Tu B’Shevat, the Birthday of the Trees!
Kitah Gimmel (4-5 year olds)
We celebrated Tu B'Shevat on Wednesday, February 4, which gave us an opportunity to tie in our exploration of building and experimenting with real wood to the importance of trees to people and animals. We discussed two important Tu B’Shevat mitzvot: Bal Tashchet means do not destroy, which we discussed in the context of trees, other living things, and also belongings and materials. Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world,” reminds us of our responsibility to try to make things in our world better. We talked about recycling, reusing, and taking care of the world around us. Of course, it wouldn't be a Jewish celebration without something to eat. We baked muffins using tree fruits, as well as tasted a selection of dried fruits that are eaten in Israel, including figs, dates, apricots, olives, carob, and almonds. The children also constructed a treehouse from large cardboard boxes and tree branches, which creates a cozy corner in the classroom.
Kitah Bet (3-4 year olds)
Our Tu B’Shevat activities included creating tree representations using various materials and painting with twigs and branches. Our science table hosted both evergreen branches and deciduous branches, so that the children were able to explore the different ways in which trees flourish. We also discussed concepts of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world.” We tied together the concept of caring for our earth and the world with the importance of recycling, reusing, and composting; we also discussed the importance of trees and all they provide for us. In keeping with the custom of planting (in Israel, children traditionally plant trees to make the holiday), we planted parsley. If all goes well, we will have plenty for Passover!
For the past month, Kitah Bet children have also been traveling around the world; our most recent destination was Mexico. We constructed a Mexican market with items to “purchase” as well as learned some Spanish songs, cooked quesadillas, and took a plane ride to Mexico, with passports and all.
Passports to Learning
By Becca Posamentier
“My youngest child is four years old and has already started a trip around the world. I rarely get away from work to come to the mini Shabbat service in the classroom on Fridays at 12:40. A couple of weeks ago, however, my schedule freed up and my little guy stood up his Shabbat buddy (the preschool director) and sat on my lap, squished on his rug square between the shelf full of Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie books and Tu B'Shevat picture books, wiggling with excitement, telling me all about the challah he had helped make that morning.
After saying the blessings, lighting candles, drinking grape juice from the tiniest paper cup, and eating some of that amazing homemade challah, we sang some songs and it was time for announcements. One of the teachers called our attention to the Mexican Market that was set up in one corner of the room. There were red, green, and white banners and a Mexican flag, a piñata, and colorful table decorations. The lyrics to “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” were written in Spanish on the board. Once the announcements were over, my son eagerly pulled me over to another wall to show me his passport. Each child had decorated their own passport booklet and this class of 3-4 year olds was embarking on a trip around the world to explore different cultures.
Being a Jewish preschool, there are multiple maps of Israel around the class and the children learn Hebrew words and all about Jewish holidays and the land of Israel. But I was thrilled to see that here in Oakland my little guy was given the tools and then the chance to use his imagination to explore the world beyond the playground. Hopefully some day we’ll do lots of exciting traveling with his real passport. In the meantime, just going to preschool can be a true adventure!
Kitah Alef (2-3 year olds)
“Let's go plant today, it's a holiday. Let's go plant a tree and sing so merrily: Today is Tu Tu Tu B'Shevat, Tu Tu Tu B'Shevat. Let's go plant today and sing a happy song.”
Even though it is winter here, spring is beginning in Israel. (This difference is much more powerful when you live somewhere where there is still a foot of snow outside your door.) Tu B’Shevat is an agricultural holiday and has become the holiday of planting and relating to nature in more recent times. In observance of the holiday, we talked a lot about the importance of trees to people, animals, and the environment. Our music specialist came and sang some Tu B'Shevat songs with us (including the song quoted above). We also baked lemon muffins for snack.
Holiday aside, we added art binders in the classroom. When the children make art, they can choose to take it home or to put it into their binders. These binders will travel with them to Kitah Bet and on to Kitah Gimmel to be taken home at graduation. This is not only a way to show pride in one's work, by giving it a place of honor in the binder, but also it will be a way to chronicle artistic (and fine motor) development. The art in the binder will start with scribble pictures, maybe with a few words of dictation, and eventually progress to shapes, symbolic pictures, possibly with elaborate dictated stories to accompany them, and even letters.
