From eleventy different Uno math games to piano practice to parasha discussions, we have had a full and fantastic first week of school! (We actually started last week, but focused on learning new rules & routines, playing new games, and completing review work.) My two older students (K & preK 4) are doing an international studies unit this year, exploring a different country every month, while themes for my young four (preK 2 & 3) are built around books.  I’m SO glad I spent a lot of time planning this summer; having everything laid out makes my life a million times easier. Even if things don’t always go according to plan (which they don’t), having the plan to begin with makes shuffling things around or dealing with changes a breeze.

So on to our week! For my big 2, we started with MOROCCO, a North African country I stupidly turned down the chance to visit while in college (I know, shame on me)…so until I get there in person, this will have to do! This week, we focused on the geography and important facts: identifying Morocco on labeled and unlabeled maps; knowing its border countries and capital city; and learning its flag design and native language. We’re going to end our Morocco study with a lapbook, so every Chamishi (Thu) this month, they’ll add pictures and info to their books, based on what they learn each week.

(You can find the world map here, and the Africa puzzle here.)

Next week, we’ll explore language more with a Darija (Moroccan Arabic) lesson, take a virtual tour of a Marrakech marketplace, make a tagine out of clay, and cook some delicious Moroccan food!

(You can find the Hebrew letter & color sorting mats in The Kefar Shop.)

My Littles are learning all the basics that the big boys have already mastered: foundations in literacy (letter recognition, letter sounds, pre-writing skills, spelling their names); foundations in math (1:1 counting, number recognition, shapes); colors; days of the week & months of the year; the Shma and other recitations/prayers, and more.

Our main book for this and next week is Ha’aryeh She’ahav Tut (האריה שאהב תות – The Lion Who Loved Strawberries). Related activities are helping them learn letters Alef (א) and Tav (ת), along with vocabulary words, and colors red and yellow. On Chamishi, for instance, we made red & yellow manes for our lions using paper strawberries labeled with one of the two Hebrew letters. Each child chose a strawberry at random, then had to state its color and letter (“Is this Alef for aryei [lion] or Tav for tut [strawberry]?”).

Next week we’ll do some math and science with real strawberries; create a lion using shapes; and make a layered fruit salad using only fruits beginning with Alef and Tav (i.e. avatiach [אבטיח watermelon] & tapuach [תפוח apple]).

Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@thekefar) to see other great photos of learning taking place. If you have any questions or comments about our week or the week to come, let me know in the comments below!

Shabbat shalom!

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