them.

Making Donuts:

Fine motor skills: The children are using droppers to fill dreidels mold with grape juice:

Tasting the grape juice ice dreidels.

"Chanukah Gelt" - The children practice counting and matching coins.

Candle Art:

 This was a two steps art activity. First the children used candles as an art medium and drew on their papers, however, the drawings were invisible.  Then the children painted over their invisible candle drawing with water colors. The children were surprised to see that their original invisible drawing that they created with the candles were emerging from the paint. 

Special holidays we celebrate with family and friends!

We went to Class Gimmel for a Chanukah party, where we re-enacted the story of Chanukah and tasted some Chanukah themed cookies that our friends form Class Gimmel prepared for the party.

Isaac sorted the dreidels by color.

Noa painting by the easel.

As Chanukah is approaching, we are incorporating the special holiday in all centers of our classroom addressing all modalities of learning and various skills. 

We experienced the Chanukah story, by reenacting the story with our friends from Class Gimmel.

The Macabees marching around the classroom...

...finding the small jar of sealed olive oil. The Kohen (priest) used the olive oil to light the menorah in the Beit Hamikdash. 

Creating the Menorahs was both meaningful and a positive learning experience for the children.

The children created their menorahs out of clay and used various art mediums to embellish their menorahs. While working on their Menorahs, the children demonstrated signs of confidence, independence, and creativity.

Each Menorah is special and unique. The children are SO proud of them and can't wait to use them on Chanukah!

Squeezing olives to make some olive oil. 

Spin the Dreidel Art.

 The children practice spinning the dreidels dipped into paint, and created their own beautiful splatters of paint on their artwork. 

Chanukah puzzle:

The children practiced pouring oil from a pitcher into the eight bulbs of the menorah. 
It was a great fine motor activity that required the children to focus and practice hand-eye coordination. 

Our friends were so excited to show their Chanukah items from home during "Show 'n' Share".

Oil Painting:

The children mixed olive oil and paint to change the texture of their paint to oil paints.

Pre-Math Sequencing Cards:

 The children used sequencing cards that required the children to put three step directions in order.They demonstrated knowledge in the process of making olive oil and latkes.

Matching Colors

Chanah was super proud of her accomplishments.

In the spirit of Chanukah, we added some green olives to our 

Challah this week.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Geffen! 

May she grow with much health and happiness, and give much nachas to her parents and family. 

The children are involved in making cupcakes for Geffen's birthday.