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

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 12.01.25

Dear Parents,

Welcome to December -  a month filled with festivities!

We begin this month with our study of Antarctica, the coldest continent on Earth. The children are always curious about the white landmass at the bottom of the globe and are eager to learn about this ice-covered habitat and the animals which live there. One such special animal is the penguin, a bird with webbed feet, short wings and waterproof feathers. With the presentation of the Montessori penguin puzzle, the students will learn the facts of this unique bird which cannot fly, but can swim very well; we will be studying about their life cycle and adaptations. We will also introduce animal migration, highlighting the blue whales migrating to Antarctica for feeding. To further support the study of this unique continent, we will include penguin counters in math, and a beautiful sensorial tray with Antarctic animals such as seals, emperor penguins and whales. We have also set up a reading corner with a collection of books, such as Salina Yoon's series.about penguins. Reading these books will provide the children ample opportunities to explore this continent.

Children always enjoy science experiments. Our focus for this month is to conduct experiments about the three states of water and to understand the related vocabulary words such as glacier, snow, ice, and icebergs.

The third year kindergarten students practice their readers daily with their Morahs and our special volunteer Morah, Paula. We genuinely appreciate her time in our afternoon sessions. We will be sending take-home books once a week so that they can continue to hone their reading skills outside the classroom. Parents play a key role in making this experience a positive one. Our kindergarten  students are super excited for this opportunity  to read with their family!

Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed for the weather including winter shoes for outdoor activities. Thank you for your support as always.

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 11.24.25

Dear Chai Tots Parents,

Thanksgiving week is here! This short week, we will be finishing up crafts to celebrate the holiday. Gratitude is a central theme in Judaism and one that we regularly encourage as Montessorians. All classrooms will be discussing gratitude. We will model expressing three things for which we are thankful, while helping our friends to find examples in their own lives and express it. 

In the Montessori environment, gratitude is a key component of peace education, and grace and courtesy exercises. Beginning in our infant room, children are encouraged to use sign language for please and thank you, and encouraged to tidy up and put away materials. In the toddler and 3-6 environment, we model saying “excuse me,” as well as how to walk around others’ works. Grace and Courtesy lessons are offered naturally throughout our work periods so that children have the tools to gracefully move about their environments and are equipped with the phrasing to use when life inevitably bumps into them! 

Our 3-6 students will be cooking together in the classroom this week. One item on the menu is corn. The cultivation of corn was an important agricultural contribution made by Native peoples. It is almost universally liked by all kids too! 

As adults, we reflect on the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday with warmth, remembering that, historically, this day brought peace and cooperation to Wampanoag and the English. We wish all of our Chai Tots families a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday, and want you all to know that we are grateful for you and your precious children!

Warm and cozy Thanksgiving wishes,

Chai Tots Morahs

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 11.17.25

Dear Parents,

Warm greetings! Following last week's first snowfall of this school year, it's wonderful to see the children wearing their cozy seasonal outfits.

We are beginning our study of North America just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. At this time, we will focus on The United States of America.  When we study a particular continent, we will cover a variety of topics such as animals, countries, flags, climate, food, and culture. Some key activities include the North America puzzle map which our children will build, trace or even pin punch to create their own map and the flags of countries in the orange continent. Our study of trees and leaves will also center around the flora in North America. In addition, we will also focus on the mammals of North America  - moose, deer, bison, and brown bear.  This dovetails into our study in Zoology about mammals.

For Thanksgiving, our Gimmel team will exercise their culinary skills to prepare a sumptuous meal and celebrate with a family style lunch with their peers and Morahs. Our older friends are creating a lovely menu and we are sure this event will turn out to be a special experience and it will also sharpen their food prep skills.

At this time of the year, there is an uptick in falling leaves due to the colder weather, which indicates that trees are conserving energy and water to last through the winter. In our Gimmel  room, the children are sharing their fun fall activities such as raking leaves, jumping in the leaf pile and collecting colorful leaves. We took this great opportunity to present the Montessori leaf cabinet, which has 18 wooden leaf shapes.This lesson indirectly prepares children for botany by giving them the language to describe different leaf shapes. This activity stimulates the child’s interest in the study of nature and understanding the different types of trees, for example, evergreen trees who keep their leaves green all year and deciduous trees whose leaves change colors and fall off. During play time our young friends often collect their best leaves and bring them to their  Morahs  and we encourage them to match it to one of the leaf shapes from the cabinet. We included activities around this topic such as parts of a leaf, tracing the leaf and making their own booklets. While our younger friends enjoy matching, counting and coloring leaves, our older friends will learn the names of different leaf shapes such as spatulate, sagitate, elliptical, oblong, obovate, orbiculate, ovate, and cordate with Montessori control cards.

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A gentle reminder: please label your child's snacks in a suitable container (instead of Ziploc bags, which children find difficult to reseal independently) and label water bottles with their names. Also, please label their extra set of clothes.

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 11.10.25

Dear Families,

Thank you so much for taking the time to join us for Parent–Teacher Conferences! We truly enjoyed connecting with each of you and sharing your child’s progress and growth. We hope our conversations helped you see where your child is on their learning journey. Home and school partnership plays such an important role in your child’s development — when we work together, we can best support their independence, confidence, and love of learning.

This week, we’re introducing a new activity in our Practical Life and Art areas called “Magic Clay.” The children will use markers to color plain clay, mix colors to create their favorite shades, and then shape the clay into something special. This hands-on work strengthens fine motor skills and hand muscles — an important foundation for developing a good pincer grip, which later supports writing. Once finished, the creations will dry on our drying rack and be ready to take home on Fridays!

In the Culture area, we are practicing visual discrimination skills with our 3-part cards. These cards are a wonderful Montessori material that help children build vocabulary, concentration, and attention to detail. Each set includes a picture card, a label, and a control card (with both picture and label). Children match and name each part — for example, the body parts of a horse — or explore differences among various mammals. This activity not only strengthens observation skills but also deepens their understanding of the world around them.

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Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.
Have a wonderful week! 

Warmly,

Morahs Kristy, Uma, Kara, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 11.03.25

Dear Parents,

Thank you to the grandparents/parents who attended our Grandparents Day last week. We hope you had a wonderful time painting bird houses and spending the morning with your loved grandchild/child. We heard everything about your time together after you left!

This week, we’re going to introduce our art easel to the class! In a Montessori classroom, an art easel is not merely a tool for painting but a key component of the "prepared environment" that promotes independence, fosters creativity, and develops a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional skills. It is available for a child to use freely and independently whenever they feel inspired. We emphasize the process of creation, rather than the final product. The easel encourages children to explore and experiment freely without the pressure of producing a perfect-looking result. 

After the free expression of the process, children need to clean up the easel which encompasses the same tasks as the table scrubbing work. We also call the easel work "a long-process work".

In the Practical Life area, we are switching our pin punching work to pumpkin pin punching. Pin punching is an activity where children use a push pin to punch holes along the outline of a shape, allowing them to punch out the shape from the paper. It builds fine motor skills, concentration, and hand strength needed for writing by strengthening the pincer grip as they hold the pin. This activity also teaches attention to detail and can be used to reinforce other lessons, such as recognizing shapes or continents in other areas of the classroom. It is a challenging work for our younger friends.

For our older children, we are going to make a pumpkin life cycle booklet in the afternoons. 

We are looking forward to meeting with each of you during Parent/Teacher Conferences to discuss your child’s progress so far this year.  We have already seen so much growth and learning within this amazing group of kids! Thank you in advance for making the time in your busy schedules to meet with us. Your partnership allows us to best support your little ones.

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Have a wonderful week,

Morahs Kristy, Uma, Kara, Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 10.20.25

Dear Parents,

Hope you enjoyed the wonderful holiday! We welcome everyone back to our first full week of school in a while! We can't wait to spend more time with everyone.

This week, we are introducing shaving cream in our Art area. For setting up the work, we have a big tray, shaving cream, a pitcher, a sponge, a basin, a bucket, and a big towel. Students can enjoy the texture of  the shaving cream by creating an art on the big tray. They practice their fine motor skills by spraying the shaving cream and then use their fingers to draw an art. After they finish, the students will clean up the work which is also the important part of this work. It is the same process as table scrubbing. We call this type of work "long-process work". By extending the process, children are able to practice their abilities in independence, coordination, concentration, and sense of order within this one work. They will need to carry the pitcher and bucket to the sink. Pouring water from the basin to the bucket requires good coordination of their body. Using a sponge to clean up the whole tray requires full concentration and longer attention span to finish the task. It's going to be a very fun, purposeful, and popular work!

We are also introducing scrubbing a large round pumpkin in the Practical Life area. This work provides excellent opportunities for appropriate, meaningful and purposeful movement. It gives children a way to repeat and refine movements that are essential to their growth and learning.  This repetition also promotes a deep concentration and sense of order.  Through these important works, children begin to notice the strengthening and sharpening of their fine motor skills.  This begins to build their confidence in an amazing and natural way, as they come to recognize themselves as capable and competent! 

In the Zoology area, we are introducing mammals. We'll begin with horses using real-life animal puzzles to learn about body parts. 

We have been enjoying the beautiful flowers that Eva brought for us. Thank you, Eva! 

Have a wonderful week!

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 10.13.25

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

We are excited to zoom into another joy filled week of time spent learning and playing together! This month, one focus of our classroom lessons is transportation. Many children seem to have a natural love of all things that go, whether on the land, in the air, or through the water. Our friends are enjoying sorting, labeling, matching, counting, and even painting with different vehicles throughout the classroom! It is wonderful when a favorite, familiar topic reinvigorates the excitement for exploring new lessons and activities!

We are also continuing to enjoy time spent in the Sukkah! The children have worked hard creating beautiful decorations that make the space feel extra special. They even worked to make their own small Sukkah on the playground! The pride they feel at helping to create items of significance for our celebrations is truly heartwarming. We love watching them realize that they are capable of making real and significant contributions!

As we head into a week of more fall-like temperatures, please be mindful of clothing choices each morning. While we may have some wet or chilly periods, we try to allow the children to enjoy the outdoor environment as often as possible.  Proper footwear for running or climbing, and a cozy layer with a hood or a hat can go a long way toward keeping your little one comfy while playing outdoors! Thank you so much for all you do to help them be prepared for each day of fun and learning!  We are so thankful for all of our Gimmel families!

Warm wishes for a healthy and happy week, 

Morahs Uma, Kara, Kristy, and Chaya

3-6 Gimmel Peek at the Week 10.06.25

Hello, wonderful preschool families!

This week marks the beginning of Sukkot, which is one of the children’s most anticipated holidays of the year! We are busy preparing decorations for the Sukkah, practicing shaking the Lulav and Esrog, and looking forward to festive meals enjoyed together in the Sukkah! Although it will be a short week of school, with Tuesday and Wednesday off for the holiday, it will be a week packed full of fun and learning!

Practical Life is a very important area of the classroom, particularly for our youngest learners.  These lessons, which include daily tasks such as pouring, scooping, scrubbing, and buttoning, are designed carefully with the young child’s needs and capabilities in mind. Practical Life activities support the development of fine motor skills, refining the movements and control of the fingers and hands through intricate movements and repetition.  Developing and extending the ability to concentrate is also a highlight of Practical Life activities, preparing the child’s focus for lessons in all areas of the classroom. Through regular work with these materials, children also develop independence and confidence in their own abilities. This helps them not only the classroom, but all areas of their life and learning!

This week our Practical Life area will shift to incorporate signs of the season. The children will be invited to carefully hammer golf tees into the thick shell of a pumpkin.  This activity is always a favorite, as the large orange pumpkin certainly draws the child’s attention.  Quickly, one discovers the challenge this activity holds.  Holding the tee in place, aiming the hammer, and using the proper amount of pressure requires great concentration and a lot of practice! The children will also have the opportunity to use tweezers to pluck seeds from the face of a sunflower. This precise motion is great strengthening work for the small muscles utilized in pencil control!  

We are looking forward to a week of celebration, learning, and togetherness!  

Morah Uma, Kara, Kristy, Chaya