From our Director
Spring is here and with it comes the excitement of Pesach!
Between the drama of "Yitziat Mitzrayim" and hands on learning all
about the seder and mitzvot of the chag, we've
been working so hard, but hope to bring home all that we've learned!
Our yeladim are so excited to share what they know with you!
The Matzah Factory came and helped the yeladim understand
how matzah is made. Many classes baked challah that
week so the yeladim could see first hand the difference between
matzah and challah.
Since preschool is all about "learning by
doing", each class had their own model seder to tie in everything
they've learned. As I walked around the building, I enjoyed the sights
and sounds of the seder preparation as well as the sweet voices
resounding with seder songs in our hall!
You'll be amazed when
you see how much we've learned. We are thankful to our Morot
for all their patience and for teaching us so many things. We are so
ready for the real seder! If your
children somehow
can't stay up for the seder, it would be so special to ask them
about their projects and maybe use them during lunch. Who says you
can't look for the afikoman in daylight?
I'd like to take this
opportunity to wish everyone a "Chag Kasher V'Sameach.
Enjoy the pictures!
Have a great Yom Tov!
Betty Shusterman
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Pesach is in the Air! |
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What an exciting few weeks it has been at Lev Chana. As is our
custom, learning about Pesach has been a multi sensory and child
centered experience. Everyone has been busy preparing for this special
holiday. The story of Pesach has been coming alive in every
classroom. The children are ready to share it with you over Yom Tov.
If they are too tired to stay up for the seder, please make sure to
talk to them at some other time during the chag so that they can
feel like they had a part in retelling the story. The children have also
enhanced their learning and discussions with many projects to use over
Yom Tov. Performing the mitzvot related to a chag
with personally hand crafted objects makes the performance of the
mitzvot more meaningful for the children. They develop a positive and
strong connection to what they are doing. Enjoy sharing their excitement.
They have certainly been eagerly anticipating this moment! |
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A Visit From the Matzah Bakery |
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On Wednesday, April 2, the children enjoyed a wonderful visit from the
Tzivos Hashem model matzah bakery. They had a detailed and
hands on experience with the process of making matzah from
harvesting the wheat to baking the matzah. First the "matzah
men" retold the story of Pesach with the children and related the
matzah baking process to the story. Then the children actually
separated wheat kernels, ground them into flour, mixed the flour with water,
rolled out the dough, and brought the matzah to the oven! They
worked quickly so that they could get a feel for how real matzah is
made in less than 18 minutes. Of course, the matzah that we made
was chametz, but the children certainly had a taste of real
matzah baking. Many classes also baked challah so that they
could compare and contrast the two processes (and enjoy the final product)!
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Model Sedarim |
As a culmination of many weeks of Pesach related discussions,
activities, and explorations each class had its very own model seder.
The children and their morot went through the parts of the
seder beginning with kadesh and ending with nirtzah.
The model seder gave the children the opportunity to participate in
a full seder on their level. We know that many children do not stay
up for the entire seder on Pesach night and so their
classroom seder allows them to experience the parts that they will
miss. It is also great practice for them to go through the motions before
they do so with family and friends gathered around. Of course, the true
highlight for every child will be on motzaei Shabbat when they have
a chance to shine at your seder table. We hope you enjoy their
songs, stories, questions, and answers throughout the chag!
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Four Year Old
Makot Project with SKA girls |
Young children are intrigued and delighted by the story of the ten
makot. What bizarre things happened to those Mitzriim. As an
enhancement to learning and retelling the story of the ten makot,
our four year old nurseries received a treat from the SKA tenth graders.
Every four year old child was paired up with a tenth grader who presented
her partner with a ten makot kit. The buddies then reviewed the
makot using their new props. The children had a lot of fun and were
able to take the makot kit home as a gift. It is always meaningful
when the Lev Chana children spend time with our high school
neighbors. Aside from seeing some familiar faces, our children benefit from
the warm and nurturing touch that the SKA girls have when they interact with
our preschoolers. We know that the SKA girls benefit as well, as they serve
as role models for these future teenagers.
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Art From The Heart of Lev Chana |
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The four year old nursery and Kindergarten children were introduced to the
art of Egyptian hieroglyphics in connection with the Pesach story.
A long time ago before paper was invented, the Egyptians created an
interesting approach for reading a story. The Egyptians carved their stories
into stone! While the four year old nursery children "carved" into
styrofoam bricks, the kindergarten children were given the opportunity to
"carve" their own stories into panels. All of the children commented how
hard it was to carve just one picture. Imagine how difficult it must have
been to carve entire stories!
We concluded the Pesach unit in
the same way the Seder comes to an end. L'Shana Ha Ba
B'Yerushalayim. The children emulated Amram Ebgi, famous for his
Jerusalem scenes and copper medallions. Each child depicted the city of
Jerusalem in pencil. Then they water colored their drawing. Before
completing the painting, they included a medallion in the same manner as the
artist.
Karen Fromowitz
Click here for more photos of Pesach art projects! | |
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Birthdays This Month! |
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Ben Sides
Ayelet Kerstein
Yosef Schafler
Aviv Amar
Aviva Klahr
Tali Pak
Leah
Cherson
Miriam Cherson
Chana Spirn
Joseph Cohen
Sarah
Meyer
Ayala Friedman
Abigail Giller
Abigail Lyons
Dovie
Shalev
Eitan Kastner
Amanda Poupko
Ahava Rosenberg
Kayla
Aaron
Hannah Giller
Jacqueline Myers
Hannah Poupko
Abigail Aaron
Max Aaron
Mikayla Schwartz
Sarah Sigman
Rachel Skurnik
Kayla Aryeh
Aidan Gottfried
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The Roving Reporter
Heard Around Lev Chana... |
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The question of the month was, "What is your favorite food to eat on Pesach?
Ally Misher: "the egg!"
Kaily Mermelstein: "charoset!"
Kyle Seigel: "matzah!"
Zachary Zarfati: "charoset!"
Ari Waldman: "marror!"
Max Grill: "matzah!"
Eve Lawrence: "egg!"
Kayla Dechter: "matzah!"
Aaron Schwartz: "marror!"
Abigail Lichter: "the roasted bone!"
Dani Jacobowitz: "the lettuce on the seder plate!"
Jared Mark: "pizza matzah!"
Joseph Schwartz: "the charoset!"
Bejamin Tocker: "the egg!"
Eliana Klibanoff: "matzah!"
Leora Muskat: "the charoset!"
Tzvi Yudin:
Rivkah Kahn: "the apple in the charoset!"
Lilly Glickman: "the matzah!"
Alyssa Dachs: "celery in salt water!"
Kayla Aryeh: "matzah!"
Rebecca Silvera: "matzah!"
Ilan Schocket: "Kosher L'Pesach cookies!"
Meira Lampert: "cupcakes!"
Sara Meyer: "the egg!"
Jaocb Steinmetz:
"Kosher L'Pesach chocolate!" |
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