Learning About Sukkot In the Hebrew Kindergarten Classroom Sukkah

Shalom everyone!  I hope that you had a meaningful Rosh Ha'Shana and Yom Kippur!

Here is another update on what we are doing in Hebrew Kindergarten class.

We have been learning about the Jewish festival Sukkot. We discussed building the sukkah, how one is built, and what is done in the sukkah.  The sukkah is a very important symbol of the Jewish people. I taught the children that the Israelites lived in them in the desert while on their journey from Egypt to Israel since it was an easy structure to build and break down along the way.

I built a sukkah in my room so the children can learn their Hebrew lessons during the holiday sitting inside it. The class helped me to decorate our classroom sukkah. The kids enjoyed this very much.  I have added new pictures to the blog slideshow, and you will be able to see photos of the class sukkah!

We also learned about other Sukkot traditions and symbols like the lulav and etrog. I brought a set to our class and let the kids hold and smell each one.  I also taught the kids about the four arba’at ha’minim – the four species. These are:

Lulav –we can eat the fruit of the tree (dates); the leaves do not have an odor

Ha’das – no fruit to eat, but the leaves have a wonderful smell

Etrog – has a smell and taste (similar to a lemon)

Arava – no fruit to eat; leaves have no smell.

The children learned vocabulary associated with Sukkot.  I have posted new vocabulary words in the "Share What We Are Learning" post to the right of this blog entry.

This week we are going to learn about Simchat Torah, which falls at the end of Sukkot. On this holiday, we celebrate the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle, and again turn to the beginning.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions that you have. My email is etscheier@rockwernacademy.org.

Chag Sameach!!!!!