Yom Ha'atzmaut!

Happy Yom Ha’atzmaut!

The last several classes have focused on the spring time Jewish holidays! We created Purim puppets and performed a Purim skit for each other, the whole school participated in planning and executing the chocolate seder, and most recently we learned about Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. In addition to discussing the historical events that lead to this great day, we sang and danced in celebration (while checking out this cool video! http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2011/05/wave-your-flag-israel-independence-day.html) as well as made some Star of David origami. Feel free to try it at home with this link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZexOuT-sjx0

Here is the link for the homework that is due next class (kuf):

http://www.tiyulim.torahaura.com/Print/P_Lesson_Twenty_Three_Page_One/p_lesson_twenty_three_page_one.html

Homework is a 2 sided worksheet which can always be found by:
1. going to torahaura.com 
2. clicking “workbook web sites” in the middle of the page
3. click on “Tiyulim”
4. choose the lesson we are on 

What’s that? You still can’t get over Yom Ha’atzmaut, and you feel like busting out the Israeli National Anthem? Okay! Go ahead!

Chag Purim Sameach!

Chag Purim!! (Almost…)

This week and last week the 2^nd graders reviewed the story of Purim. We had some help from the Veggie Tales (“The Girl Who Became Queen”). 

This episode tells a great rendition of the story!

In preparation for our own telling of the story, the class made puppets of all the  characters (check out the picture below!). This week we had the “dress rehearsal” of the puppet performance, but because some students were out, we will be doing the real performance next class. Hopefully I will have a video of it up here on the blog soon after!

Our most recent letters were SAMECH (it looks suspiciously similar to mem sofit and has a hidden smile!), and CHET (not to be confused with hay! It looks like a house with no hole.) Below is the homework. As usual you can download past homeworks, as well as check answers online at http://www.tiyulim.torahaura.com/ and select the lesson you want from the drop box on the left (“print lesson”).

                             

Homework is a 2 sided worksheet which can always be found by:
1. going to torahaura.com 
2. clicking “workbook web sites” in the middle of the page
3. click on “Tiyulim”
4. choose the lesson we are on 

**PS! A PRIZE DAY is coming up soon! Please remind students that they can earn 20 EXTRA BONUS POINTS if they complete the “Fun Sheet” I passed out today!!!! Just incase they lose their copy, here is a copy! (see accompanying .pdf)

Happy February Vacation!

Happy February vacation! Wait, vacation? I thought we just had nearly an entire winter of snow days… Oh well!

Last class we began with a discussion about Yemen Orde and how and why we should contribute to the 5^th grade’s project to help them (please see their note below describing it what this is). The 2^nd graders (with the help of Sam, our own borrowed very insightful 5^th grader!) had some great ideas about how our support for this school in need is helping in our goal of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Their great ideas also included some creative ways to help raise even more money!

-Going door to door and singing (then telling their generous neighbors about the cause)

-Making and selling comic books

-Making and selling baked goods at school or door to door

-Asking relatives and friends for donations

-Using their own allowance money to contribute (They’re idea not mine! Can you believe it?)

To make it even more fun, each class was given a tzedakah box with the specific purpose of giving its contents to Yemen Orde. We decorated it (who doesn’t like a sparkly, fabulous looking can full of cash?), and ended the class with $17! Not bad for the first day. So please remember to send your 2^nd grader with a couple extra dollars to add to our lovely tzedakah box for Yemen Orde! Did I mention the class to raise the most gets a prize?

“We are the 5th grade and are raising money for Yemen Orde. Yemen Orde is a school for orphans and immigrants in Israel close to Haifa. In December, 40% of the school was destroyed by a wild fire. We decided to help because the children lost family, homes, school, supplies, friends and community. The children of Yemen Orde need money to help buy new things for their school and rebuild. We are asking for the whole school's help to raise money for Yemen Orde. Every class will get a tzedakah box to decorate and put money into. The class that raises the most money will get a super fantabulous secret amazing prize. Don't ask what i is because we won't tell you! Think of the children and remember to bring money!”

-The 5th Grade

The newest letters are kaf and khaf (or chaf). I remember the difference between them by thinking about the “ch” sound as compared to being sick and having a hoarse voice. When you have a cough drop, your voice sounds clearer, but without one it sounds scratchy.

So…

“KAF has a cough drop.” (The dot in the middle makes it say a clear “K” sound.)

“CHAF has no cough drop” (This letter says “CH” because its throat is still scratchy!)

Below is the homework. As usual you can download past homeworks, as well as check answers online at http://www.tiyulim.torahaura.com/ and select the lesson you want from the drop box on the left (“print lesson”).

All about Tu B'shevat!

Our most recent class was all about Tu B’shevat! We were pleasantly surprised to have the Kindergarteners and first graders join us for the whole class. As a group we discussed what Tu B’shevat is and why we celebrate it. Of course this holiday is all about being thankful for trees and plants, and sure they look pretty and smell nice, but we wanted to know what other reasons there are to honor trees. We discovered that trees are in fact very important as they give us many of the things we use in our everyday lives! First and foremost, a student pointed out that plants give off oxygen which enables us to breathe. Another important use for trees that someone else noted is that wood can be used for shelter.

After the students thought of many more good ones, we made a Tu B’shavet project that used mostly recycled materials (cardboard, boxes, paper bags, paper towel rolls, etc.) and some creativity to create a class garden! As a treat during snack time, we watched some music videos on my laptop that looked familiar (they were songs from Tarzan and Aladdin)… except they were in Hebrew! Later we sang some Tu B’shevat songs while I played ukulele, as well as played “Tu B’Shevat, Tu B’Shevat, Tree,” which is surprisingly similar to “Duck, Duck, Goose.”

All in all it was a Tu B’Shevat-erific day!

- Julie