3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 05.18.26

Dear Parents,

What a wonderful school year! Thank you for joining us at the Chai Tots Year‑End Celebration and the graduation ceremony for our amazing kindergartners!!

We enjoyed a year of learning and friendship in Gimmel, and none of it would have been possible without the support of our families.

Summer suggestions for a fun, growth-filled break:

• Routine: Keep a consistent daily schedule that balances quiet time, play, and sleep.

• Reading: Aim for a short daily read-aloud or independent picture-book time.

• Chores: Offer simple, age-appropriate tasks (folding laundry, watering plants) to teach responsibility.

• Outdoor play: Include daily outdoor activity for gross-motor skills and exploration.

We look forward to welcoming returning students next year. Best wishes to our graduates as they continue their academic journeys. Enjoy a joyful summer with friends and family!

As a reminder, we will be sending home your child's water bottles, extra change of clothes, and indoor shoes on the last day of school.

Thank you for your love and support!

Morahs Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 05.11.26

Dear Parents,

We are incredibly thankful for lovely treats, beautiful flowers, delicious lunch and most of all, your love during Teacher Apprecation Week! These presents made us feel so celebrated and special. Your kindness and support provide great encouragement for us and we are so grateful to work with you and your children.

Our Art Show was a grand success!  Gimmel friends enjoyed and worked as a team with their Morahs to setup the museum-style presentation of the art pieces. This event also gave the Gimmel friends an opportunity to see their art creations appreciated by their friends and families. Thank you for your time and support!

Our adventures in Asia continue with the exploration of India. In addition to their collection of Japanese and Chinese flags, the students are creating Indian flags. Browsing through books about India, the children are ecstatic to see the decorated camels, horses, and elephants that were in the parades that take place during special occasions. The continuous use of maps helped our older friends to see that China neighbors India, separated by the Himalayan mountain range. Our Montessori concrete landform materials help our students to understand that India is a peninsula, and that Japan is an island country. The children were shown various crafts and trinkets from India. Items displayed include  decorative wooden elephants, peacocks, nesting Indian dolls, Indian currency (called rupees), and more. We are also planning to cook and taste rice, which is a staple food in India. Many children already made travel plans to visit Asia, and are excited that they must fly in a plane for more than 20 hours over 2 days to travel from North America to Asia. What a fun way to learn!

The chicks have started hatching and it’s exciting to watch them grow. Futher, preparations for the year-end celebration are in full swing, and we are all eagerly anticipating this event!

Have a wonderful week! 

Morahs Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 05.04.26

Hello wonderful preschool families!

The week of the art show is finally here! We are so very excited to share your children’s beautiful creations with you!  Thank you so much for joining us for this special event!

Our cultural studies have taken us on a journey to Japan this week!  From the beautiful clothing to the delicious foods, the children have come up with so many questions about Japanese culture and traditions.  With care and precision, we have been working to create delicate paper fans, reminiscent of the “sensu” common to Japan.  These fans represent luxury, and they create the cooling breeze of a relaxing summer day.  They are commonly used in daily life, dance, and ceremonies.  Decorating and folding beautiful paper is a great activity for a rainy day at home, too!

We have also been busy cultivating the beginnings of a spring garden in the outdoor environment.  The children enjoyed working to clear the area, removing weeds and debris.  Seeds were then carefully planted. Now, we weed and water and patiently await the first signs of sprouts.  We can’t wait for our fresh cool cucumbers and colorful array of flowers to arrive!

We hope you all have a wonderful week!

Morahs Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 04.27.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We have to begin this week with a giant thank you to you, the families of our amazing students, for taking the time to meet with us this week.  We love sharing all the growth and progress we observe in the learning environment, as well as our hopes and goals for your child(ren).  We are beyond grateful to partner with each of you in creating the best developmental experience we can for your child!

In the classroom this week, we are all on chick watch!  The children are eagerly awaiting the first wiggles, thumps, and cracks from our cozy little eggs.  The sense of anticipation is definitely high, and we already know these chicks are going to be oh so loved!  To add to the fun, we have started to observe baby duckling and goslings waddling about near the ponds around school!  Many of the children have excitedly reported spotted them on their morning drive in. Keep your eyes peeled for these fluffy friends!

Art is also a topic of great interest and excitement, as our big art show is less than a week away!  We cannot wait for you to see the masterpieces your children have created.  Creating these pieces has provided such a wonderful outlet for self expression, exploration, sensory immersion, and motor refinement.  We hope that in sharing their pieces with you, the children will also share the rich experiences they had creating them!  

Thank you for your help during this roller coaster of a weather week!  We’ve already experienced bright sun, pouring rain, damp and chilly mornings, and windy afternoons, and it looks like the temperatures are about to take a dip.  All of the jackets, sunscreen, rain gear, and other supplies have gone such a long way in helping the children stay comfy and cozy through it all!  We appreciate it!

We hope you all have a wonderful week!

Morahs Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 04.20.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

The time has come for one of our favorite activities of the school year.  This week, we will complete our studies of the life cycle of birds by observing and caring for a special group of real live chickens.  Currently, we have 7 eggs sitting safe and cozy in an incubator.  The children are carefully observing the eggs each day, eagerly awaiting the first signs of hatching.  Once the chicks emerge from the eggs, we will have the opportunity to observe and care for them as they grow.  This has become such a meaningful and memorable piece of our yearly curriculum.  We are so thankful to the Dollin family for supporting and organizing the process each year!

With our art show quickly approaching, we are also busy gathering and putting final touches on pieces to be displayed!  The children are certainly excited to share their artistic creations.  Through different mediums and styles, we have explored the elements of water, fire, air, and earth.  This year, our art has been quite experiential, engaging the senses and focusing just as much on the process as the product.  We hope that you will all be able to join us us for this special day, May 5th!

As is often true for spring in Ohio, our weather has been a true roller coaster.  We are all eager to spend increased time outside after the long winter, though.   Please consider the forecast of the day, when dressing your child for school.  With varying temperatures and frequent rain, layers and waterproof footwear go a long way in keeping our students comfortable and happy outdoors!  Thank you so much for your support!

Please apply sunscreen at home before coming to school each day. Full day students will need to have extra sunscreen here at school.

We hope you all have a happy and healthy week!

Morahs Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 04.13.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We are excited to move into our first full school week of April!  The children sure are enjoying the warmer weather.  It’s been wonderful to spend more time in the outdoor environment, observing the changes as spring unfolds.  From the emerging blooms to the singing birds, the children are taking note of all of the signs of the new season.

In the classroom, we are beginning to learn all about money. To begin, we are learning the names and values of American coins.  The children love to compare the size, shape, feel, and color of the coins.  If the opportunity presents itself, consider allowing your child to assist you in paying for something this week.  Utilizing coins and dollars to compose the value needed for a treat of an item is both a fun and meaningful learning opportunity!

Our art show is quickly approaching, and we have been hard at work on final preparations.  It has been amazing to watch the children grow in confidence and skill over the course of the year.  They’ve explored many different art concepts and styles, refining their small motor control and expressing themselves creatively.  We are so looking forward to sharing their creations with you at the Chai Tots Art Show on May 5th!

Also, we look forward to seeing each of you for parent teacher conferences on April 27th, 28th or 30th! 

We hope you all have a happy and healthy week ahead!  

Morahs Kara, Uma, Chaya and Kristy

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 03.30.26

Dear Parents,

Happy Spring! We are so happy to see the bonding between the students grow stronger and it is truly wonderful to watch our kindergarten friends having developed the leadership skills, confidence, and patience to guide/help their younger friends with lessons.

Our Gimmel students are excited everyday to see the grass growing successfully in their grassland biome. They are thrilled to place the grassland animal figurines in the savanna, and visualize the interactions between different species as learned from various books.

We continue to learn about birds and their habitats. For a hands-on experience of building a model nest, we are planning to go for a nature walk and collect twigs, feathers, dried grass, and leaves; the students will then get creative in making their own nests using real images of differently shaped nests as inspiration. This activity helps them understand the adaptations of our beautiful feathered friends.

The children will be learning about amphibians in the animal kingdom, specifically - frogs. There are more than 5,000 kinds of frogs around the world, ranging from the huge Goliath frogs in Africa to the tiny Spring Peepers in our own state of Ohio. The students will also learn about the habitat and parts of a frog, as well as its life-cycle and metamorphosis. In our Practical area, we will create a frog sensory pond, which is sure to provide  lots of learning and fun!

Chag Kasher V’Sameach!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 03.16.26

Dear Parents,

Thank you for attending the Math Parent Education night! We always appreciate and look forward to this time together to share our Montessori methods of teaching.

In order to herald the spring season, the bird unit has been introduced in zoology. It's the perfect season, as we can't miss the chirping sounds of our winged friends. Our lessons will encompass the life cycle of birds, their migration patterns, and adaptations. The children are sure to enjoy learning about the sizes and colors of different birds, their nesting behaviors, and even the interesting names of birds, such as red-bellied woodpecker, warbler, bluejay, goldfinch, and the special state bird of Ohio, the cardinal, which does not migrate.

Our older friends will build sentences about their favorite bird; further, they will study the creative nest building techniques of birds. We encourage the students to identify various birds both at school and home. Since birds collect various materials to build their nests, we will discuss how to attract birds by offering nesting materials in our backyard, such as yarn, pebbles, twigs, pine needles and cotton balls. The younger children will also be refreshing their math skills using egg and bird counters.

As gardening season is upon us, the children are happily sharing their many plans for growing fruits and vegetables in their home garden. In school, our Gimmel friends have started learning about the life cycle of plants, and as a hands-on activity, we have started growing various herbs, beans, and flowers. We hope that with the students' love and care, these seeds will sprout soon and they can bring the seedlings home to add to their garden. 

A special thanks to Zane's mom, Amy, for bringing eggs in various shapes, sizes and colors from home and for her presentation, which was enjoyed by all Gimmel friends.

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 03.09.26

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a warm March week!

In Botany, we started growing plants, herbs and grass to learn about plant systems such as the root system and shoot system. The children are happy and excited to grow plants and see the outcome; this is a fun activity while teaming up with their friends. 

In our unit study about Africa, the core topic will be about the grassland also called savannah. The grassland is an entertaining and relatable first glimpse into the world of nature for young children. The savannah is a vast open area of grassland that is home to many animals such as giraffe, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, rhinoceros, leopard, cheetah, vulture, striped skink, and so on. We will learn about the habitats of various animals and their food chains. We have created a community grassland with real grass and figurines of African animals, providing our students  a hands-on experience to learn various fun facts such as herbivorous and carnivorous animals; predators such as leopards, cheetahs, and lions; as well as the adaptation of grass eating animals. The students are enthusiastically taking turns watering the grass seeds and watching the model biome take shape. Our older students and kindergartners will delve deeper into specific facts about grasslands and create their own grassland biomes to take home. Further, we will study about another prevalent landform in Africa, namely the desert, with the camel being a wonderful example for adaptation, earning the nickname "Ship of the Desert!"

We are looking forward to the Parent Education Night this Wednesday (March 11) from 7:30pm - 8:30pm where we will discuss the benefits of Montessori Math materials and curriculum. This is a beautiful opportunity to understand how children progress from the concrete to the abstract to develop solid and lasting mathematical thinking.

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Kristy, Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 03.02.26

Hello, wonderful families!

We’ve had such a joyful and busy week in our Montessori classroom!

Purim is almost here!! From storytelling, to puppet making, Booing Haman, and Hamantash baking … it has been a few fun and busy weeks. Dress up day is March 3 for Purim. Come join the family Purim Palooza Carnival between 2:30p-4:30p and enjoy Purim fun with your child.

This week we introduced sewing in our Practical Life area. The children are practicing with large plastic needles, plastic mesh canvas sheets, and colorful yarn. They are learning how to thread the needle, cut yarn with scissors, and sew in and out of the mesh. In Montessori, the process is just as important as the finished work. Threading builds patience and hand-eye coordination. Cutting strengthens the hand muscles. Sewing carefully in a pattern develops concentration, order, and perseverance. All of these small, careful steps help strengthen fine motor skills and lay the foundation for a strong pincer grip and future writing. The children are so proud of their growing independence and love showing their finished sewing pieces!

We are also going deeper into our study of Africa. The children are working with the geography map to learn the names of the countries and match them with their flags. They have especially enjoyed making their own flags. The most popular choice has been Egypt — the bold red, white, and black design has captured their attention! Through this work, they are building memory, attention to detail, and a growing awareness of the wider world.

In our Science area, we began exploring the solar system. The children are learning the names of the eight planets and working with puzzles, books, and matching activities to connect planet images with their names. They are fascinated by the size of Jupiter and the beautiful rings of Saturn. This work supports early reading skills, sequencing, and classification, while nurturing their natural curiosity about space.

It has been a week full of careful hands, focused minds, and excited discoveries. Thank you for your continued partnership and support at home. We love watching your children grow!

Morahs Kristy, Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 02.23.26

Dear Families,

Another exciting week of exploration and creativity is ahead in our classroom!

Purim is underway in the classroom. The children love listening to the story of King Achashveirosh and Queen Esther, and booing Haman has become a favorite activity. Purim activities and art projects are keeping the children super busy this week. Mark your calendars to join us March 3 at 2:30 for Purim carnival fun!!

In the Art area, the children will be creating animals and objects using their fingerprints and a few thoughtful lines. This work not only sparks imagination but also strengthens fine motor control and hand awareness. As children complete ten creations, they will carefully compile them into their very own booklet—a meaningful way to celebrate their effort, creativity, and growing sense of accomplishment.

In our Culture area, we will continue our study of the continents by focusing on the shape of Africa. The children will paint the continent using green, helping them connect color with shape as part of their geographic awareness. This work reflects the beautiful sequence of Montessori learning: our younger three-year-olds begin by exploring color and form through painting, four-year-olds deepen their understanding by working with continent maps, and our five-year-olds take their knowledge even further by creating their own maps. Each step builds upon the last, supporting confidence and a strong foundation for future learning.

Our Fire-themed art project is also well underway! The children have been fascinated as they observe crayon wax gently dripping down a heated rock, transforming into a unique and vibrant piece of art. This process invites careful observation, patience, and wonder—true ingredients of scientific and artistic discovery. We cannot wait to share these incredible creations with you at our Art Show in May!

Thank you for being such an important part of our classroom community. It is a joy to watch the children grow in independence, creativity, and curiosity each day. Wishing your family a wonderful week filled with warmth and small moments of discovery.

Morahs Kristy, Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 02.17.26

Dear Preschool Families,

We are looking forward to a meaningful and engaging week in our classroom! This Friday we are excited to welcome Hudson’s grandma, a professional dental hygienist, who will be visiting to teach the children about healthy teeth brushing and oral care. It is always special when members of our community share their knowledge with us, and we can’t wait for the children to learn directly from an expert about how to keep their smiles strong and bright!

In preparation for her visit, the children will be practicing teeth brushing on a model mouth. This activity is part of our Care of Self work in the Practical Life curriculum. These lessons often include longer sequences of purposeful steps, helping children strengthen their concentration, coordination, and sense of order. As they carefully follow each step, they build independence and confidence while learning how to take responsibility for their own well-being—an essential foundation for lifelong habits.

We will also begin introducing the continent of Africa in our Culture area. Alongside learning about its rich and diverse cultures, the children will explore a new Practical Life work: Balancing the Fruit Basket on their head. This activity encourages careful movement, posture, and strong body awareness as children practice walking with control and intention. It is a wonderful way to develop coordination while connecting to traditions in some African communities, where carrying items on the head is a practical and skillful daily practice. Through this work, the children continue to grow in both cultural appreciation and global understanding.

With warmer weather on the way and snow beginning to melt, we are excited to spend more time outdoors! This time of year can be quite muddy, so please send your child with appropriate outdoor clothing, including waterproof boots and extra layers if possible. Being properly dressed allows the children to explore comfortably and fully enjoy the fresh air and movement that outdoor play provides.

Thank you for your continued support in making our classroom community so special. We look forward to another joyful week of learning together!

Morahs Kristy, Uma, Kara, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 02.09.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

Beginning February with our Tu B-shvat, we have been focusing on the tree's parts, functions, and benefits. The children are studying the parts of a tree, including the roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and fruits. We are learning the names and functions of each part and how they work together to help a tree grow strong and healthy. Using puzzles, matching cards, real-life photos, and art work, the children are building both vocabulary and understanding in a concrete, engaging way.

In the art area, the children are working on a snowflake painting using Q-tips and blue paint. This process-based art activity invites the children to work slowly and with intention. Using a Q-tip encourages a gentle grip and controlled movements, supporting fine motor development. In the Montessori classroom, art is offered as purposeful work that helps build concentration, independence, and confidence, as children make their own choices, follow each step independently, and take pride in completing their work from beginning to end.

In our Practical Life area, from this week on, the children are preparing a classic snack, “Ants on the Log,” using celery, sunflower butter, and raisins. The children carefully spread the sunflower butter, place the raisins one by one, and practice sequencing each step of the process. This hands-on food preparation strengthens fine motor skills, coordination, and independence while also encouraging patience and attention to detail. Beyond the physical skills, preparing their own food fosters confidence, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. It also helps children develop healthy habits and a positive connection to nutritious foods as they experience the joy of making something for themselves.

This week we are excited to spend more time outdoors with the children with the temperature going back up a bit!

Have a wonderful week,

Morahs Kristy, Kara, Uma, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 02.02.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We are excited to welcome a fresh new month this week!  Here is hoping that February brings some warmer weather our way. 

We start off the month with Tu Bshvat -The birthday of the trees. This is always a fun celebration. The students are learning about the parts of the tree and the different types that we see around us. They have enjoyed putting together a tree collage and look forward to planting their parsley soon. Tu Bshvat celebrates the special trees of Israel and the students will get to taste those fruit that Israel is known for - olives, dates,  grapes, figs, and pomegranates.

February also begins our unit on rocks and minerals.  The children will have the opportunity to examine a variety of different rocks.  After utilizing their senses to determine the unique property of each type of stone, the children will practice using descriptive language to compare and contrast.  If you happen to have any collections of special rocks, crystals, or gemstones at home, they would make a wonderful item for Share Day!

We will bring our rock study to the art area also!  After warming stones in the oven, we will invite children to color on them with crayons.  The heated rocks will cause the crayons to slowly melt, allowing the children to get extra creative in their design and expression and color combinations.  

While our first art project of the week will warm us up, the other is as chilly as can be!  With all of the snow outside, it is the perfect opportunity for snow painting!  This activity is always a huge hit.  With a fresh basin of snow as a palette, each child will have the opportunity to use an assortment droppers, brushes, and tools to create a masterpiece with colored water.  This is another open ended project, allowing creativity to soar!  It’s a perfect opportunity to experiment with mixing colors , too.  

We hope you stay safe, warm, and cozy during the cold week ahead!

Morahs Kara, Uma, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 01.26.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We are wrapping up the month of January with one major blast of wintery weather!  Thankfully, the children continue to keep the classroom joyful and bright.  This week, we are enjoying exploration in the art center, food preparation activities, creative flower arranging,  music and movement fun, and lessons about South America! A huge thank you to Lennox, Ella, and Rafi for providing us with a fresh supply of oranges, vegetables, and flowers.  The children are always excited to contribute supplies for these popular activities, and we greatly appreciate the support of our families!

Each Tuesday, we incorporate Share Time into our morning circle.  This is a chance for the children select an item from home to bring to school.  They place these items on a rug in the center of our group, as they arrive in the morning.  Once it is their turn to share, the child is encouraged to stand up and talk about their item in a loud and clear voice.  Sharing helps build self confidence, descriptive language, and organization of thoughts.  The children listening also have a very important job.  Aside from being patient, they are learning to be a good audience.  They practice this by giving their attention through eye contact, quietly listening, and asking meaningful questions.  Both the speaker and the audience are practicing and refining essential communication skills, and having fun while doing so!  Planning which item to bring each Tuesday for Share Time can be a meaningful activity and discussion you enjoy with your child each week.  We ask that each child brings one single item to share and discuss, with items being no larger than a backpack.  Some great share items are photographs of special memories, souvenirs from travel, items discovered in nature, or, of course, new favorite toys.  We love seeing what the children come to school excited to share each week!

As we continue to focus on art experiences in the classroom, the children have been enjoying a variety of painting experiences. This week, marble painting has been quite popular!  The children carefully place a circular white paper into a small pot.  Then, a single drop of pink paint and a single drop of yellow paint are applied.  This requires precision and control…we get to observe some wonderful expressions of concentration during this step!  Next, a marble is added to the pot.  The child moves the marble through the paint and around the paper with tilts and shifts of the pot.  Each masterpiece created is completely unique and oh so vibrant!  We love the color these works of art are adding to our classroom!

We hope the week ahead finds you healthy and warm!  

Morahs Kara, Uma, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 01.19.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

While the weather outside has taken a turn for the cold and gloomy, we are prepared to fill this short week with color and joy! Our art curriculum is currently in full swing. The children have been loving experimenting with a variety of mediums: delicate tissue paper, glossy paint, and thick crayons to create vibrant masterpieces. Art is a beautiful piece of the Montessori curriculum, as it offers an experience that engages the whole child.  While the senses are immersed in the colors, textures, scents, and sounds of the activities, important cognitive and motor skills are also being developed and refined. Observing a child deeply concentrating on maneuvering their scissors down a line with precision or endeavoring to place tiny balls of tissue paper in just the right places, in order for their own unique creative vision to come alive is nothing short of magical. We are grateful for the color and joy these artistic explorations are lending to our January days!

Also adding to our vibrant classroom environment, we are beginning our unit on South America!  Already the children are eager to learn about the different wildlife, cultures, foods, and geographical areas that this continent has to offer. We will begin our South American study with a look at the different timeline of seasons in the southern hemisphere. Quickly then, our focus will turn to the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon! Not only will we take a close look at the many animal and plant species that call the Amazon home, but we will also research the crucial impact this rainforest plays in the health of our entire planet!

While it is sure to be a fun and creative week in our cozy classroom, we know these children are wishing and hoping for some snow to frolic in.  We will do our best to allow them time outside, when the weather allows!  

Wishing you a warm, healthy, cozy week!

Morahs Kara, Uma, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 01.12.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

What a wonderful start to 2026 it has been in the Gimmel classroom!  The children have been busy exploring new works.  Our practical life area has been particularly popular so far this month.  Squeezing fresh orange juice has definitely been an exciting activity for the children.  This food preparation practice offers a wonderful sensorial experience, from the bright fresh scent to sweet tang of the juice.  It also requires a good deal of small motor strength and concentration to twist the orange around the juicer, pressing out as many droplets of juice as possible.  This activity has been so popular that it will continue throughout the month, providing each child with the opportunity for repetition.  

Bubble mixing has been another exciting practical life activity.  This fun experiment begins with preparation.  The child must first use a small grater to create flakes from a bar of soap.  Once enough flakes have been gathered, the child may then pour them into a basin of water, whipping up a foam of bubbles using a hand mixer.  As we’ve observed the children interacting with this activity, an interesting pattern appeared.  The children quickly began to partner up for this activity, with one child grating soap as the other whipped up the bubbles.  This natural inclination to work in collaboration, supporting and helping one another, has been beautiful to observe.  

While we have enjoyed some unusually warm weather to begin the year, the cold does appear to be making a return this week.  The children benefit greatly from time we are able to spend in the outdoor environment, so we will continue to get them outside when possible.  Please be sure to send warm footwear, hats, gloves and coats to keep your child comfortable on the playground.   

We hope you all have a happy, warm and cozy week ahead!

Morahs Kara, Uma, Kristy and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 01.05.26

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We are so excited to welcome students back to the classroom this week!  The shelves are overflowing with fun new works and lessons for the children to explore, and we have certainly missed their smiling faces.  We hope everyone had a fun and restful winter break!  

This week, not only do we get to welcome the children to the classroom, but the parents too.  Curriculum Night, on Tuesday evening, is a wonderful opportunity for you to come take a closer look at the classroom, materials, and lessons that your child experiences every day.  We will discuss Montessori materials and philosophy, and all that makes this method of learning such a wonderful support for growing young minds.  Along with answering your questions, we will offer a peek at what lies ahead during the second half of the year and how we will support children in different stages of development.  It’s sure to be an engaging and informative night, and we sure hope you can join us!

In the science area of the classroom, our biology studies will focus on the human body.  The children will learn about the different systems that make up their bodies, and what makes each one so important.  We will also explore the various ways we can support our bodies, including exercise, nutrition, and hygiene.  Especially during these colder and darker winter months, it is so important that we are taking care of ourselves.  Even at this young age, children can build habits that will support their health and happiness, building strong minds and bodies!

In Practical Life, we are excited to introduce the ever popular bubble mixing work!  The children will first be invited to grate a bar of soap into soap flakes.  Once they have a created the soapy flakes, they will sprinkle them into a basin of water, using a hand mixer to whip up a cloud of soapy suds.  Not only is this activity a heap of fun, but it supports the development of concentration, fine motor control, mental planning, and coordination!  

As we are now fully immersed in the winter season, we ask that you please be weather aware when planning clothing and outerwear for school each day.  The children love to enjoy the outdoor environment if at all possible.  Warm and waterproof footwear, cozy coats, hats, and mittens allow them to enjoy the outdoors comfortably.  Thank you so much for helping your child prepare for the weather!

We hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Morahs Kara, Uma, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 12.15.25

Dear Parents,

Warm greetings!

Our mornings start with Morah Chaya's Chanukah stories. The children are so excited to listen to the stories and are conversing about the upcoming Chanukah walk. It is gratifying to see all friends involved in their Chanukah artwork with enthusiasm while also complementing their peers' artwork displayed all around our environment. We notice the students discovering the technique involved in a particular art, experimenting with the materials and bringing to life their individual ideas. 

The children are also working on another favorite project - creating their very own menorahs. Watching their unique ideas and interpretations come alive when creating their own menorah versions is very special, a feeling shared by the children as well, especially when they get to share the menorah each night during candle lighting. The Chanukah lava lamp experiments and personalized latke recipes add more color and flavor to the Chanukah festivities.  

Our kindergarten students are comfortable to read stories to their younger friends and collaboratively work with them and guide them with their lessons. At the halfway mark of the school year, we are witnessing their growing confidence and independence, while at the same time staying humble and helping their friends. 

We will gather together this Wednesday as we celebrate our annual Chanukah walk. After touring the classrooms to admire the Chanukah arts and crafts, we will assemble in the big room for music, dancing, and fun.The children have been practicing with Morah Joanie to prepare a song-filled performance. We are all  eagerly awaiting what promises to be a memorable morning. Please do join us!

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 12.08.25

Dear Parents,

Warm greetings! We are sure everyone enjoyed the first snow day, with the children getting a preview of the upcoming winter season.

The Chanukah festival is here!! At this time of the year, Gimmel friends are happily engaged in Chanukah art activities. These activities are important, because they will not only enhance their creativity but also teach them about the different aspects of our culture and traditions. In order to understand the worldwide reach of this festival, our afternoon students will identify all the places where Chanukah is celebrated, referring to the Montessori globe.

In our hands-on science experiments, the children will use an olive press to create oil from olives. This is a fun and messy experiment that everyone loves and it also requires a good deal of planning, focus, and fine motor coordination. Our afternoon group will perform the "oil-lamp experiment," which involves making a basic lava lamp in a clear jar to demonstrate the concepts of density and chemical reactions; combining water, oil, food coloring and a fizzing tablet (to produce gas) will create colorful bubbly blobs that rise and fall.

In geography, we will introduce landforms and waterforms. The students will use concrete Montessori landform trays which provide them with tangible representations of abstract geographical concepts. Continued practice with these materials will enable the students to identify, recognize, distinguish and comprehend relationships between different features of the earth. We will start with the lake and island landforms. The children like to imagine what they might see or do if they were to visit one of these special places - for example, ducks on a lake or fish swimming in the waves around an island. Perhaps over the winter break, take a look at a map or stroll down a trail and see if they can help you spot any of the landforms we have studied.

Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed for the weather including winter shoes for outdoor activities; additionally, an indoor light jacket will be helpful to keep your young ones warm during the work cycle. 

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy and Chaya