Lech Lecha and Vayera: Sand and Stars

These two parshiot include Hashem's promise that the descendants of Avraham and Sarah will be as numerous as the stars in the heaven and the sand on the ground.

These two images are deep, meaningful, and relatable.

 First we sat with chumashim and reviewed the relevant pesukim.  Some of the girls were more engaged in the textual learning than others. There was a lot of, 'but what's the project???'

Key points:

• Neither stars nor sand can ever be effectively counted.  There is a mind boggling amount of each. 
• Both of these objects are significant and we, as Jewish people, should try to emulate their unique traits.

Star Traits (this list is not exhaustive)

• Beautiful
• Admired, looked up to.
• Fill the darkness with light
• People use them for guidance
• Symbol of the Jewish people (Star of David)
• Timeless

Sand traits

• Grains must work together- unity
• Unassuming and powerful! The power of sand to stop water and fire.

Stars are incredible but they must be separate from each other.  Sand is walked all over.

We need to harness the positive traits and work on ourselves to minimize the negatives. 

I told the girls we would need to sleep on these significant ideas.

"But what about a project!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

Then I showed them how they would sleep on it.

Step 1: Coloring sandpaper

I gave each girl a sheet of sandpaper. They enjoyed gently rubbing it. Gabi pointed out that sandpaper was another special thing only sand can do.

 With fabric crayons, the girls decorated their page. Stars were encouraged.

 Step 2: White pillowcases and the iron.
I placed an unloved towel down, placed the sandpaper face up, pillowcase on that, iron on medium setting on top.

After the sandpaper image was transferred onto the pillowcase, the girls drew more images for transferring. 

 (When I explained the image would be a mirror image, Cohava cut off where she wrote the date. Ruti didn't because she is still in the backwards writing stage!)

 Using the sandpaper as a transfer creates a unique texture to the print.

Now they can sleep on it!

Yesterday Tova said, "Dinner is special for the perasha!" I stared at her, confused. "Because they are Morningstars! And stars are in the Torah this week!"

Tova has been reinforcing this lesson at school where she glued sand to one side of a paper and glitter to the other.

Sand play is always a popular option. We worked on 'star' play with the lite-bright.

 Ruti really made it a star!