Week Six (May 31 - June 3)

Outdoor Adventures with Morah Jessica (Tuesday)

What a wonderful week of weather! This week, during our Outdoor Adventures Enrichment, the children were artists, making pictures using spray bottles filled with water and liquid watercolor paint. Paper was hung on the wall and the children mixed colors and discovered that when they sprayed close to the paper, a smaller amount came out but was darker. When they sprayed a little farther away, the color was lighter and spread further out. The final pieces were beautiful and the children really had a blast painting in a new way!

Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Wednesday)

This week, we continued our shape exploration by looking at squares in art. It was exciting to delve into the intersection between art and mathematics. We began by looking at prints of paintings again. The children feel proud to look at and discuss real “grown-up” art, and they have come to be able to enjoy aesthetic qualities in art for adults. This week, we viewed some cubist works as well as some of the works of Piet Mondrian. Then we looked for squares in the world around us. We found square blocks, square tiles on the floor, and even tiny squares on plaid clothing. Next, we created art with squares in three ways. Some of the children chose to use geo-boards and rubber-bands to create “temporary” art. Others experiments with markers and graph paper, creating patterns and other designs. We also tried some simple weaving with paper, noticing the squares appearing as we worked. We discovered much mathematics in weaving, as the children used a pattern “over-under-over-under” to guide their work, and then discovered that their work created a color pattern! One of the children even noted that weaving was a little like braiding a challah, in that we need to move our hands in a pattern.

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Friday)

On Friday, we visited the far away land of Kenya! We read a book called Planting the Trees of Kenya, which tells the story of how this country was once filled with beautiful trees – fig trees, olive trees, crotons and flame trees. We then heard the tale of a girl named Wangari. She came to the United States to go to college. When she returned to Kenya, she sadly discovered that most of the trees had died or been cut down, which destroyed the land, the animals and the ability to grow food. She set out to replace the trees, first one by one, and then in large groups. She got help from mothers and farmers and their families. We talked about the importance of preserving the land. As our craft, the children first planted a “seed” in modeling clay and then they made a collage with helping hands in grass seed. We even got the chance to plant our own grass seed!

Week Five (May 23 - 27)

Sing a Song a Day with Morah Rhona (Monday)

We read the book I’m a Little Teapot and sang the song too. In the book, the teapot imagined what it would like to be or where it would like to go. Following the story, each child decorated a paper teapot by drawing a picture of where their imagination took them. Some of the answers included strawberries, rainbows and outer space!

Outdoor Adventures with Morah Jessica (Tuesday)

On Tuesday afternoon, the children were finally able to spend it outdoors. The children went on a scavenger hunt, their mission to find the following items: acorn, pinecone, leaf, rock, flower, ant and acorn cap. The children were off collecting their items in buckets, some working together with their friends. Many of the items were found and some children collected more than one of each item. The children had a sheet of paper with the picture and word of each item they need to find, and used it as their guide. They were so excited during this hunt that we may have to do it again!

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Wednesdsay)

This week, we read the book I See a Kookaburra! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Rather than travelling to one specific location, our journey took us to 8 different animal habitats around the world, including the jungle and a coral reef. The children then had a chance to explore various animal themed activities, including examining insects with mirrors and magnifying glasses, playing with sea creatures in the water table, taking a trip to the jungle where there were many different animals, and working cooperatively to assemble a large floor puzzle displaying underwater sea creatures.Music and Movement with Moreh Micah (Thursday)

This week, we got to have music time outside on the playground! We kicked off the sing-a-long with a couple new Raffi songs, "Listen to the Horses" and "Six Little Ducks That I Once Knew." After music, the kids were shown how to dribble a basketball. It was our first time having music outside!

Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Friday)

This week, our artists explored with circles. First, we looked at and discussed images of several famous paintings, searching for circles in them. Next, we searched for circles around our school. Finally, we created art with circles in two ways: through collage and through printing with recycled, circular objects.

Spring Enrichment (Week Four: May 16 - 20)

Sing a Song a Day with Morah Rhonah (Monday)
This week, we tried our hardest to forget about all of the precipitation that was falling from the sky. We sang the songs “Mr. Sun” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Each child then made a bright and beautiful golden sun. This was done by coloring a large cardboard circle bright yellow. There were multiple yellow collage materials available to the children to further decorate their suns. These materials included constriction paper, tissue paper, felt and yellow art tape. Each sun was completed as the children glued on many rays around the perimeter.

Outdoor Adventures with Morah Jessica (Tuesday)
This week was more like Indoor Adventures than Outdoor Adventures! On Tuesday, the children took a walk around our beautiful synagogue and we spent some time in the large sanctuary. Many of the children had never been in there before, and were amazed at how big it was, how loud our echos were and the giant dome that they recognize from the outside of the building. They enjoyed looking at the stained-glass windows, sitting in the velvet seats and comparing this bima and ark to the one in the sanctuary. Once back in the classroom, the children palled Cranium Hullabaloo, a fun movement and listening game. Let's hope the sunshine remembers that it is May for next week!

Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Wednesday)

This week in Amazing Artists, we moved beyond discussions of 2-dimensional art to begin learning about sculpture. First, we looked at photographs of four familiar sculptures (including the "Make Way for Ducklings" statue in Boston, one of Degas' dancers and Rodin's "The Thinker"). We experimented with two forms of sculpture, using glue/wood pieces and clay. The children created som beautiful pieces!

Music and Movement with Moreh Micah (Thursday)
This week's music and movement class featured one of our best renditions of "The Super Kids" to date. Everyone got a chance to show off their moves in the middle of the circle. "Hey Diddle Diddle" and "5 Little Ducks" are songs that have allowed us to begin work on singing nicely in unison together. I am really impressed with everyone's memory of all the words, especially during our movement game, "A Tooty A Too." The children have also been working on playing tambourine and moving/clapping to the beat.

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Friday)
This week, the children had the opportunity to see a real passport. Many of the children are fortunate to have their own real passports and have and will continue to travel to many wonderful destinations! We read the book People of Corn, and then we travelled to Guatemala. Because the people of this country depend so much on corn for survival, this was the focus of our lesson. Each child had fun husking an ear of corn on the cob. They then used this corn to paint colorful pictures, by dipping the corn in the paint, and then either using it as a “brush” or rolling it around the paper. We capped off our adventure by feasting on tortilla chips and salsa!

Week of May 9 - May 13, 2011

Sing a Song a Day with Morah Rhona (Monday)

The song of the day was the alphabet song.  All of the children enjoyed singing the alphabet song in both English and Hebrew.  We read two books, A Was Once an Apple Pie, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  During our craft portion of the class, the children each made their own replica of an alphabet tree.  This was done by gluing together the parts of the tree, and then decorating it with a wide variety of letter stickers, including black, colored, shiny, foam, and puzzle piece shaped letters.  Many children enjoyed searching for the letters in their names, while others worked on finding the letters in alphabetical order!

Outdoor Adventures with Morah Jessica (Tuesday)

Another nice day for outdoor adventures enrichment. This week, the children were artists and they made beautiful pictures with chalk.  Many of the children traced their friends body and then would add clothes, hair and facial features. Children practiced writing their names, and working together to create their pictures. 

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Wednesday)

Where else would we travel during the week when we celebrated Yom Ha Atzmaut, then to Israel?  The children all gathered their passports and boarded the plane to Tel Aviv!  Once we were there we travelled to many historic spots, including Tel Aviv, Caecasrea, Masada, Eilat, a Kibbutz, and of course Jerusalem.  We read the books It’s Israel’s Birthday, and And Shira Imagined.  For our craft, each child designed their own city, based on the architecture in Jerusalem, the city of gold! Of course, before we boarded the plane to return to Brookline, we sang Happy Birthday, in both English and Hebrew!

Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Friday)

Our budding artists began their art this week by looking at art in our own synagogue.  We walked down to the chapel and carefully examined the beautiful stained glass art.  This supports the children in learning to understand that art is always around us.  We then came back up to the classroom and used tissue paper squares and clear contact paper to create our own stained glass designs. 

Spring Enrichment (Week Two: May 2 - 6)

Sing a Song a Day with Morah Rhona (Monday)

This week, we read two different versions of the book The Itsy Bitsy Spider. We also read Sammy Spider’s First Shabbat. The children sang the song “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” using hand motions to express what was happening! As a craft, each child created his or her own spider web, by gluing colorful yarn onto paper plates.

Outdoor Adventures with Morah Jessica (Tuesdsay)

This week, the sun was shinning again for us during our Outside Adventures enrichment. The children were on the hunt or bugs! No bug was safe. Many ants and little gnats were found and the children had a blast collecting them in their pails. Children also loved tracing each other with sidewalk chalk and practicing writing their names.

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Wednesday)

This week, each child created his/her own “passport.” The picture on the front represents the country in which the traveler resides. This passport will be stamped each week, following our imaginary trip. On our “trip” this week, we travelled to England. We read the book Madeline in London. As a group craft, the children painted a large cardboard box, which became a castle, home to every King and Queen!

Music and Movement with Moreh Micah (Thursday)

This week, we introduced new songs, such as "Slippery Fish" - a sea creature adventure, and "Hey Diddle Diddle" - the classic nursery rhyme. Each child got to show how s/he likes to play the tambourine and we ate SO MUCH CANDY (make believe candy, of course!) during our silly version of "Going on a Lion Hunt." Classics like "Super Kids," "Aikendrum," "A Tooty a Too," and "The Green Grass Grows All Around" were also sung and performed.

Amanut: Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Friday)

This week, our young artists have focused on learning about lines. We started by talking about what a line is. Next, we talked about different kinds of lines. We all enjoyed a line hunt, walking around the synagogue looking for different kind of lines. Then, we engaged in a few different experiences with lines. We used geo-boards and rubber bands to create less permanent art with lines. Then we used craft sticks to create collages with lines. Finally, we created a second collage with paper lines of varying lengths and thicknesses.

Spring Enrichment (Week One: April 26 - 29)

Outdoor Adventure with Morah Jessica (Tuesdsay)

What a beautiful week for the Outdoor Adventure enrichment to begin! The sun is finally out to play, and we hope it stays for a while. This week, the children worked together to create a mega sand city/castle/mountain landscape. There were many different castles, mountains and even a river with some turtles swimming around. Some of the activities for next month include scavanger hunts, nature walks, obstacle courses and outdoor art. Let the adventures begin!

Around the World in 8 Weeks with Morah Rhona (Wednesday)

This week, we talked about what country we live in. We also discussed some of the things that we know about other countries, including Israel, France, Italy, England, and Taiwan. Surprisingly, we know someone who is from each of those countries! Shayna was a big help in naming most of them! We talked about the fact that you need a passport to travel from one country to another. Zev shared what happens with your passport when you do travel, that “the man takes it and puts it under the red light. Then he puts a stamp on it.” We also talked about packing a suitcase to go on a trip. We read the book Curious George, where George travelled from Africa to a new country to live in the zoo. Following the story, each child decorated their own suitcase. Next week we will create passports, and travel to another new land!

Music and Movement with Moreh Micah (Thursday)

This week's class featured animal charades. In this game, each child gets to act like an animal and the other kids have to guess which one s/he is. Kylan used his finger to portray a rhinoceros' nose! This week also introduced new songs such as, "Baby Beluga" and "I'm in the Mood for Singing." We had some great sing-a-longs together! Of course, "Super Kids" and the copy game "A Tooty a Too" were big hits as well. The children had really creative ideas regarding which foods will make up the face of "Aikendrum" this week!

Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Friday)

This week in the Amanut, the children studied Monet. We continued to begin our weekly sessions by looking at the artist of the week’s paintings and talking about what we see and how the paintings make us feel. This supports the children in learning to carefully observe art, and also learning to respond to it. We then read a favorite children’s book about Monet, Linnea in Monet’s Garden, by Cristina Bjork. Finally, we created our own impressionist art, inspired by nature. We enjoyed using a variety of materials to experiment with different kinds of brushstrokes.

Week Seven (April 11 - 15)

Springing Forward with Morah Rhona (Monday)

We ended our Springing Forward Enrichment unit by celebrating the warm sun of the season. As the bright sun comes back to Boston to stay, we created visors to protect our eyes. The children loved decorating them with sports balls and flower stickers and wearing their creations for much of the afternoon.

Cooking with the Alphabet with Morah Jessica (Tuesday)

Cooking with the alphabet has been so much fun! The children were able to try new foods, and create some old classics. For our final week, we ended with the letter M, and what better way to combine this enrichment with Passover than to create chocolate covered matzah! The children had a blast spreading yummy chocolate over the matzah, and of course eating it too! Overall, this enrichment was such a blast and I hope the children continue their love of cooking!Amazing Artists with Morah Larissa (Wednesday)

This week, we studied Pablo Picasso! We began by doing a “Look and Talk” of some of Picasso’s portraits. The children looked at a series of his portraits, and they took turns raising a hand to talk about what they noticed. One thing that they began to notice is that many of the portraits looked “wrong!” There were noses next to eyes, big eyes, little eyes, and even funny mouths. We read a book about Picasso’s life and art, and learned that he liked to do art “his way.” (This phrase might sound a little familiar to those of us who spend extended time with preschoolers!) The children then used a variety of two- and three-dimensional objects to create a portrait of a face “their way.”

Music and Movement with Moreh Micah (Thursday)

This week, we got ready for the Passover celebration, singing "Dayenu," "Mah Nishtanah (The Four Questions)," and "Take me out to the Seder." We welcomed Cindy and Shaine into the class by showing them "The Super Kids" and "A Tooty a Too." We also brought back an old favorite where each child becomes a super hero and has to get the bouncy ball from Moreh Micah. Happy Passover to everyone!