Using Apples to Learn about the Senses

Rosh Hashanah is in the air in Ganon Aleph! This week the children observed different types of apples while using their 5 senses. Our hands to feel and touch the skin textures. Our mouths to taste; sweet, sour and juicy flavors. And our ears to listen to the crunchy sounds of apples. We discussed the many differences and similarities that sparked beautiful conversation amongst friends such as “the apple is round like the world.”

Busy as Bees Learning about Rosh Hashanah

Gan Bet was "abuzz" this week as we culminated a week-long unit on bees with a "Bee Celebration"! We dressed in black and yellow and acted out the life of the honey bee from building a hive, to laying eggs, drinking nectar from flowers, getting pollen stuck to our legs and flying back to our hive to turn the nectar into honey. Of course, we did all of this while listening to Beethoven's "Flight of the Bumble Bee." Shana tova umetukah! 

First Graders are Ready for Rosh Hashanah

The children of class 1A and 1B have been learning all about Rosh Hashanah. They learned a lot about the mitzvah of shofar and the simanim on the Rosh Hashanah table, including rimon (pomegranate), rosh shel dag (head of a fish), and tapuchim bi'dvash (apples and honey). Shanah tovah!

Second Grade Scientists

Our second grade scientists completed their first investigation this week! Last week, we learned that physical properties are things we can see, touch and sometimes, taste or smell. We then looked around the room to find objects that matched certain physical descriptions. We also noticed how certain physical properties make a material great for its purpose- like rubber for rain boots and glass for windows. This week, using two kinds of apples, our scientists used their senses to investigate the apple's physical properties. The students used their senses of sight and touch to observe the outside and inside of apples. They then had the option to taste the apples and describe the taste. Our scientists used words to describe color, shape, shape, size, texture and taste. Finally they completed a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the apples. 

First Chesed Team Event of the Year

Our first Yavneh Academy Chesed Team event was a huge success!! Over 100 members of our team stayed after school to launch a year of chesed. Students decorated honey dishes for senior citizens at nursing homes. They attached good wishes to each jar. They also created sukkah decoration posters for the sukkah at Hackensack Hospital. As music played, students also posed with our team “mascot” wearing the chesed team t-shirt. We look forward to a year of fun and fulfilling chesed! 

Electives Update

Week 2 of 7th & 8th grade electives really went off with a bang - literally. Our Sizzling Scientists worked on volcanic eruptions. (Yes, they were safely contained, but the chemical process was analyzed and put in place.) Our aspiring Chess Masters have begun their in-class training and competitions. They are being taught how to read the board, maintain positions of strength, both offensively and defensively. We look forward to sharing more of our elective progress in the weeks to come.

Grade 8 Goes to the Corn Maze

It’s Team Building Time… what better way to start their last year at Yavneh. The 8th grade ventured out to Chester, NJ to test their team bonding skills in the corn maze. After a lovely lunch we returned to Yavneh for a cake decorating activity and a training session on leadership for upcoming Middle School Onegs.