Chanukah Stick-on-Candles

This Chanukah Stick-on-Candles is tons of fun and little materials are required. I always find children love stickers and enjoy sticking them on anything (yes, even on my kitchen wall)! This activity is educational.  Students can learn the correct way to light the menorah - “lighting” the new candle first every night. The Chanukah Stick-on-Candles activity also reinforces fine motor skills.

For this Activity you will need:

The Chanukah Stick-on-Candles worksheet

Large Labels

Follow this link to download the Chanukah Stick-on-Candles worksheet

Once you printed out the worksheet, make sure you laminated it. This way, you can use the same worksheet over and over again… As many times as you need it! Then, take the large labels and cut several strips. I recommend using the silver labels - it looks nicer and it’s easier to see the candles with the white background contrast. However, if you already have white labels at home, that would work just fine.

Set aside the “Candles” silver strips next to the worksheet. Model with the first candle positioning it on the Menorah and let the child do the rest. Children love to stick on the candles and removing them. Don’t worry if they are not placing the candles in the correct place. It’s just matter of practice… till they get it right!

Have a great Chanukah!

Magnetic Aleph Bet Letter Activities

Magnetic Aleph Bet Letter Activities

One of Torah Toy's  top sellers is the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters. The Aleph Bet manipulatives is parents and teachers "must have" because they are brightly colored, can pretty much be arrange on any metal surface and its a great way to teach the Hebrew letters. 

Basically, the Magmetic Aleph Bet Letters can be arrange in most metal surfaces such as a refrigeration, file cabinet or cookie sheet. They also come in clear plastic container - a fabulous way to keep all the pieces together.

We get lots of emails from parents and teachers asking us for different ideas and suggestions on how to use the Aleph Bet Magnets. Here are some great ideas:

Sing Along Aleph Bet Song

Name Recognition

Bingo

Color Sorting

Identifying Sight Words

First , round up all the materials needed:

Magnetic Aleph Bet Lettes

Large cookie sheet

Small cookie Sheet

Dry erase marker

Paper

We prefer using cookie sheets because as teachers, we able to work closely with the child. However, the refrigerator  is great for parents too! Parents are able to keep children busy while cooking or catching up on laundry. Some parents also have shared with us that they keep the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters on the desk. Whenever their children come to their office for a quick visit, they remove the letters from the clear container and form words on the file cabinet.

Sing Along the Aleph Bet Song

Have your child arrange the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters in order while singing the Aleph Bet song! For just beginners, its good to have around a chart to help them out whenever needed. It's always good to use a large cookie sheet.You want to make sure that all the letters fit on the sheet. 

Name Recognition

Using a dry erase marker, write the child's name in print. Have the child look for the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters and place them on the small cookie sheet. This size of cookie sheet is perfect for the little hands. Its amazing to see how young children can start spelling their name!

Bingo

Bingo!! The children always ask to play this game. It's really fun! We have several small cookie sheets that we keep together on the side. The children are very used to playing this game and know exactly what they need. Each one pulls out a cookie sheet, they all fight to get out the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters (of course!), and one is kind enough to bring the dry erase marker. The best way to play this game is to write the letters on the grid in which the child needs extra review and demonstrates greater difficulty in recognizing the letter. The kids take turns pulling out a letter. The child that has that letter, gets to place the letter on the cookie sheet.

Color Sorting

Using a large cookie sheet, have the children sort the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters by color. This can be done in various ways, for instant ask the child find me all the yellow letters or you can just place a letter of each color in the first line and let the child complete the rest!

Identifying Sight Words

This in one of our favorite activities. Every month we work on a different set of sight words. The children get very excited when they get the new set of words because they know that they get to play this game. To prepare the game, have the list of sight words in front of you. Using the Magnetic Aleph Bet Letters, trace the words. Make sure to also have a picture next to it. Visual learners will gain tremendously from the pictures. Also, remember to box the words. Then, have the children find the letters and form the words.

And there is one more thing before you go... Torah Toy is giving a 10% discount to their friends. Use this coupon code ALEPH10 when you check out! But, hurry! offer ends 10/22/12

Well... Do you have any other ideas? We would love to here what other parents and teachers have to say. Feel free to post your idea on the comments.

The Winner To the Torah Toy 5773 GIVEAWAY

The kicking-Off 5773 GIVEAWAY 

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Winner is....

Avigayil Lesser

This GIVEAWAY Gift Card can be used on our online store www.torahtoy.com for many of our items: Books, Game, CDs, DVDs, Toys, Dolls, Puzzles and Much, Much More!

Avigayil, you can email us at torahtoy@gmail.com and we can send you the electronic Gift Card. You can start shopping right away :)

Have a Good Yom Tov!!

Sukkot and Simchat Torah Memory Game

Sukkot and Simchat Torah Memory Game

This is a wonderful memory game that can be played at home during Yom Tov or to use in the classroom. All you need to do is print out the chart twice. Then, cut out the squares and laminate it! Having the memory game laminated, could last much longer and you'll be able to use it several times before you have to print it out again!

Follow this link to print the Memory Game

Materials Required:

Memory Game Print Out

Scissors

Construction paper (optional)

Glue

I also suggest many times to glue the pieces onto construction paper before laminating the game. It gives it a much nicer presentation and sturdier look. 

Cut the squares out...

laminate them... and cut the square out again!

Ok, you are finally ready! Mix-up the pieces and play the game :)

Playing the Sukkot and Simchat Torah Memory Game, teaches many skills. In addition to reviewing the highlights and importance of the Yom Tov, children reinforce memory skills, reasoning skills and turn taking.

Before playing the game, go over the pictures and discuss with the children the different highlights of the Yom Tov. The review will help reinforce the previous learned material. Then, have the children play the game and have fun! When done playing the game, store the pieces in a ziploc bag for further use.  

Have fun, fun FUN!

DIY Aleph Bet Manipulatives!!!

DIY Aleph Bet Manipulatives!!

When it's time to learn the Aleph Bet, many children need more than just a Kriah book. Here are great manipulatives that can be done with items  that are laying around the house or easy to get a hold of. Some of these manipulatives can be used for letter recognition and others can be used for blending sounds. 

Manipulatives can be done using the following:

Color Plastic Eggs

Water or Soda Caps

Clothespins 

Lego or Mega Blocks

Aleph Bet Egg Manipulatives

Using a permanent maker, write the print letter on the top and the vowel on the bottom. Usually is best to prepare the eggs according to  the child's needs. Some teachers prefer to introduce two letters and two sounds at first. The student can practice by mixing and matching the eggs.  

Here is an example... First separate all the eggs.

Then, mix and match them!

Aleph Bet Bottle Caps Manipulatives

Bottle caps are good to hold on when the drink is finished. I'm always the one screaming from the back: "Don't trow the cap away" and for some reason I get a puzzled look in return... I managed to save up enough seltzer bottle caps. I prefer these caps than any others because they are solid white - making it easier for a child to read. Ok, now lets get to the making part. Very simple! Using a thick permanent marker, write a letter in each cap. Let it dry for a few minutes. Otherwise, they can easily smudge.  

There are many activities that these letters can be used. I mainly used the caps for letter recognition and like to work on the receptive and expressive language skills. I usually ask the students to identify the letter and then ask to point to a specific letter. If the get the answer correctly, they get to hold the caps. And, if they get the wrong answer, they could always try again! The students love when I send the caps home in a ziploc bag for extra review. And, I don't usually mind if some get lost on  the way. After all, it was not such a big investment ;)

Aleph Bet Clothespin Manipulatives

The clothespins manipulatives are very easy and fast to make. I used a thin permanent marker to write the print letters. I keep them handy. Whenever, a student needs to review, I pulled them our from my drawer. They can be used in so many different ways!

Aleph Bet Mega Blocks Manipulatives

These Mega Blocks Manipulatives can be used for more advance students. Usually the ones that are able to blend two-three syllable words. The letters and vowels can be written with a dry erase marker. This way, one can work on a specif sound that the student needs help with. Once mastered a goal, the letters can be erased, rewritten and rearranged to work on new goals! 

Have fun with all these Aleph Bet Manipulatives!

Rosh Hashanah Lace Cards

Rosh Hashana  Lace Cards

Rosh Hashanah is around the corner, keep your little ones busy with these DIY lacing cards! Not only will they review Rosh Hashanah vocabulary words, but also reinforce coordination and fine motor skills. Lets get started!

Here is the list of supplies you will need:

Foam sheets (assorted colors)

Scissors

Single Hole Puncher

Shoe strings or yarn

Rosh Hashanah Shape Stencil
Tape 
Black Marker

Follow this link to download the Rosh Hashana Shape Stencil PDF file.

Once you've printed out the stencil, cut out the different shapes (Apple, Honey, Shofar, Machzor, Tzedakah box and Fish Head) and traced them on the different color foam sheets using a black marker.

Then, cut the shapes out...

...and  hole punch them!
Using the single hole puncher, punch around the border of the shape ( leave about an inch apart between holes).

For older children, you can write the number figure next to the hole. This way they can also work on number recognition. 

You can either use  a shoe lace or yarn for lacing. Either one will works well!
Here we used, yarn. A great tip is to place a piece of tape around the edge of the yarn. Its much easier to lace this way.

Before you start the activity with your little one, go over the vocabulary words and incorporate them in questions  such as:

Can you reach me the honey?

Where is the apple?

or Lets start with something we us in shul to daven.

Well, let the fun begin...Now!

For the first time, have the child lace one Rosh Hashanah card along with you.  Modeling is a great way to teach young children. They can either chose to do some or even all! What I like most about this activity is that reinforces fine motor skills and educational at the same time. 

Wishing you a Happy & Sweet New Year!
SHANA TOVA!

Back To School - Name Tags

Back to School

Student Name Tags

Well, it's not to believe... We are back to school! While students are busy getting their school supplies ready, teachers are extremely overwhelmed with the classroom setup. The welcome sign is placed on the classroom door, neat bulletin boards are nicely displayed on the walls and the students desks are aligned neatly facing the board. 

However, even though teachers work hard to turn the classroom into a welcoming environment, students focused is their place in the classroom. As soon as they walk into the classroom, students skim through the desks to locate their name.

Having an assigned desk, makes students feel as they belong and are part of the class. In addition, by having their name present before them, they become familiar with letter recognition as well as spelling. These are many reasons name tags are extremely important. 

Here, you can find some adorable name tags that you can print out and use for your class. The good about this is that you can print out as many as you need, according to the number of students in your class. You don't need to worry if you have enough name tags for all students or if you need to purchase another pack because you are missing just one....

Click here to download the Name Tags PDF file.

Girl Jumping on Jump Rope
Boy Reading the Torah
Shelf With Seforim and Menorah
Aleph Bet Blocks

If you have access to a laminating machine, its best to laminate them to last longer. Students tend to play with it or color on it during class time (or when they feel a bit board!).

 When laminating is not an option, I usually use thick duck tape. It works just the same!

For those students that are more advance, usually is recommended to write their name in script letters using a black permanent marker. And, for those who are still migrating students, print letters would do good for them.

Make sure to print out some extra copies to keep in your classroom. They would become very handy when they need to be replaced. 

Have a great school year!