ECDC in the news
There are lots of amazing things happening at ECDC. Check out this great article in Mt. Lebanon Magazine:
Lego Alphabet
Or “How to Make a Lego Watermelon”
Children love to play with Legos. How can we use this interest for learning? Mrs. Drook found a way when she took a Lego Alphabet book from the shelf and placed it in her classroom “construction zone”. Sometimes location makes all of the difference.
The children wanted to make their own Lego alphabet. They were not satisfied with the ordinary ideas in the book. “W” is not only for wagon. “W” is for watermelon, and of course we can make a watermelon from Legos. They worked together and soon had a Lego construction for almost every letter. They placed them in order and discovered that they had forgotten “Y”. No problem, “Y” is for yolk and we can make a yolk out of Legos.
When the children completed the Lego Alphabet, they wanted to do it all over again. Mrs. Drook and Mrs. Zidik supported the idea – a perfect example of collaborative curriculum.
This time the children generated the ideas among one another. Some printed the words themselves, some asked for help.
Just think of the learning that has taken place — printing, sounding out words, and team work!
Now the class is showing interest in other alphabet books. They have discovered that they can read them by themselves and to one another
It all started when Mrs. Drook placed the ABC Lego book in the construction zone – followed by a great deal of creativity and collaboration.
What is Passover?
Passover celebrates the freedom to ask questions.
Why is this night different from all other nights?
- What are the four questions?
- Why do we set the table in a special way?
- What is a seder?
- Why do we eat matzo?
Asking questions is central to Passover and to the learning process.
What is matzo? Mrs. May made matzo with her classes. It tasted good with salt and butter.
Mrs. Drook’s and Mrs. Silverman’s classes held seders together.
AM Seder – “It’s like we have a big family.”
Teacher: Why do we eat matzo?
Christopher: Because it is not fluffy
Ozzy: Because we can’t eat things that rise.
Teacher: Why do we eat bitter herbs?
Louise: Because of sadness
Darcy: It remembers the tears
Brady: Salt water is for the tears of the Jews
Asher: For the hard boiled eggs!
Teacher: Why do we have a special meal?
David: Because it is a holiday
Asher: They didn’t have time to bake the bread. The sun baked it.
Teacher: What are your questions about the seder?
Darcy: Why do we have to eat matzo?
Mrs. Harlan: Why are two classes eating together?
Landon: It’s like we have a big family.
PM Seder – “Passover would not be a special day without being together.”
Teacher: Why do we eat matzo?
Maddie: Because they didn’t have time to bake bread
Arya: Why do we need to ask questions?
Teacher: Why do we eat bitter herbs?
Emily: To remember the bad part.
Teacher: Why do we eat a special meal.
Maddie: I’m so thirsty!
Hope: We are remembering the people who are part of the story.
Teacher: Why do we celebrate Passover?
Hadley: Freedom from mean Hamen! (actually Pharaoh)
Mrs. Harlan: Why are two classes eating together?
Hadley: So we can celebrate together.
Kaaveri: Passover would not be a special day without being together.
Evan Kenepp, Bagpiper, Comes to ECDC
How fortunate we are that Evan Kenepp is a family friend of ECDC Teacher Linda Donohoe. Mr. Kenepp is an accomplished musician who has been playing bagpipes for over 10 years and was generous enough to play for us at our morning and afternoon assemblies on April 1.
The audience was seated and did not know what to expect. Then mysterious music was heard from afar and Mr. Kenepp ceremoniously entered the sanctuary.
Mr. Kenepp entranced us with beautiful Scottish music and with his knowledge of the instruments.
And who would not follow the Piper around the room with a Scottish march?
Thank you Mr. Kenepp for coming to ECDC!
Let’s Shop!
Trunk Shows Boutique (on Rt. 19 near South Hills Village) is an adorable store with great options for every taste and budget. They have a variety of items for sale such as chocolate, costume jewelry, serving platters, and clothing.
The store will host Women of Temple Emanuel (WTE) on Wednesday, May 4 from 4-7 PM with margaritas, light appetizers, and sweets. They will also give back a portion of sales to WTE, which makes every dollar we spend even more meaningful.
We do need to meet a minimum headcount, so please join us and bring a friend. The more we shop, the more money goes to WTE for future events. Mother’s Day is Sunday May 8th, so it is a great opportunity to pick up gifts for loved ones.
RSVP at https://templeemanuel1.wpengine.com/event/wte-trunkshows/ or via our Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/468304973380159/.
Check out their website at http://trunkshowsboutique.com.
Countdown to Passover!
Make Temple Emanuel part of your Passover celebration this year!
- Join us for Torah Center’s Model Seder, led by the always amazing Melinda Freed, on Sunday, April 17 at 10:45 AM. Please RSVP via email to [email protected].
- Leave the cooking to us and bring your family to our Community Second Seder on Saturday, April 23 at 6PM. RSVP by April 11 to the office or online at https://templeemanuel1.wpengine.com/event/2nd-seder-at-temple/.
- Ladies (and young ladies ages 10+), come and be inspired at our Women’s Seder on Thursday, April 28 at 7PM. RSVP by April 21 to the office or online at https://templeemanuel1.wpengine.com/event/womens-passover-seder/.
- Stop by the gift shop and browse our selection of beautiful seder plates, matzah covers and more. Shop for yourself or find the perfect hostess gift. Sundays 9:30am-noon, Mondays 6:30-8:30PM, Wednesdays 4:30-6:30pm.
- Worship with us at our Yom Tov and Shabbat Morning service at 10:30AM on April 23 and join us for our Concluding Passover, Yizkor and Shabbat morning service at 10:30AM on April 30.
- And, do a mitzvah! When you’re cleaning out your kitchen, donate your chametz to SHIM. Drop off your food donations any time at Temple.
You Must See This!
But can you see it?
Here is the sequence of events that led to a magical moment.
- Mrs. Drook’s class showed interest in a book about sea creatures.
- Mrs. Drook added several sea creature books to the class collection.
- The children enjoyed several activities related to sea creatures.
- They became interested in the rock fish. They were fascinated by its ability “to disappear” among ocean rocks.
- Mrs. Drook added classroom activities about camouflage.
But no one planned the magical thing that happened when the children went outside that day.
Can you find the children?
How Our Space Unit Started
A Conversation About Weather Goes Solar
The exploration of space in the classroom of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Reinke started while discussing the weather on a very cold and sunny day. How could it be so cold and so sunny at the same time? That is the question posed by the teachers that started the space unit.
The children had many thoughts.
Porter: The sun is at the top facing down at the ground. The ground stays cold.
C.J.: The sun is round. I wish I could take a picture of it.
Porter: The fire from the sun makes the light.
Sam: The sun is a star.
Will: I love space planets.
Cici: The earth is a planet.
M.J.: Gravity is not in space. It makes you not fall.
Darsh: I don’t know if there are other planets. Do aliens have families?
Alie: I want to know if there are people far away.
Nico: I just want to learn about space.
Sam: Pluto is a doomed planet.
Solar System and Aliens
While following up with scientific fact-finding about planets, the children repeatedly returned to the topic of aliens. The children drew pictures of their imaginary aliens then made 3-dimensional models. All the while there was conversation about the various features of the aliens.
The children wonder: Do people live on other planets? Do aliens have families?
What do you think?
Something is always cooking at Temple!
Come Hungry and Ready to Learn!
Jewish Cooking for Families with Melinda Freed on Sunday, March 6 at 12:15 PM. Roll up your sleeves and roll out some dough as we learn to make Hamantashen.
Lunch & Learn on Monday, March 14 at noon. Join us for a delicious lunch and a presentation by Rabbi Mark Mahler on Jewish Meditation: In Tradition, In Theory, In Practice.
Sunday Brunch & Speaker, March 20 at 1o:30. Join us for brunch and a lecture by Middle East expert Ross Harrison. He will present “A Tour Through the Political Landscape of the Tumultuous Middle East.”
Trees, Trees, Trees!
The teachers and children of ECDC celebrated Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of Trees. There is so much to learn, enjoy and discover about trees. We talked about all of the ways that trees help us – by giving us fruit, shade, and beauty. The children in Mrs. Brown’s class explored our building to find various use of wood. The children in Mrs. Suprano’s class were inspired by the bare maple tree in our playground and painted a winter mural. They are closely watching the maple tree through the seasons. At Assembly we sang a new song, Trees, Trees, Trees, and all agreed “We all need our trees, trees, trees!”
Mr. R’s Preserve theTrees Song – chorus
To Listen to the tree song, click here.
Trees, Trees, Trees
Have roots and trunks and leaves
Trees, Trees, Trees
Have buds and fruits and seeds
Trees, Trees, Trees
A home for birds and bees
We all need our
Trees, Trees, Trees
ECDC teachers and children are learning to enjoy and appreciate trees – all year round.
We are happy to announce that in honor of Tu B’Shvat, we raised $252 — enough to plant 14 trees in Israel.
Thank you to our children for earning quarters toward this cause and to ECDC families for your amazing generosity.