Saying bye to Purim and getting our palate's wet for Passover

The Yeladim looked for all the Purim items from around the classroom and we collected them to put them 'away' until next year. Shmuli commented, "no more Haman." Zev was a little sad to say bye and he said, "well when I want to play dress up I still can." I've observed how the Yeladim really soaked up all the concepts intellectually, emotionally and physically of Purim and saying bye was a little sad. It was important to put a closure to Purim since bringing in a new king, place and 'story' can get confusing for children. This activity helped establish a 'clear mind' only to build on the new values but not to get confused.

 Taking purim characters off the blocks.

 Show and Tell helped the Yeladim do some research as well as bring to mind the ideas, props, and practices that they may be familiar with from previous exposure of Passover.

 When Zev saw the Hagaddah that Shmuli brought in he said, "is he playing Shabbat?"

 Shmuli is pointing and listing all the things he sees set on the Passover table: a cup and wine, Matzah, candle.

Shmuli held up his cracker to the book Zev was looking at and exclaimed, "it looks like Matzah!"

And so the story began about the Jewish people working as slaves for Pharoah. Slaves have no choice. It was very hard work but even if they wanted to rest they did not have a choice to do that. Pharaoh made them build pyramids. The Yeladim dipped 'bricks' into a mixture of paint and sand (a similar feel to cement) to try to understand in a tactile way what the Jewish people had to do. 

When it dried the next day we hung them up on the wall and designated a 'work' area.

The Yeladim like to touch the texture of it and it  brought out great discussion about cement and building.

Spreading the Joy of Purim

Mishloach Manot packing.

 The Yeladim packed special Mishloach Manot to give out at the Assistant living home. They each made cards as well.

 Singing our Hamantash song.

 They had prepared a special treat for the Yeladim as well!

 Hamantash cookies!

Baking Hamantashin - 'Oznei Haman'

As the Yeladim measured out the ingredients they also sounded out the words of each ingredient and looked on the package what letter it starts with.

 So how do these 'Hamantashin' look??
The Yeladim did their research in our Purim books in the classroom to see how they should look. The looked very different than regular cookies!

 Binyamin did not find a Hamantash image in the Curious George book he chose.... So Zev showed Binyamin the picture of one in his book.

As the Yeladim made their Hamantashin we sang this song:

Nosh Nosh, a Hamantash let's make a Hamantash now
Nosh Nosh, a Hamantash let's make a Hamantash now
roll and roll the dough with with me
pat it flat and you will see Haman's hat was just like that
Let's make a Hamantash now

Nosh Nosh, a Hamantash let's make a Hamantash now
Nosh Nosh, a Hamantash let's make a Hamantash now
Pinch and squeeze the dough with with me
Pinch the 3 corners and you will see Haman's hat was just like that
Let's make a Hamantash now

At the end of our Purim story book all the Jewish people are dressed up and happy because now G-d ensured that Haman would not hurt the Jewish people. The joy of Purim is really seeping into our classroom as well! The Yeladim were dancing to our Purim music.

Update on the Purim happenings with the Yeladim

Zev is looking at his name under his picture and finding the Alphabet letters that spell his name.

As we listened to the sounds of each of the Yeladim's graggers the Yeladim started categorizing the sounds: Which gragger made the most noise down to the quietest one. Leading up to Purim - all the sound exposure and exploration analyzing sound it seems the Yeladim have started to pay close attention to the sounds they hear.

 This time as we read the Purim story ( in our palace of course) When Morah would mention Haman's name the Yeladim would shake their graggers!

 As you have read up in the hand out that was sent home today attached to the new Mitzvah notes, Mordechai loved to learn Torah and do the things that would make G-d happy. For the Yeladim at this point in thier lives the concept of learning Torah is all about Aleph Bet since that is what they saw for themselves is inside the Torah! So Mordechai is holding a scroll that the Yeladim filled up with Aleph Bet stickers.

 The Yeladim also practiced their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination as they squeezed the glue onto the spot they intended to glue the scroll and Mordechai's Kippa.

 Notice the concentration.

 Then the Yeladim filled their very own Graggers to use in the classroom and then take home to use for Purim! ( We have named the Graggers I spy Graggers and when the Yeladim take them home next week they will explain to you how it works.)

 Spooning in the rice.

Show & Tell

One of the Yeladim's favorite parts of the week! Each of the Yeladim take out their 'show' and tell the other Yeladim about what they have brought in. All the Yeladim have an opportunity to ask questions about the items to the 'shower.'

The process of the Palace

In our classroom there are not rules to follow as far as how to make a palace. The only common understanding is to be kind and helpful to others. Otherwise all the creativity, ideas are all in the hands of the Yeladim.

Zev chose the Red material for the floor in front the king.

 As we unrolled the fabrics we ended up with lots of long cardboard 'shoots'. Which the Yeladim immediately tested talking and breathing through the tubes and paying close attention to the change in their friends voices.

 We came up with two guard chairs and a King's chair. Then David added the stool since our King is a little too short to reach the chair :)!

 David did not like the feel of his cape so he decided to take it off. That was completely fine. He enjoyed more of the 'setting the stage' part.

 Zev decided he wanted to be a guard and Shmuli assumed the role of King but he wanted to sit on his chair.
So in our Palace everyone takes their own spots and the guard sat on the throne.

 Then we started talking about the Kings name and his role and that's how we started acting out the Purim story in our new Palace.

Below: The Yeladim are taking Queen Vashti  away. She did not listen to the King. The truth was she was not very kind anyway.

The Yeladim brought our 'Purim Book' and needed to know what the King did with out his queen!

So we continued to talked about more of the story in middle of our Palace. Notice, the Yeladim did not even take their seats!! They were enthralled with the story line!

King Achashverosh puppet

The Yeladim love to role play and act out the new Purim story that they have been fascinated with. That's when the idea was born that the Yeladim can design and make their very own character puppets to help them tell the story themselves!