It has been another busy week at the Gan.  

Funnels were added to the playground, which lead to the creation of a.... 

Kian: It's a monster trap.

Noah: But it is a trick monster trap, they will think it is fake but it is really real and the trick will catch them because it is REAL.

 

The wonder of spiderwebs were admired, and beds for bugs were made.

Tori: Well it would be a nice little place for them to sleep.

We began discussion about the many types of animals.
Morah Katie: What do we and fish have in common?
Levi: We are vertebrates.
Morah Katie: We are, we have backbones and fish have backbones. How are we different?
Ben: Well we don't live in water.
Morah Katie: We definitely do not live in water. What other types of vertebrates are there?
Tori: Snakes.
Morah Katie: Snakes are reptiles, they have backbones.
Dena: A lion.
Morah Katie: A lion is a mammal, it has a backbone.
Kian: A squid..oh no it is not. It doesn't have a backbone.
Morah Katie: What do squid eat?
Noah: FISH and they have backbones.
Morah Katie: Any other vertebrates? (pause) What types of animals might you find living on a tree? beginning with a B..
Levi: Birds!
Morah Katie: Yes! and what was one of the consequences Hashem sent to Pharaoh, he was covered in them and found them...
Dena: Frogs!
Morah Katie: Yes! Frogs are amphibians! How many types of vertebrates did we write on our list?
Levi: 5!

Sorting the vertebrates

We sang a song:

Old Man Noah built an ark, like Hashem told him too,

 and on that ark he took 2 _________, 

like Hashem told him too.

 With a ________ here and a ____________ there.....

The children chose the animals and as we sang we made a list. 

From this list we will choose the animals which we will study and place on an ark we create in class.

 

  In the midst of the vertebrate discussion, there was plenty of writing and counting.

The reading corner was enjoyed,

as well as time with friends.

We have a few new activities in the classroom. These "quiet" jobs help us gather our energy to us and calm our bodies.

Watching the sand drop in the hour glass

Watching the glitter dance and settle

Looking closely at a master painting and trying to replicate it

All of these require our attention, and help us to develop our focus and concentration.

We took a moment to climb back aboard our space shuttle and tour our solar system.

We began at the sun and traveled to (walking across room):

Morah Katie: Which planet is first from the sun?

Kian: Mercury!

Morah Katie: The next planet we will be flying by ...?

Noah: Venus!

Morah Katie: After Venus we will be ...

Tori: EARTH!

Morah Katie: Beyond Earth is the red planet, also called?

Tori: Mars!

Morah Katie: From Mars we must journey far to the largest...

Dena: Jupiter!!

Morah Katie: I hope we have enough gas in our space shuttle because we have a long way to travel to...

Kian: The one with rings.

Noah: Saturn!

Morah Katie: Beyond Saturn we come to lazy on it's side..... Uranus.  Our tour isn't over, past Uranus we come to... Neptune.   

IF we were to continue our tour, we would have to go into the neighboring building to find Pluto! Turn and look back at the sun, we have come very far. Pluto is further still!  Is it a true planet?

Noah: It's a dwarf!

Dena: A dwarf planet!

A newly remodeled classroom was an exciting part for children at the Gan who got 

right back into playing, building friendships and learning.

We have the answers to our 4 questions!

We set a seder table.

Why do we dip twice?

Tori: Because the Jewish people were slaves and sad.

Morah Katie: What do we dip and what do we dip it into?

Noah: We dip the bitter stuff, that's hot and spicy into the apple mix.

Morah Katie: Why is that?

Dena: They were sad but then happy when they left Egypt.

Levi: We dip vegetables in salt water to remember the sadness of the Jews.

Why do we eat matzah?

Kian: They rushed out.

Levi: There was no time to let it rise.

Why do we eat the bitter maror?

Ben: Because the people were working so hard and feeling so bad. It is spicy and makes your eyes tear up.

Tori: They were crying they were so sad.

Why do we recline?

Dena: To celebrate we are free. We drink four cups of wine too.

Ben: A pillow is more comfortable.

We held our final water experiment.

Can Morah Katie keep a dry sponge from getting wet?

Despite her belief she could, the Gan scientists declared that she would NOT be able to.

Morah Katie: Why? I'm going to fold it and hide it in my hand keeping it protected.

Levi: The water will go under your hand!

Dena: It will get wet.

Ben: Water likes to go everywhere!

Tori: It won't stay dry.

Assisted by a guest, water was poured over Morah Katie's hands,

and....

The scientists had correctly hypothesized about the nature of water and its insistence on going everywhere it can fill.

Morah Katie: But I bet I can separate the water and put a dry sponge down in the middle and keep it dry.

Levi: NO! you can't water won't do that!

Kian: Water doesn't split.

Again, the children were correct, I was unable to split the water in two.

Morah Tzivie joined us to tell about a great miracle.

Morah Tzivie explained that a miracle is something that happens even though it shouldn't really happen.

We listened as she told us about the thousands of Jewish people quickly leaving Egypt. We were worried to find out the King Pharaoh decided to change his mind AGAIN! and sent his army after the Jewish people.

We listened to how the Jewish people were stuck between a great sea and the army.

Morah Tzive: What can they do?

Tori: Walk over it.

Kian; Walk around.

Morah Tzivie: It was so big, and they were worried and scared, what did the Jewish people do when they were worried and sad before?

They did this during the miracle at Chanukah, and when Haman had his mean plan.

Levi: Daven to Hashem!

Morah Tzivie: Yes! and Hashem heard them and told Moses to hit his staff on the ground, and do you know what happened?

Levi: The water split!

Morah Tzivie: Yes, it separated, not what water should do, but it did! And all the Jewish people were able to cross!

And we know, that once they crossed the sea, the water closed and the Jewish people were really free.

We made crafts about the miracle.

We had a sampling of some of the foods we eat at the Seder meal.

We smelled bitter maror.

Scout: It is yucky.

Ben: Wow, it is really spicy, maybe my dad would like this.

We dipped some lettuce in charoset,

Aaron: Apples are good.

Gracie: I like this.

We dipped celery in salt water.

Kian: mmm Can I have more?

Tori: Can I have more too?