Friday, December 18, 2009

News from Miss Gloria's Class: 12/18/09


“Nes gadol hayah sham”
Friday, December 18, 2009 Letter of the Week: L

Last week, we continued to learn about Hanukkah through stories and songs. We read Chanukah Lights Everywhere, written by Michael J. Rosen, Hanukkah by Roni Schotter, and What is Hanukkah? by Harriet Ziefert. Our Hanukkah art projects were making a handprint menorah, Letter C for candles, and a clay menorah with two candles, one shammash candle and one candle for the first night of Hanukkah. This week, on Monday, we read Hanukkah Lights by Ben Lakner. This book tells about the miracle of Hanukkah and how the oil for the Temple's menorah, which was only enough for one day, lasted for eight days. Hanukkah Lights also tells how to light the menorah and how to play the dreidel game. For our art project, the boys and girls made latkes sizzling in a frying pan. Each day this week, we lit the Hanukkah candles and said the Hanukkah blessings to celebrate the holiday.

On Tuesday, we read Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights by Leslie Kimmelman. This book tells how Hanukkah is celebrated in the home. For letter L, the boys and girls thought of words that begin with L, such as, lollipop, legs, lamb, lion, library, love, lettuce, letters, lights, and our friends, Lily, Lila, Leila, Lane, Lucas, and Leo. For our letter L art project, the children made Hanukkah lights on the letter L. First, they painted the letter blue and placed colorful tissue paper squares over the paint. The letter L was made with holes so that the light would shine through the paper.

On Wednesday, the journal group put dreidels on their page and the story group read Beni's First Chanukah by Jane Breskin Zalben. In this book, Beni celebrates the "best Chanukah ever". In yoga class, Miss Kim asked the children to find objects in the room that were in the shape of a circle. The boys and girls played "Yoga Simon Says" and they took an imaginary trip to the park. They posed as bicycles, a sliding board, and a seesaw. They also had a picnic lunch where they made large sandwiches and sipped a big drink through a straw. At the end of each class, the children say "namaste" to their friends for having a great yoga session.

On Thursday, we read A Blue's Clues Chanukah by Jessica Lissy. Blue and her friends celebrate traditional Chanukah activities like playing the dreidel game, eating latkes, lighting the menorah, and singing songs. For our letter L project, the boys and girls made lobsters.

On Friday, we read The Hanukkah Mice by Ronne Randall. In this book, the mice are in search of the Hanukkah lights. They discover the chocolate coins, sparkling dreidels, delicious doughnuts, special gifts, and on the last night, they find the beautiful menorah with all of the candles aglow. For the art project, the children made Hanukkah cards.

*Thank you to Sam, Jonah A., Lucas, Lila, Alex, Marisol, Maya, and Simon for being our super "kids of the day" for the past two weeks.
*Thank you to all of the parents who attended the Parent Teacher Conferences. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to speak to all of you.
*The Playschool will re-open on Monday, January 4, 2010.
*Our second trip to the Art Museum will be on Tuesday, January 12. Please let us know by Friday, January 8 if your child will be joining us. Parents are most definitely welcome on the trip, too. We will be having lunch at the museum. All lunches should be packed in a bag that is disposable.
*When the Philadelphia Schools are closed because of inclement weather, the Playschool will also be closed. This information can be found on the TV, radio, or on the School District of Philadelphia's website.
* Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.

Miss Gloria, Miss Allison, Miss Sophie, Miss Mindy and Mr. Noah

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