Parshas Yisro

Hashem chose Sinai to give the Torah 

to the Jewish people since it was humble 

and didn't think it was greater than any other 

mountain in the dessert.                                                 

At Har Sinai, when Hashem was giving the  

Torah there wasnt a sound to be heard. Dogs didnt bark, 

birds didnt chirp, and cows didnt moo. 

Also, all the sick people were healed at that time too.

                                                                                                                                Parsha Song:

“I am a mountain, so very high,

I can reach way up to the sky

The Torah should be given on me,

‘Cause I am as tall as can be, you see”

“Oh no, I am much taller than you,

And there are so many things I can do

The Torah should be given on me,

‘Cause I am as great as can be’

But little har sinai just stood there and sighted

“I know I’m not tall, I know I’m not wide

That’s why the Torah can’t be given on me

‘Cause I’m just a plain mountain” he said simply

But from all the mountains Hashem chose har sinai

Because he did not hold himself high

He had such simple and humble ways

And from this we learn that humbleness pays

Tu B'shvat

The 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, known as Tu B'Shvat, is the New Year for Trees.

Why do we celebrate the New Year for trees so much later than our New Year?

This holiday is very much connected with the rainy season in Israel, (which begins on Sukkot). It takes four months for the rains to saturate the soil, nurture the trees and coax them into producing fruit.

In class we learned that when it rains, the trees drink up the water that has fallen to the ground, it travels up through its trunk, and into the branches. When the weather gets warmer the trees will start budding and leaves, flowers, and, fruits will start to grow.

We also discussed that trees are giving and how we benefit from them in many ways.

The wood from their trunk benefits us because with it we can make blocks, tables, an aron kodesh, and many more things for us to use.

The leaves give us shade when we're hot, and of course, we are so appreciative of its fruits which we can eat, enjoy, and be healthy.

                         

Enjoying 2 of the 7 special fruits of Israel at the Tu B'Shvat party.

Marveling with watered mouths at the beautiful tree cake soon to be eaten.

Ari telling us about figs and apples he brought in for Show'N Tell

Mordechai carefully dicing the fruits for our fruit salad

Emma showing appreciation for plants by watering it.

Letter Nun Sofis

 Jason was our Mailman delivering the next letter we were to learn. It was Nun Sofis. Yes, it has the same sound as letter nun but is used differently. The nun can be used at the beginning or middle of a word (Naomi-נעמי or Menny- מני), whereas, the Nun Sofis can only be used at the end of a word (Leon- ליון). 

It has one little line on top and one extra big line coming down. 

Niggun- ניגון - Song

We listened to a song with different instruments playing in it. We noticed and picked out the instruments we heard.

Piano- Leon, Eliana, Sophie

Drums- Emma, Rachel

Guitar- Jason, David S.

Violin- Ari, Mickey

Flute- Mordechai Yisroel, Menny, Naomi

Literacy Month

What a great start of the Literacy Week Pre-K friends had! Ariel's mom, Anna, came to our class to read the book.

 The book has many similes in it and the author created a picture of each family member in the book using real objects to represent the simile. Friends REALLY loved this book. Anna had a great idea! "What if friends will make similes of themselves?", she said.  Anna brought different things and paper. Pre-K friends worked with Anna to create their own similes. This was so much fun! The kids did a great job.

Choosing is never easy!

" My kippa is as soft as a sock, I am as jumpy as frogs...", said Mordechai Yisroel.

Another guest of this week was Mordechai Yisroel's mom, Morah Chanie. She read a great book.

What happens when we daven? asked Morah Chanie. The book teaches children what we do when we pray - namely, by showing them that tefillah (prayer) connects us to Hashem.
 The book has  colorful illustrations, simple but thoughtfully selected text, and a great theme.

After Morah Chanie read the book, Pre-K friends reflected on the questions "What happens when we daven to Hashem?". There is what they said,

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for helping me. (Liza)

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for my neshama. (Naomi)

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for my family, my sukkah, my balloons for my birthday, for Torah, for my house, for Beis Hamikdosh, for Mordechai Yisroel so I can play with him. (Menny)

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for vegetables and fruits. (Mordechai Yisroel)

I thank Hashem for letting me daven. (Ari, Leon and Jason)

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for giving me friends and creating lots of colors. (Sophie)

When I daven to Hashem I thank him for creating people so I can have a family. (Rachel)

When I daven to Hashem, I thank him for giving me hands. (Emma)

This week we learned

The letter of the week was the letter R. There is what we say, when we write the letter- "A big line goes down, jump on a top, little curve. Don't take a crayon of the line, write a little line." This week was Rachel
Rose's week along with David's mom Rita, Menny's mom Ruta, and Jason's older brother Ryan.
To review the letter R please visit http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-r/load.htm?f
To preteach the letter K please visit http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-k/load.htm?f

Pre-K friends learned about the number 8. 

On the number line the number 8 is located between 7 and 9.

When morah asked friends said that 8 is more than 7 but less than 9.

Our Community- Fire Safety we learned in school

• A Smoke Detector can warn you of smoke or fire. Be alerted! Smoke is very dangerous and can make you sick.
• When you hear an Alarm take an action - leave the building. Don't look for the fire, don't try to put it out. It is not your job!

• Don't look for your favorite toy- LEAVE!
• Call 911 from safe place.  Give your name and an address to 911 operator.
• Escape was one of the new words Pre-K friends learned. It means get out quickly!
• Before you leave your room, feel the door. There might be fire outside.
• Get out and Stay out no matter what!

• If door is hot, there is might be fire behind it. Open a window and scream "Fire!"
• Don't Hide and don't stay Inside
• Lighters and Matches are adults' tools. They are not toys. Never play with them!
• Organize your family. Plan and practice a fire drill! Discuss a place where all family could meet in case of emergency.
• If Hasve Sholom  your clothes catch on fire. Don't panic! Don't run!  STOP! DROP! AND ROLL!
• Always know two ways out.

• If there is smoke, act like a baby.  Get low and crawl out to safety!
• Check for the EXIT signs, they will help you get out.

To see the Fire Safety video -"Sparky's ABC" go to http://www.sparky.org/#/Sparky/SparkySpots

Our Community- Fire Station

Last week, Pre-K friends learned about an important part of our community- the Fire Station. 

On Monday, Pre-K friends were welcomed by firemen of the local fire station.

Before the trip, friends thought about what would they want to know about firemen and their job.

Rachel wanted to know, why do firemen put fire out? 

Fireman Shean said, that firemen care about people and don't want anyone to get hurt. 

Menny, Naomi, and Mickey wanted to know, how do firemen put fire out if it is

high up on the roof? 

Fireman Steven said, that they use a special ladder that unfolds like a telescope and long hoses that brings water to the fire. 

Eliana wanted to know, if someone catches the fire on his clothes what he should do? 

Fireman Steve demonstrated what friends should do without hesitation. 

Stop, Drop and Roll! Don't panic, don't run! Stop, Drop and Roll! 

Sophia Esther wanted to know, why do firemen put a special uniform on? 

Fireman Shean said, that it protects a fireman's body from the heat and smoke. The reflecting stripes on the uniform helps other people to see where the fireman is.  

David S. wanted to know, how fast a fireman can put his uniform on?

It was a challenge to face. Fireman Steve to put his uniform on as fast as he can. He did it in 23 Pre-K friends' seconds.  He even put a oxygen tank on. 

Fireman Steve looked absolutely different in the uniform with oxygen mask and gloves on but friends were not scared.  Firemen were very impressed! 

Leon wanted to know, how do firemen help people?

Firemen said, that they teach children do not play with matches.  

They teach adults to have smoke detectors in their houses for fire safety.

Emma wanted to know, how do firemen save people?

Fireman Steve said that when they come to fire, first thing they do is to make sure there are no people inside of a building. If any gets hurt, firemen call ambulance.

David G. and Ari wanted to know, what to do if smoke or fire got into your eyes?

Firemen said one needs to use a lot of water to wash eyes.

Mordechai Yisroel wanted to know, if firemen have a dog that helps them?

Firemen said, that long long time ago when firemen used horses to get around, in every firehouse there was a dog that helped them to find people in the smoke. Now days, when firemen use fast trucks it is dangerous for a dog to live in a fire house

Jason wanted to know, how do firemen get so quickly to fire?

Firemen not only showed but also let friends to explore and sit in two huge trucks. One is a truck that holds water inside and hoses. Other is a truck that carries ladder and tools. These trucks are super fast. Firemen put sirens and red lights on when it is an emergency call.  

To see cool video about firefighters and do some activity please visit

http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/preschool.asp?themeID=21

Shabbos Box

Drum roll for our friend Eliana who will be taking home the Shabbos Box this week.

Enjoy!

Good Shabbos!

Parshas Bishalach

We learned in the Parsha that the sea split for the Jewish people after they left Egypt.The water stood up like two walls and they walked through the sea on dry land. Hashem made another special miracle especially for the kids. He made candy hang from the walls. Wow! As much as walking through water was a novelty and most definitely an adventure to speak about, they had lots of candy ready at their disposal to enjoy. Candy! Candy ! Candy!

We reenacted the story in our classroom and each friend was able to walk through the "water" and collect candy from the wall on their way through.

For more info on the Parsha click on the link below:

http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/shmos/bshalac2.htm

For a nice song on the Parsha click on the link below:

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/608063/jewish/Beshalach-I.htm

 

Letter Nun

Our mail Carrier was Naomi. She excitedly pulled out the letter from the envelope. It was the Letter Nun. Naomi begins with that letter. Nun has one little line on top, one big line coming down on the side, and one little line on the bottom.

Ner- candle looks like Nun

Netillas Yadayim ( a spiritual cleansing) and Neshama also begins with the letter Nun.

Each of us have a Neshama. Every night when we go to sleep a little part of our Neshama goes up to Hashem. In the morning when we wake up, our Neshama returns to us. We then take a cup, fill it with water, and wash our hands in a special way, once on the right and once on the left repeated three times in total.

Nitilas Yadayim is also done before eating bread.

Nes means a miracle, something that Hashem can do for us to help us that is not regular. An example of a nes that we have learned about is the splitting of the Red Sea. 

Menny's Show and Tell

Menny brough his favorite dress up costume for the Show and Tell.

First Menny puts his teffilin on.

Then he puts his tallis.

Then Menny puts his jacket on.

And then....... a mustache:)

Excitments of the week

The Reward Jar is filled with mitzvah marbles. 

 The idea of celebration came from the Idea Jar- Cookie Party. With no delay, friends made different cookies of the cookie daugh.

Letter cookies, round cookies with colorful sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles. spiral cookies and rainbow cookies ready to be baked.

Morah set a Cookie Cafe where friends could buy two cookies and a drink.

Friends pre-planned what they want to buy and how much money they need to use.

For example, if someone wants a letter cookie for 3c, a spiral cookie for 2c and a cup of apple juice for 2c, someone needs 7 cents to buy it.

Friends drew pictures of what they plan to buy and added up cents. Mordechai Yisroel spent 6 cents to buy his cookies snack.

Friday Morning Circles became an excitement in Pre-K class. The Big Room is transitions into a fitness room. Friends create three stations such as "The Walking Chairs", "The Jumping Spots" and " Yoga Mat". To see part of our Friday's Morning circle please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYwLoTOnYU

Leon'sShow and Tell

For Show and Tell Leon brought one of his brother's books about a dragon. This made friends to discuss if  dragons are real or not? To see Leon's Show and Tell go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sYzVNe0irU