Joy of all joys - this day started out with using Play Dough! Their little faces reflected their joy when they walked into the room and saw a table full of cookie cutters, rolling pins and that squishy dough of childhood dreams. As I watched and listened to their play I saw children using their imaginations, good manners and cooperative attitudes. Send me those world leaders and I'll show them some children who have something to teach them!
When they had satisfied their need, we cleaned up to do morning circle and learn about Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. I quickly covered the story of the miracle of the oil lasting eight days for the Jews in the Temple of Syrian occupied Israel. We looked at my small menorah and talked about the eight days of gifts. I thought they would be impressed with eight days of gift giving but they were more interested in the number of candles to be lit on the menorah.
I showed them the international symbol of Judaism known as the Star of David. When I simplified it by drawing a triangle and then drawing an upside down triangle inside it, they decided they probably could draw it too. I had already cut out stars from boiled blue wool and they added glue triangles. Next we added gold glitter and watched the magic as our art became BEAUTIFUL. The appropriate oohs and aahs followed. I'll add thread hangers for these jeweled stars to be hung.
You may hear about your child being Rudolph or Santa today. I pulled out my Christmas hats, antlers and puppets. Every free moment since has been filled with little hooves landing on rooftops and the delivery of presents to children. It seems there are only good children because no coal has been mentioned.
Tomorrow we will join Sharon's class to make bean menorahs. She found this idea recently and we can't wait to see it unfold.
Each December in recent years, the Early Learners have collected hats and mittens for the Rescue Mission. We have decided to alter this a bit. This year we are asking for donations of hats and mittens again but will send them to the refugee center here in town. Roanoke receives a large number of refugees, many from Africa, who arrive with only a suitcase of belongings. Our winters are often very different for them and they lack the proper clothes. We will continue collecting through the month of January so we all take advantage of those impending sales. Let's pull together and see how many children we can help. You will receive an FYI with more information soon. circle
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