November 6, 2022
This past week the Gan class learned all about the story of Noah. We first read “This is the Ark that Noah Built”. We first learned how the Ark was 300 cubits long and that 1 cubit = 18 feet. The students then paired up and were given a string one cubit long to measure around the school. We then talked about how the Ark needed to float or be buoyant, and tested different items in the classroom to see if they would float or sink. Then each student created their own boat made of foil and tested how well they floated by carefully adding coins one-at-a-time until it sunk. Next, we learned how Noah’s Ark had three levels. As a class we decided which animals would go on each level and why, as well as which level Noah and his family lived on. Finally, we learned a new Hebrew letter, “Nun” for “Noah”, and worked in our Hebrew binders.
October, 30, 2022
This past week the Gan class learned all about the story of Adam & Eve. We first read “Adam’s Animals” and how God commanded Adam to name all the animals. We then created our own unique animals out of play dough and named them. Next, we headed over to the Shalom Green Garden where we learned how God commanded Adam & Eve, to take care of the garden and Earth. We were given a special tour of the Shalom Green Garden and learned how plants grow into fruits, vegetables, and flowers from single seeds. We then each made a “Ball of Energy”, or a seed pocket wrapped in clay. The kids got to take these home to grow their own wildflowers and care for their garden. Finally, we took some time to work in our Hebrew binders and review all the Hebrew letters we had been working on this year- Aleph, Dalet, Lamed, Samech, Shin and Tav.
October 23, 2022
We learned about the first story in the Torah, Bereshit. We talked about things God made each day. God thought each day was good and then when everything was completed it was very good. We shared things in our lives that are good and very good.
We learned the letter Aleph for echad /one, the first letter of the alephbet. It has no sound by itself!
We listened to the story There was Evening and There was Morning which depicted each day of creation using Hebrew letters and words.
Also, Once Upon a Shabbos, about a storybook bear who gets lost in Brooklyn and is invited by Bubbe to come have Shannon’s dinner with her family.
October 16, 2022
Last week the Gan class learned all about Simchat Torah. We first went on a scavenger hunt throughout the Temple to find the 13 Torahs. Then we spent some time with Rabbi Wolk looking inside a Torah and discovering what makes a Torah unique and the stories it tells. We also read “Sammy Spider’s First Simchat Torah”, ate snack in the Sukkah, shook the lulav and Etrog, and make flags with Jewish symbols to carry in our parade. Finally, we continued our weekly Hebrew lesson learning the letter “Dalet” for “Degel” or “Flag”.
September 11, 2022
We had a wonderful first lesson in Gan. The kids began their morning learning our “Bo Bo Bo Boker Tov” song, as we learned each other’s names. As a class, we then said the “Shehecheyanu” prayer, thanking God for bringing us to our very first class at TIRS. We then discussed the class theme for the year, “Sammy Spider’s First Year in Gan”. Our madricha, Naomi read “Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah” and we discussed some of the important objects such as a shofar and apples and honey. For an extra sweet treat, we ate apples and honey for snack. After spending a few minutes outside, running our sillies out, we had fun working on our two art projects: (1) Making Rosh Hashanah cards using cut apples to paint; (2) Yarn wrapped apples (ask your kiddos about our gluey fun!) Finally we began our weekly Hebrew lesson, learning about the letter Shin. We practiced writing the letter and learning about words that begin with the letter Shin. Our other madricha, Leigh, was awesome with the students throughout the morning.
