09/05/2025
This week we continued exploring Bronfenbrenner’s mesosystem inner circle, celebrating what makes each of us unique and special. We sang songs in Hebrew and English while learning the names of our body parts, practiced stretching and moving in new ways, and created watercolor-painted person stencils that will carry forward into our project work.
We’re also settling beautifully into our daily rhythm, and our group is blossoming into such a warm, connected community. One of our favorite parts of the day happens after outdoor exploration, when we gather on the rug for felt story time. Felt stories are a wonderful way to bring many areas of learning together:
Math & rhythm: counting, sequencing, and keeping a steady beat
Language & literacy: new words, concepts, and connections to books
Social-emotional growth: reflecting on characters’ feelings and choices
This week’s stories included Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Akendrum, 5 Monkeys in a Tree, and 5 Monkeys Jumping on the Bed which all sparked giggles, conversations, and joyful learning.
It’s been a week filled with self-discovery, creativity, movement, and growing connection.
Bridging Gan & Home
This week’s focus on body awareness and felt stories connects directly to several areas of child development:
Cognitive & math skills: Counting monkeys and repeating rhythmic songs builds number sense and pattern recognition.
Language & literacy: Naming body parts and learning new songs strengthens vocabulary and comprehension.
Social-emotional growth: Talking about characters’ feelings helps children build empathy and self-awareness.
Physical development: Stretching and movement support coordination and motor skills.
Ways to continue at home:
Sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” in English and Hebrew
Read Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Act out “5 Little Monkeys” with stuffed animals or fingers for silly counting practice.
Encourage stretching with playful poses (reach tall like a giraffe, curl small like a mouse, etc.).
These simple, joyful moments help strengthen the home-school connection and reinforce the wonderful learning happening at Gan.