Monday, March 18, 2013

Preparing for the Model Seder

Fourth grade is preparing to present the "Vehi She'amdah" in the Maggid section of the seder. Here are some pictures of the fourth graders creating a project to illustrate the meaning of the Vehi She'amdah.






Please remember to where nice Shabbat clothing for our model seder tomorrow!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Pesach- Urchatz, Karpas and Yachatz


Here are some pictures of 4th grade learning about the "Urchatz", "Karpas" and "Yachatz" steps of the seder:

Karpas
Dipping a vegetable in salt water to remind us of the tears that the Jewish People cried while they were in slavery

There are many different customs: Some dip a green vegetable like parsley or celery and some dip a potato or even an onion!
Dipping Karpas into salt water
Reacting to the taste of salty tears
Yachatz
Breaking the middle matzah.
We hide the bigger half for the Afikoman and we put the smaller half back in the middle to remind us of the Jewish People's slavery while we tell the story of Pesach.
Practicing by breaking little mini matzah crackers.

Personalizing our Haggadahs with helpful notes

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Pesach- Kadesh


Fourth grade is learning all about the Pesach seder and practicing really well so that they can help lead the Seder on Pesach!

Here are some pictures of fourth grade in action at our model seder table:

Practicing to recite the Kiddush


Leaning to the left while drinking the 1st cup of wine (grape juice)

Personalizing our Haggadahs by writing helpful notes

Tuesday, February 26, 2013


Fourth grade has been learning lots and lots of Hebrew this month!

Today the students are bringing home their Tu Bishvat and Purim workbooks. Be sure to flip through it and ask your child what they have been learning in connection to the pages.

Here are some pictures from Tu Bishvat long ago :)
Stay tuned for some great Purim pictures!

Sharing souvenirs from Israel



Planting!


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Purim Party :)

Happy Adar!!

This Friday, February 22nd we will be celebrating a grand Purim Party together with the class. 3rd and 4th grade a also working hard to prepare a Purim Skit to perform for the rest of the school.

The students are invited and encouraged to come to school on Friday dressed in costume in honor of Purim!

Thursday, January 17, 2013


Dear Parents,

Fourth grade is busy learning about Tu Bishvat. This week we learned about machzorim, cycles in nature and focused on the water cycle. We have also been learning about the shivas haminim, the seven special fruits that Israel is blessed with, and describing the different areas of Israel where they grow.

Thursday, January 24, will be Israel Day in our class. The students were instructed to bring an item from home that reminds them of Israel. It can be a souvenir, photo, something made in Israel, or simply something that reminds them of Israel.

Please help your child select an item that they will feel proud to share with the class.

Morah Rikal

Monday, January 7, 2013


I hope everyone had a wonderful vacation.
It was great seeing everyone back today, and we got off to a great start in learning!

For the next few weeks we will be focusing on organization. 
Today the students received a new red folder for Vocabulary Words. Starting tomorrow and continuing every week, we will add the new vocabulary list to the folder together with the previous lists.

The students now have two folders:
  • Original Folder: contains
    • Homework log- please remember to check daily and sign
    • Chumash dictionary of Hard Words
    • Mini Chumash for reviewing the pesukim (verses) for homework
    • Any materials to be brought home.
  • Red Vocabulary Folder
    • Vocabulary sheets
    • "machberet" (minin notebook) for writing sentences.
    • other Hebrew language related materials
Have a great week!
Morah Rikal