Noach: Mind & Body

Noach is an incredibly interesting parasha to teach, as there as so many fun topics to explore.  Several years ago we looked into some scientific aspects here.  In my classroom one year we focused on math. Today my class enjoyed hammering like Noach did and made a rainstick, like we did here.

They also began working on a matching game. Color two pages of animals (on cardstock), cut out, and play!  Help Noach find matching pairs of animals to load onto the teyva. Ruti made a sample set.

Everyone enjoyed playing. I reviewed each animal's Hebrew name when it was flipped over and Tova quickly learned almost all of them.

חיות–chayot– animals

 חתול–chatul –cat

אריה–aryeh– lion

זברה–zebra –zebra

נחש–nachash– snake

דוֹב–dov– bear

פיל – peel– elephant

ג 'ירפה –jirafa– giraffe

גָמָל–gamal –camel

צְפַרְדֵעַ–tzfardeya– frog

נָמֵר–nahmare– tiger

קוֹף-kofe– monkey

כֶּלֶב–kelev– dog

סוּס–suse– horse

חֲזִיר-chazeer– pig

עַכְבָּר-achbar– mouse

 יונה–yonah –dove

 
 

Then Gabi had a great idea! Hyped up on fitness from sports practice, she said, "Let's exercise like we are on the Teyvah!" She explained that in pairs, they would work on different yoga animal poses. Cohava helped work out the details and they got to work.

 Snakes

 Cats

 Birds?

 Crazy baby monkey!

Ruti excitedly called me into the bathroom when she was finishing her shower.

"Yes?"

She pointed up at the shower head, "Geshem [rain]!" She pointed to the water pooled beneath her, as the plug in the tub was in. "Mabool [flood]! I thought of it with my own brain!" she gushed excitedly. 

We should all stop to appreciate the Torah and joy all around us, which often masquerades as the mundane.