Education – 1st and 2nd grade

11/19: Today in class we worked on:

  1. students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. We enjoyed being together with the 3rd grade class for T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows, and Matthew S.
  3. We enjoyed reading the book, Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup by Pamela Mayer.
  4. We learned and did activities in our Hebrew book about the letter GIMEL, “saying sound” is G- (Hebrew Hint- “looks like a giraffe with two legs kneeling).
  5. We enjoyed Shira with the 3rd grade class and with Matthew S we sang many songs.
  6. We created Chanukah cards for the college student’s care packages.
  7. We played a Hebrew game using our flashcards, with Hebrew letters/lessons we learned today in class.
  8. Lihitaot (good-bye)! Hope you and your families have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

11/12: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. We enjoyed being together with the Gan – 3rd grade classes for T’Fillah with Rabbi Prass, and Morah Alexa. Rabbi Prass shared with us all on the importance of maintaining Jewish Unity, especially during these troubled times.
  3. We discussed if the students with their families shared Shabbat, with their new candle holders they created.
  4. We learned and did activities in our Hebrew book about the letter LAMED, “saying sound” is L- (Hebrew Hint- “looks like a lightning bolt).
  5. For Shira Morah Alexa, with Rosh Chodesh Kislev this week, shared a Chanukah ballad with all of Gan – 3rd grade.
  6. I read the book, Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman.
  7. We played a Hebrew game with Hebrew letters/lessons we learned today in class.
  8. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

11/5: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. We enjoyed being together with the 3rd grade class for T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows, and Morah Alexa.
  3. We learned and did activities in our Hebrew book about the letter NUN, “saying sound” is N- (Hebrew Hint- “looks like the top, bottom, and right side of a  candle).
  4. We enjoyed Shira with the 3rd grade class and Morah Alexa.
  5. The students received two pamphlets of information about the Jews Around the World and the country of Israel.
  6. We played a Hebrew game with Hebrew letters/lessons we learned today in class.
  7. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

10/29: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. We enjoyed being together with the Taste of Gan Beth Am class and the 3rd grade class for T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows, and Morah Alexa.
  3. We learned in our Hebrew book about the letter TAV, “saying sound” is T- (Hebrew Hint- “it has a big toe” can have a dot in the middle or not).
  4. We enjoyed Shira with the Taste of Gan Beth Am class and the 3rd grade class and Morah Alexa.
  5. The students received a pamphlet of information about the Torah how it is a special gift from G-D.
  6. We played a Four-Corners game with Hebrew letters we learned.
  7. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

10/22: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. In honor of ‘Camp Sunday’, we had a school-wide Havdalah service as our morning Tefilla this week, which was led by Morah Alexa and Rabbi Prass.  A representative from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade sat in the middle of the circle to hold the 3 Havdalah symbols.
  3. We learned in our Hebrew book about the letter SHIN, “saying sound” is SH- (Hebrew Hint- is has three branches climbing up- with a dot on the right).
  4. Shira was different this week as we had an All-School Sing-along with Morah Alexa. 
  5. Then Will Rivlin, an assistant Camp Director from OSRUI, came and we enjoyed a presentation from him on the amazing opportunities for fun, learning, and Jewish community from 4 Reform Jewish Summer camps.  Those camps and links to their websites are: 6 Points Creative Arts Camp, 6 Points Sci Tech Camp, 6 Points Sports Academy, OSRUI
  6. We played a Four-Corners game with Hebrew letters we learned.
  7. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

10/15: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Todah was our Boker B’yachad (Family Ed).  It was great to see parents there.
  2. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  3. We enjoyed being together for T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows, and Matthew Stoll and the 3rd grade class.
  4. Students and their parents created a special craft to go along with our theme Why Shabbat.
  5. We enjoyed Shira with the 3rd grade class and Matthew Stoll.  Matthew was the sub for Morah Alexa.  Matthew is one of CBA’s post b’nai mitzvah high school students.
  6. All the flashcards I provided have the name and the “saying sound” on the back. Please remind your student to keep them in a flashcard box.
  7. The parents had time to study with Rabbi Bellows while students were studying in class.
  8. We learned in our Hebrew book about the letter SHIN, “saying sound” is SH- (Hebrew Hint- is has three branches climbing up- with a dot on the right).
  9. We also wrote letters of support to Israeli children and soldiers. These will be personally delivered by a friend of Rabbi Prass later this week.
  10. What a wonderful morning sharing and learning together with you and your student!
  11. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

10/8: Today in class we worked on:

  1. Students shared “Chesed Happenings” which means Acts of Kindness and Love moments in their lives.
  2. I passed out our new religious book for this year please remember to bring it each week.
  3. We enjoyed being together for T’Fillah with Rabbi Bellows, and Morah Alexa and the 3rd grade class.
  4. The entire school, K – 6, met in the atrium with Rabbi Prass to talk about the recent events in Israel.  We were encouraged to reach out to people we know in Israel we know: family, friends, or past Israeli counselors from summer camp and let them know they are not alone.  Together we made a short video letting them know we are thinking of them.  You can see it by clicking this links: https://youtu.be/Uy5VqPOI0-8 OR https://fb.watch/nz-5agvBD6/
  5. We read the book, A Watermelon in the Sukkah, By Sylvia A. Rouss and Shannan Rouss.
  6. We enjoyed Shira with the 3rd grade class and Morah Alexa.
  7. All the flashcards I provided have the name and the “ saying sound” on the back. Please remind your student to keep them in a flashcard box.
  8. We learned in our Hebrew book about the letter SHIN, “saying sound” is SH- (Hebrew Hint- is has three branches climbing up- with a dot on the right).
  9. Lihitaot (good-bye)!

Homework to be completed by the next class:

  1. Please remember tzedakah.

10/1: Today in class we worked on:

  1. It was wonderful to have the whole school at the synagogue for our annual session at Beth Am centered around Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
  2. We began the session with an all-school game of “I spy with my little eye” something Jewish in the CBA sanctuary.  The K – 6th grade learners found the eternal light, ark, Israeli Flags, Stars of David, Torah scrolls, and much more.  It was so much fun to let their eyes explore our congregation’s sanctuary space.
  3. Then we had an all-school t’fillah led by Rabbi Prass and Morah Alexa. 
  4. From there we spread outside and throughout the building for 5 Sukkot related stations.  We rotated every 15 minutes by grade.  The stations were:
    1. Sukkot terms and concepts thru a rousing game of charades
    1. Build your own sukkah thru origami.  The learners wrote on the roof “My own home is beautiful because…..”
    1. Usphizin (inviting guests into my sukkah): The learners thought about who they would want to invite into their sukkah this week
    1. A Sukkah Scavenger Hunt of the Mind using Sukkot terms and concepts
    1. Sukkah visit with Rabbi Bellows where they spent time in the real sukkah and had an opportunity to shake the lulav & etrog.
  5. We concluded the session with shira, joining in songs connected to sukkot and the next holiday of Simchat Torah.

Homework to be completed by next class:

  1. Next Sunday we return to JCYS.

9/10: Today in class we worked on:

  1. We enjoyed an Opening Ceremony- with all grades together, and so many parents in attendance.  It was great to see the parents!
  2. Introductions (Name, Middle School We Attend, What does Being Jewish Mean To You)
  3. What are Middot? – Conversations about what we value personally, and then what do we as Jews value.
  4. Jewish Middot – Conversation about Acts of Loving Kindness, Respect, Wisdom, Beauty, Justice, and Peace
  5. Shirah (Music) with 4th – 6th grade led by Morah Alexa

Homework to be completed by next class:

N/A