Tu B'Shvat

Tu B'Shvat has transformed over the years, from a reference in the Mishna to a Kabalastic celebration in Tzefat, to cultural fruticas seder, to an eco-friendly festival.  Most important, of course, is the Tu b'Shvat experience in our preschool! :) 

We learned about trees, their importance, and the significance of Tu B'Shvat. 

 We practicing counting and number recognition in building tiny trees. 

 Coloring the Shivat Haminim, the seven foods Hashem gave extra blessings to growing in Israel. 

 Tree parts to explore. I assumed this would be for scientific exploration. Ariela and Ori decided they were a family of trees and did beautiful imaginative play together. 

We used tree pieces to make tree pictures. Branches were used as paintbrushes to paint branches. (Life imitates art, or something like that).

 Corks (from a tree trunk) were used to paint the tree trunks. 

When we got outside, Yitzy wished "Happy Birthday" to each tree he passed. Yochanan started singing "Happy Birthday" and Yitzy, Ori, and Elisha happily joined in.  The girls gather around too. At "How old are you now?" they began calling out many numbers.  "Stop, stop. The tree are more than 100!!!! We'll never get that high!," Yochana yelled. At that, he sped off on his bike.

 Judah requested sidewalk chalk to 'make a cake for the trees'.  (This 'cannibalism' was minor compared to the paper, wood, and tree pieces I 'wasted', during our morning activities.) 

 Tree cake making was fun!

And tree art. 

 And playing tree ice cream store. 

After lunch we joined all the preschool for a tree party.

 Everyone had a tree party crown.

 We heard a story, ate yummy fruit, and  cake. 

Tu b'Shvat Sameach!!!

Is It Shabbos Yet?

Chana selected the book Is It Shabbos Yet? Therefore we spent Friday doing what Malkie, the protagonist, does; excitedly anticipating Shabbat!
In the morning we pretend played many scenes from the book.

We went grocery shopping.

 Got dressed in our Shabbat clothes.

 Set the table and began Shabbat.

 We painted Shabbat pictures.

 And Chana shared her very own special Shabbat box.

Then we began really preparing for real Shabbat by making challah.

 Some students preferred to pretend play this activity while others were thrilled to really make the dough.

Everyone enjoyed shaping the real dough.

 Some of the designs, like Yochanan's 6 braid and Ori's 10 braid, were truly stunning.

For our craft, we decorated white apron's like Malkie and her mother wear while preparing for Shabbat.

This was an interesting experience because being "inside the book" was so similar to our regular lives.

Book 2: The Foot Book

Our second book for our Adventures in Books Series was The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss, selected by Judah. 
In addition to being about feet, it is a book about opposites, using Dr. Seuss' famous rhymes and rhythm. 

We start the day with activities reflecting many components of the book. 

Matching feet to their animal.

 A game of finding rhyming words.

And coloring pictures of feet.

Later we learned about opposites and played a group game with them.

 We practiced left and right feet (with moderate success).

Then we removed our shoes and tested how opposites feel on our feet.

 Wet and dry (water beads and felt) as well as rough and smooth (sand and shaving cream) created some exciting sensory experiences.

Finally we used our fingers to made funny feet to put on top of our real feet. 

What fun we had with our feet and The Foot Book. 

Thank you, Judah for your choice.

Tomorrow we will adventure with Chana and "Is It Shabbos Yet?"