A Different Playground

The lack of enthusiasm about our outdoor time has not only been noted by the staff. This morning, during free play, Yochanan drew and painted a beautiful picture.
"This is a playground. But not the one for recess. This is a really fun one. There is a high slide, and a merry-go-round, and really fun things," he explained. 
This clear and stunning request needed to be granted. We went to the park!
The whole preschool went, the weather was stunning and everyone had a blast! 
The park looks a lot like Yochanan's picture!

Sounds Like Fun on the Playground

On cold, wet days the playground lacks appeal. We  know the importance of being outside and having gross motor play time, so we have been brainstorming ideas to make recess time more fun. We have many ideas, but haven't brought them to fruition yet. Last week, some of the older students took care of it for us.
During a shared recess, they had band practice!

 Izzy on drum, Jacob on ukulele, and Donny using drum sticks on the playground equipment combined, making something exciting for the preschool. 

 For weeks, preschoolers had not climbed onto the play structure and now they were all eagerly on it.

 Or on the ground, dancing to the music.

 Or on the structure, dancing.

 The audience was rapt.
"Is there a certain song you would like them to play?" I asked Ori, as he sat transfixed by their sound.
"No, I love everything they are doing," he replied.

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.