Hebrew Word of Week: לַיְלָה Liyla = Night

One feature which marks Mondays in my classroom is the Hebrew Word of the Week (Hebrew WOW). A new Hebrew vocabulary word is introduced through a story or song. The word is reinforced through the week in a variety of ways, including coloring sheets.

Here is a video for this week's word, לַיְלָה liyla night:

https://youtu.be/Lwp94wgOaeg

Here is a coloring page:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hBNGkFjvEtWCljZMKwjUHiMiWCzs_LbLh_zh58ygba4/edit?usp=sharing

Summer Schedules

This summer I am enjoying Mom Camp. In addition to daily adventures and regular chores, I want to keep the girls mindful of daily 'responsibilities'.
Therefore I made this checklist:

Some of my children are more motivated by some than others. Most of the items I included are those which I ask myself regularly, "Today did I ___?"

I printed and laminated one page for each child, turning the list into an individualized dry erase board.

Have an incredible summer!

Purim Preparation Party

What does a rocking, educational, all ages, low-budget Purim program look like?

FUN!

 Station 1) I bought a case of cups and put up this sign.

 Children of all ages, some who barely knew each other, worked together with incredible design plans and teamwork.

Station 2) This was inspired by 5th grade girls who are passionate about doing face-painting and hair. From Amazon I bought a face painting kit.

Of course, preparation for Purim involves making Mishloach Manot.


And baking oznei haman.

 

And hearing a puppet show version of the Megillah, the Book of Esther.

There was also a photo booth and mostly there was loads of fun!

Shemot- Names, Stop-Motion D'var

This is Cohava's Stop Motion- Start Learning video on Shemot. (My voice, her words and animation)

Tzedakah Stop Motion [Start Action!] Video

Every year, I contemplate how to take our Torah learning to the next level. I want my girls (and students) to grow in the knowledge and skills.
At the science museum, Cohava enjoyed making stop motion videos. We are going to attempt to make a short educational video each week.
We watched the educational modules provided by BimBam. These were very helpful.
Here is her first video!

Hanukkah games and projects

Every year I wonder, "Oh what activities should I do for Hanukkah?" And since I never remember what I do from year to year, I inevitably reinvent the wheel. This year we:

1) Made olive oil soap.
I bought the compound at Michael's (always use that 50% coupon!). The girls grated old crayons, added soap compound cubes, added essential oils, all inside of silicon trays.
Microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir melted compound gently. Place in fridge to harden.

The finish products were beautiful! We gave them to the teachers as small Hanukkah gifts. Olive oil in another miraculous form.

 2) Scientist Hanukiyah
This we did for the last few years. This Hanukiyah is not for lighting. It is a series of test tubes and pipets for children (and adults) to use for color mixing.

Here they are in action at the Torah Fair.

 3) Wooden Hanukkah art

We bought several packages of popsicles sticks (different sizes and colors) and clothespins (different sizes if possible). Then people were able to clip together whatever they wanted.

 4) This was someone else's game, which I thought was neat. Ring toss onto 'Hanukkah lights'.

5) SBH hosted a Hanukkah cookie decorating party before Hanukkah. We read Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles and money was donated for food for the poor.

6) Food Drive

The Giving Club at school organized a canned food drive.

Then they constructed a massive Hannukiyah 950 cans!!!

7) Dreidle Bingo! 


 There definitely more.
Day of darkness and light.
Reading Jodie's First Dig and having a mock archeology dig.
Latke party.
Decorating Donuts.

Lots of light and joy!

A New Way to Play Dreidel

I love Hanukah as much as the next person.  Every aspect of the celebration is beautiful, positive, and family friendly. Except maybe dreidel.
 This theoretically fun game always feels too much like gambling and always ends with a child crying.  For the last few years we've simply skipped the game and just eaten the gelt (just go for the gold!)
This year I created a new dreidel game, which can be played independently, non-competitively, reinforces letter recognition, and can involve strategy (instead of just luck). I present you Dreidel Bingo!

 

Here you can download the Game board! Unlike traditional bingo, there is only one board.
There are a variety of ways to play.

You need:

• printed game board(s) here
• a dreidel (per player or shared)
• bingo daubers or dot markers (you can use regular markers, but they aren't as fun)

Method 1- Independent Play:

1. player spins and announces their letter
2. mark it on the board
3. play for a row, or coverall

Method 2 

Everyone takes a turn spinning. Either everyone marks only their own letter, or everyone marks for everyone's spin. Then strategize, like Connect 4, to decide which spot on the board to mark.
We played it at home. I set my little ones up with it, and they entertained themselves while I made dinner. No one fought! We played it at school.

We put it out at a community Hanukkah celebration.

The kids loved it

Some parents got a little competitive, but it was all good!