October 26
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Welcome to the tropics could have been our theme last Sunday. It was warm..... no it was hot.... so hot that we had to move into the basement and improvise our lesson plans.
BUT the yummy's were still yummy and the friends were still wonderful. A new experience and we thank all for their flexibility and good humor.
The building is cooler now and we will meet you upstairs this coming Sunday.
THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS -- we need advent candle lighters / readers / pageant participants !!
Wonderful Walk
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
“On Sunday, October 19, the grade schoolers and chaperons walked to the Grand River to practice tashlich – a Jewish custom literally meaning “casting away.” Every year during Rosh Hashanah observant Jews are invited to make amends for damages they have done to others in the past year and to set their intention to do better in the coming year. The tashlich ritual involves casting crumbs – symbolizing sins or shortcomings – into a moving body of water. This indicates a willingness to let go of the “bad” and make room for the “good” in the new year. Children were given handfuls of crumbs which they then tossed off the footbridge into the river. We discussed how just as the crumbs are not litter because they will feed the fish, which may eventually feed us, so too our shortcomings are not trash but something that may in some way bring strength or wisdom that we cannot now see.”
Oct. 12 at FSC
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
First Grade
The 1st graders decorated their personal scrolls and some of them tried kugel for the first time. They talked about what religion means to them and got a close up look at the Torah from the common area. The kids were led on a scavenger hunt around the room in search of plastic insects just for fun.
Fourth GradeThe 4th graders had a great time today "dividing and conquering".
One group spent time in the Art Room creating new art for our room, as we are striving to complete our decorating project to make the room our "own".
One group crafted scrolls and will be reading what they wrote during class next week.
One group worked on creating a 4th grade prayer shawl by cutting fabric, then decorated it with various shades of blue fabric paint as stripes on the ends of the shawl.
Finally, two 4th graders braided "tse tses" (tassels) to be put on the shawl next week. It was a very productive day for our Character School 4th graders!
Fifth Grade
We had five fifth-graders today. After the courtyard session, a few of them decided they wanted to cook and a few decided to decorate the room a bit more. They were all enthusiastic about the day. The cooking involved a ‘friendly’ competition with the 4th Grade cooking team.
FOR Oct. 19 Fieldtrip
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Remember our field trip on Sunday: We will be walking to the Grand River and need to be dressed for the weather and also need to have a signed permission slip on file.
Happenings on Oct. 5
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
First Grade
The 1st graders talked about some of the holidays that they and their families celebrate: for example, Christmas and Easter. We learned that one of our classmates celebrates Hanukah with his Jewish grandparent. On a large sheet of paper hanging on the wall, the kids wrote down their names and birthdates. They also decorated stars and a few rocket ships to hang from the classroom ceiling.
The 1st graders talked about some of the holidays that they and their families celebrate: for example, Christmas and Easter. We learned that one of our classmates celebrates Hanukah with his Jewish grandparent. On a large sheet of paper hanging on the wall, the kids wrote down their names and birthdates. They also decorated stars and a few rocket ships to hang from the classroom ceiling.
Second Grade
The second graders had a good conversation about Holidays, why we celebrate them and who celebrates which ones. We talked about Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah and many of the holidays that they celebrate with their families. The remaining kids signed their names to the classroom list on the wall and we did “Roses and Thorns” plus a snack.
The second graders had a good conversation about Holidays, why we celebrate them and who celebrates which ones. We talked about Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah and many of the holidays that they celebrate with their families. The remaining kids signed their names to the classroom list on the wall and we did “Roses and Thorns” plus a snack.
Third Grade
Things went well on Sunday. The big question was "Who is God"? as well as “Is God the same as Jesus?” Some thoughts were God was a male and a female, and that God is a part of us. They did a good job discussing the pillars of Moslems and what would be an important pillar for them.
Fourth Grade
The 4th graders talked about what God meant to them. We asked for definitions and they responded with comments like “God is spirit” and “God is love”. We tied it into the idea that around the world people's ideas of God are both similar and different. Similar to the values we defined 2 Sundays ago - religions like Islam have defining values. We talked about how Muslims pray then decided to try praying the way Muslims do. The kids also wrote their names in Arabic and were rather boisterous today.
Fifth Grade
The 5th graders were a high-spirited group today. After “Roses and Thorns” we talked a little bit about holidays and why we celebrate them. The subject of Yom Kippur led to a discussion about forgiveness and what it feels like to be angry at someone. At the end, the subject of Halloween led the children to make little tissue paper ghosts.
Sixth Grade
Decorated their room with self-drawn pictures and had lot's of good discussions.