JKHA first and second grades enjoyed grade-wide celebrations for Chanukah. The activities combined fun with an enlightening interdisciplinary educational component. The second grade students came together to share in an amazing, integrated, grade-wide Chanukah celebration. Students made connections from their Judaic to their General Studies classes, deepening their understanding of the learning that occurs in each curriculum area. Students had the opportunity to compare and contrast the story of the Maccabim with the story of the Pilgrims, finding many similarities and differences between the stories. Additionally, students fried delicious latkes, played a Chanukah game on the Smartboard, and built bar and picture graphs based on the results of a dreidel spin-off. Finally, students examined how the Chanukah candles changed from a solid to a liquid as they melted, connecting this physical change to the changes they explored in their science unit on changes in matter. Their learning really came to life through their celebration of Chanukah and the mitzvot that are part of this wonderful chag.

First grade students were excited to participate in the annual Chanukah Extravaganza. The children of both first grade classes were divided into small groups which rotated round-robin style through a multitude of activities led by the first grade teachers. The activities included Chanukah math, playing sevivon and matching singular and plural Chanukah words and opposites, as well as viewing a Hebrew video about a sevivon searching for a friend. In addition to enjoying the various activities, they were excited to socialize with their friends from the other class.

The third grade lit up the stage during Chanukah with a rousing performance in JKHA’s annual Chanukah production. Students told the story of Chanukah in poetic form, sang festive songs and danced across the stage. The auditorium was adorned with Chanukah artwork from the third grade students that was produced in their art classes. In addition, the audience was treated to a digital candle lighting created by the students in their technology classes.