"One Bean"

After reading the book One Bean by Anne Rockwell which follows the Lima bean's journey from bean to plant, we placed our own Lima beans onto wet paper towels and then into zip lock baggies. We then hung them onto our bulletin board so that each child  will be able to observe their own Lima beans and determine whether more water is necessary.  We will be sure to keep you updated on the sprouting of our Limas and growth of our beanstalks!

Original Tree Paintings

In conjunction with our Tu B'Shvat unit, the children painted their own original tree paintings using brown, green and pink paint.  They used paint brushes in the brown and green paints, and Q-tips in the pink paint to create little blossoms and buds.

A Tree in New Jersey and a Tree in Israel...

We compared and contrasted what a tree in Israel might look like as the trees' birthday approaches as compared to our cold, leafless and barren trees in New Jersey. We then proceeded to make and decorate a tree for Israel and a tree for New Jersey. The children all agreed that our Israel tree was much prettier! 

Tu B'Shvat is coming!

We introduced our Tu B'Shvat unit with a gift bag filled with a wooden block, an orange and a paper plate.  Gan Reut then put their heads together and figured out what those three items have in common. They all come from TREES! 

We will spend the next while concentrating on the trees birthday in Israel, planting, recycling and protecting Hashem's earth.

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

In keeping with our winter theme, Morah Ariella taught Gan Reut a song about children taking a walk in the rain and needing to share an umbrella. (In Israel, winter is generally known as their rainy season.) With each added verse, an additional child joins those children already crowded under the umbrella in order to stay dry. The children had so much fun acting out the song, while their Hebrew vocabulary and counting skills were reinforced.

Snowman Cake!

The children in Gan Reut made their very own snowman cake. First they prepared the batter and poured it into 3 different sized circle tins.  After it was baked they frosted it with white snow like frosting, decorated it with sprinkles, chocolate chips, pretzels and candies, and finally they devoured their snowman for snack!  Delicious!!!

More Mittens!

In conjunction with The Mitten by Jan Brett, Gan Reut knitted (aka sewed) their own white mittens, and then proceeded to decorate them. This story has truly provided us with so many fun related activities!

The Mitten!

In conjunction with reading one of my most favorite winter books, The Mitten by Jan Brett, we played a recall game using a flannel board and pictures of the animals that snuggled into Nikki's mitten.  We proceeded to conduct an experiment stuffing a stocking with toys and observed what happened to it. We then compared that stocking with it's unstuffed mate. 

Our winter fun truly continues! 

Snowmen!!!

Gan Reut worked in teams to created amazing snowmen!  First the children glued cotton balls onto 3 different sized circles. They then proceeded to work in groups of three to decorate their snowmen.  They chose from different hats, scarves, buttons, pom poms, foam shapes and more to complete their fun and wintry looking snowmen. 

​Brrrr!​

From Water to Ice and Ice to Water...

In Gan Reut we conducted two different science experiments with water and ice.  First we observed what occurs when we take food coloring and water, mix them together and freeze them.  (To be used for future art experiences.)  We then conducted an additional interesting science experiment using three bowls of ice cubes, flour, sugar, and salt. The Morot  took the three different baking ingredients  and poured one of them into each bowl of ice.  We tried to predict what might happen.  What the children actually observed was that the bowl of ice with the salt melted much faster than the ice with the flour or sugar.  We then concluded that in order to melt ice quickly one might pour salt over slippery sidewalks, streets and stairs covered with ice or snow.