More Fall Celebration!

Dear Families of The Bears,

Despite the balmy temperatures outside, fall was still very much in the air all week in our classroom. There were leaves, fall colors and pumpkins everywhere. Although we do not celebrate Halloween in our school, pumpkins are a symbol of fall, especially here in New England. The children each helped to stuff a brown paper bag with newspaper prior to painting it orange. When the paint had dried, each bag was bound together with green tape,becoming a unique “pumpkin” for our very own pumpkin patch! Although we have not yet sampled it, the children helped to bake homemade pumpkin bread on Thursday morning. Each child had multiple opportunities to measure the ingredients and mix the batter before it was put into the oven. The aroma was just wonderful. We will let you know how it tastes! On Tuesday each child practiced their cutting skills, as they cut tree trunks. They were then decorated with fall colors to represent the beautiful leaves. Aidan brought in the biggest real leaf that we have ever seen!

In Monday’s enrichment class we examined the world of Eric Carle. We read three of his stories, Today is Monday, The Mixed Up Camelion, and Little Cloud. Our craft project was based on the book Little Cloud. The children were given white paint, large corks, and cotton balls. They created their own “clouds”. I asked each child what they were imagining, and what their cloud represented. Their responses were:

Ashley- Butterfly
Julia- Monkey
Orli- Garden
Emily- Micah
Zev- Dinosaur
Ben- Dinosaur
Teo- Just a Cloud

As we prepare to turn the page of the calendar to November, the children have all truly settled into our daily routine. Our circle times have been extended as their patience has grown. Each day when we review what our schedule will be for the day, the children are able to tell us “what comes next”! The next time that you visit the classroom, ask your child to “read” you the schedule of activities for the day. During circle time the children have a new favorite song. It is requested almost daily. The words are:

Down around the corner at the bakery shop,
There were lots and lots of cookies,(cupcakes, donuts, or bagels)
With sugar (frosting, sprinkles, or raisins) on the top.
Along came (we name a child),
With money to pay.
He took his cookie, (cupcake, donut, bagel)
And he ran away!

Thank you those who have signed up to be our Shabbat visitors. For those who have not yet signed up, please check your calendars and pick a day to join us. We look forward to having each family visit. Please remember that it does not have to be Shabbat for you to visit the classroom. If you would like to join us to read to the class, or work on a special project, please let us know and we will schedule a convenient time for you to come in.

Our school e-mail system is now up and running. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail at:
Rhona- rmaple@ohabei.org
Jessica- jostroff@ohabei.org

We can also be contacted at any time by phone, and if we cannot take your call, we will get back to you just as soon as we can.

Have a wonderful week.

Morah Rhona and Morah Jessica

10/22/10

This week has found the Bear’s class continuing on their adventure through Fall. On Monday we discussed what an experiment was. The children heard that experiments occur when you work with different materials, try new things and make observations about them before, during and after use. We then gave the children red and orange paint, corks and paper. While using these paints to create colorful designs on white paper, Charlie declared, “Look Morah Rhona, I am making orange!” On Tuesday the children worked on fine motor skills by tearing fall colored paper into small pieces and then glued them on large paper making colorful collages. Our painting adventures this week included painting with both acorns and pumpkins.

We sang our new favorite song and even taught it to the Owl class. When singing this song, you point to what is being mentioned, (pointing to your head when it says “nut”). Here are the words:

Toe- knee –chest- nut nose-eye love you.
(repeat twice, singing 3 times)
That’s what Toe- knee nose!

The spirit of Shabbat was present throughout the entire week. The children “read” the story A Holiday For Noah, as a flannel board story. We painted Jewish star pictures, using cookie cutters. The initial concept of performing a mitzvah and giving Tzedakah, was introduced to the children. We talked about the importance of helping others. We read the story The Very Best Place For A Penny. During lunch on Thursday, we were discussing the upcoming program which will honor a specific child each week during our school Shabbat program. The question was asked, “What do you like about Shabbat?” The responses were:

Bailey- Challah
Emily- Singing songs
Orli- Candles
Aidan- The thing you wear on your head (a Kippah)
Zev- Candles
Charlie- Saying the Blessings
Ben- Candles

Monday afternoon’s enrichment, Loving Literature, was fun filled from beginning to end. Our book of the week was The Rainbow Fish. We talked about the job of both the author, the person who writes the words to the story, and the illustrator, the person who draws the pictures. After reading the book, the children created their own rainbow fish, complete with shiny silver scales. There was a giant puzzle of the rainbow fish to be put together, and the class ended with a snack of rainbow colored Goldfish!

With so many fun and exciting activities going on, it is difficult to decide what was the favorite. That being said, the highlight of the week had to be music with Moreh Micah! The children sang and danced for well over 30 minutes. Unfortunately, once the morning session had ended, the music session did as well. But we know that Micah will reappear with his guitar before we know it!

Just a few other tidbits:

There is now a signup sheet posted for our Shabbat Child Program. We hope that each of you will be able to participate in this wonderful program.
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday morning for the annual Temple Ohabei Shalom Mitzvah Day.

Happy 4th Birthday to Aidan.

Have a wonderful week. Shabbat Shalom.

Morah Rhona and Morah Jessica

Fall Fun with The Bears 10-15-10

Fall fun continued all week in the Bear’s classroom. The children enjoyed discovering about squirrels, pinecones and acorns. We painted several times, but paintbrushes were nowhere to be found! The children experimented by painting with Q-tips, pinecones, and then by mixing fall colors with their own fingers! We learned a new squirrel song. Here are the words:

Gray Squirrel
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Shake your bushy tail.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Shake your bushy tail.
Wrinkle up your funny nose.
Put a nut between your toes.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel
Shake your bushy tail!

The children began the process of self discovery and self identity. We read the book We Are All Alike, We Are All Different. We discussed how we are all people, but we look different; that we all live somewhere but some live in cities while some live in the country; some live in apartments but some live in houses or trailers; we all live with somebody, but some live with their moms, some live with their dads, and some live with their moms and their dads. We also discussed the fact that we all must eat but like different foods, and that we all play but have a wide variety of interests. This allows children to feel good about who they are, and what they have. We will continue to foster the importance of being your own person, and taking care of yourself.

We were able to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather for most of the week! Have a wonderful weekend. Shabbat Shalom.
Morah Rhona and Morah Jessica

A Message from "The Bears" 10-8-10

This week found the Bears Class beginning a unit on Fall.  Leaves were the focus of our art and story times.  Our projects included using Bingo markers to make colorful leaves, tearing brown paper to make “trees” and using sponges to paint on the leaves, using crayons and stencils to make leaf rubbings, and decorating leaves while using eyedroppers to drip colored water on diffusion paper.  This helps to strengthen the small muscles in the hand, which is important for pre-writing skills.  Our book selection included Leaf Jumpers, We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt, The Busy Little Squirrel,  Fall, and When the Leaf Blew In. The children also learned a poem, which goes like this:

Red and orange, green and brown,

Leaves are falling to the ground.

We pile them up, Oh so high.

Then we jump in, my friend and I!    

Next week we will continue to learn about fall.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate so that we can collect leaves and acorns from outside!

The children continue to build their independence skills which are developmentally appropriate for three year olds by tending to their own bathroom needs, opening their own lunches, pouring their own water at snack from a child size pitcher and putting on their jackets.  We will continue to help those who are unable to perform any of these tasks.

We would like to remind you that there will be no preschool program on Monday, October 11th, in honor of Columbus Day.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Shabbat Shalom.

Morah Rhona and Morah Jessica