Hashem gave us a present

Do you know what it was?

He gave us the Torah to treasure and to love

We have been preparing for the holiday of Shavuot.

We have been counting down the days until we receive the Torah!

Morah Tzive:  What are some of the things the Torah teaches us?

Levi: Mitzvah's

Tori: The Holidays

Morah Tzive: Let's try to name 6 mitzvahs the Torah teaches us about.

Levi: To say blessings

Kian: To sing our  prayer songs

Dena: Help our friends

Tori: To do good things

Morah Tzivie:  What are some mitzvahs we do for the holidays?

Ben: Drink 4 cups of wine.

Kian: Counting to the holiday.

Morah Tzivie: These are all mitzvahs that the Torah teaches us.

We went on a field trip to shul to see a real Torah!

We know that Hashem gave us the very special present of the Torah because he wants us to be strong, proud and thoughtful.

Morah Tzive: Hashem wanted to give the Torah to the Jewish people somewhere very special. 

He chose a mountain. A mountain is strong, proud, just like how Hashem wants his people to be.

The mountains heard this and they began to argue, and brag and boast among themselves.

Do you know what it means to brag and boast?

Noah: No

Morah Tzivie: It means to speak about yourself in a way that could make others feel bad or sad about themselves, like My picture is better than your picture! We know that those things are not kind.

Levi: Kids usually never boast here.

Morah Tzivie: Kids here are thoughtful and kind. And there was one mountain  who decided not to brag or boast, but to be kind and thoughtful and humble.  Hashem said, Look at that mountain, I will choose that one for the Torah. It was Mt. Sinai!

We listened as Morah Tzivie read us the story about the boastful mountains and humble Mt. Sinai.

We are creating a group art project for our Shavuot celebration.

Morah Katie: What did the mountains begin to do when they heard Hashem would give the Torah on one of them?

Kian: They started to be mean to each other.

Noah: They were bragging about how cool and good they were.

Levi: All of them said they were the coolest and best mountain.

Morah Katie: Why did Hashem give the Torah on Mt. Sinai?

Tori: Because He was being kind and nice and quiet.

Scout: I am putting snowballs all over the snow moutain.

Levi: The mountain I made was the soft mountain, that's why there are pompoms on it. Felt is soft too.
Kian: Mine was the waterfall, see the water on the mountain falling.

        

One little frog goes hop

Along came another and they just can't stop

so....

Two little frogs goes hop hop

Along came another and they just can't stop

so....

(continued until all the children were frogs hopping)

Aaron: First comes the egg then the tadpole and then the big frog.
Levi: I've seen a frog jump around in my back yard.
Morah Katie: How is it that a tadpole can breathe under water?
Ben: It has gills like a fish.
Morah Katie: Then how can it breathe on land as a frog?
Dena: It grows lungs and legs.
Morah Katie: So can any animal breathe both in the water and in air? 
Levi: No only frogs.
Ben: It has to be an amphibian.

Noah: Frogs can be any color. Mine is a rainbow frog but first it was an egg and then tadpole and a frog ribbit ribbit.

Morah Katie: Would you find a salamander in a hot dry desert?
Ben: NO!
Tori: You would definitely probably find a salamander at a creek if you were lucky enough to go to a creek.
Levi: Yeah they need water.
Morah Katie: Why?
Tori: Because they have slimy skin and need to stay wet. 

I saw a little creature that was slimy, smooth and wet.

I thought it was the oddest thing that I had ever met.

It was something like a lizard but it had no scales at all.

It was something like a frog but it didn't hop, it crawled. 

so i took it to my teacher and she told me right away, 

" I see you brought  a salamander into class today."

In other areas of the classroom

the animals from our classroom arc were treated to a story;

the children practiced some yoga, 

flew space shuttles,

 
discovered a trick to multiplying,
 and enjoyed the simple joys of thoughtful work.

Reptiles are our vertebrate of the week.

Reptiles have backbones, smooth scaly skin, and they lay eggs.

Reptiles move slowly when it's cold and are more active when it's warm.

Snakes slithered around the classroom

When the "snakes" were told the sun was setting, the snakes would slow down.

When the "snakes" were told the sun was heating up, the snakes would become much more active.

 
Chameleon's are reptiles.
We learned that they have eyes that can look in different directions AT THE SAME TIME!
We know that chameleon's do not look at something and then change their skin to match.
We know that chameleon's can change their color based on the light, or temperature.

Chameleon's hiding among the classroom

We learned that chameleons can let other chameleons and animals know when they are angry by CHANGING THEIR COLOR!
Morah Katie: If you were a chameleon, what color would you change your skin too if you were angry?
Tori: Pink and Purple.
Kian: Red, blue, white.
Levi: Brownish green.
Morah Katie: But we are not chameleons. What can we do if we need to let someone know we are hungry?
Kian: I would tell them I didn't like it, and to please not do it again.
Dena: Ask them to stop and and do something else.
Levi: Walk away.


Morah Katie: Shalom is the chameleon of the day..
Kids: NO!
Morah Katie: No? Are you sure? She has a backbone, why isn't she a chameleon? 
Levi: She has legs.
Morah Katie: So do chameleons.
Ben: She doesn't have scaly skin.
Morah Katie: OK, I agree. I'm still not convinced Shalom is not a chameleon.
Shalom: I don't lay eggs! 
Morah Katie: True, I guess you are all right, clearly Shalom is not a chameleon! What is she?
Gracie: A girl!