The Gan Eden Offer
Show, Say, Share
Each child is assigned a certain day of the week, along the school year, when he/she is encouraged to bring a certain object, something they have done, something that belongs to them, or something from home, show it and share with the others the meaning the child attaches to this object.
The preceptor as well as the colleagues will ask questions regarding the object – why he/she has chose that particular object, what it means to the him/her. This way, children develop their ability to talk in front of the classroom, as well as their ability to listen carefully to their peers. Your children will slowly build their self-confidence and their self-esteem, as they share their unique collection of objects and meanings.
Art and creativity
Children will have the opportunity to verify and apply their creativity using a wide range of art media. Tempera, water colors, markers, crayons, tape, glue, scissors, glitter, are just some of the materials with which children will work during the hours of creation. It is important to remember that most counts is the process by which subject and object is not finished! What matters most to us is that they feel proud of their creations!
Circle time
Our aim is to turn our kindergarten into a family. To this end, we will allow 30 minutes every time, during which the children, the preceptors and their assistants will try to know each other better and analyze what they have achieved during their time together. We strongly believe that it is highly important to know ourselves outside formal activities too, in order to be able to make the best moves when it comes to help the children grow up.
Sports Class
In our kindergarten, children are encouraged to take part in activities held both inside and outside the building. Along the week, our program includes a series of easy work-outs, during which the children will manage to develop the best part of their physical abilities. Part of the games we will play with the children will also involve teamwork. We use balls, hockey sticks and a variety of other objects which stimulate competition between the participants and which lead to achieving the games' purpose.
The bigger age groups will be able to take in rhythm classes, dance classes, stretching, aerobics, everything being carefully prepared with the help of a coach.
Sensory Education
It helps the development of the child. The activities we have crafted will help your child refine his/her senses: hearing, smell, taste, touch, and improve his/her perception and sensory reason.
The activities which aim to develop these capacities are designed to wind from the particular to the general. The first lessons feature materials which involve contrasting sensory perceptions, and along the school year, other materials, increasingly varied will be presented.
For example, the first lessons include identifying and being able to tell between the three basic colors – red, yellow and blue. Secondary colors (green, violet and orange) are introduced later on. In the end, children learn to use and recognize various shades and combinations between these colors.
This is only one of the activities that our preceptors will develop with the children, at the end of which, the children will enrich their descriptive vocabulary, using words such as: light, the lightest, or dark, the darkest.
Focus is a secondary result which we obtain by means of hands-on activities, especially with the smaller age groups. Children will mostly be engaged in activities which require that they use their hands a great deal, as well as a higher degree of concentration. Sensory activities with the smaller age groups are designed to help children be able to tell the difference between heights, lengths, weights, colors, sounds smells, tastes and textures.
For the other groups (4-5 yrs and 5-6 years), the activities involve the early development of calculations, as well as introducing the children to basic notions of geometry, multiplying and diving numbers. All the materials used during these classes may be used for other teaching levels too, depending on the child's ability to understand. Activities are crafted in keeping with an adequate rapport between structure and creativity. Regardless of their age, children will be able to share their discoveries and knowledge with their peers.
Free play
Playing is inherently a part of everyone's childhood, while also being the most efficient method to discover the world we grow up in. Playing, the children learn how to interact, how to share, how to solve problems and how to act as part of a team. The variety of toys in the classroom encourages children to use their imagination and build their own creative and dynamic game, developing other qualities at the same time – the kinesthetic abilities, for instance.
Hebrew
One of the central aims of our kindergarten is to help the children become closely acquainted with the modern, spoken Hebrew language, in a way that's as pleasant as possible to them. They will hear and learn words in Hebrew, related to seasons, Jewish holidays and various subjects discussed during class. Songs in Hebrew and games are incorporated in the teaching methods we use. Our children will be able to thoroughly relate to and appreciate the Jewish values, as well as traditions associated with Shabbat and other holidays.
Music and Rhythms
Music is the universal language during our classes. Our classrooms are equipped with musical instruments which will help the children experiment the rhythms and learn the songs.
The selection of the songs for the children includes CDs with the most popular songs, classical music, modern pop, show music, instrumental music, Hebrew songs, English songs and holiday songs. Children belonging to all groups will often take part in various shows organized both within our classrooms and outside our location, according to the event. During the classes, they will learn a series of songs which we will present to you with great pleasure on stage, on our celebrations.
Shabbat
Preparing for and celebrating Shabbat is a very special moment of the week. Children will welcome Shabbat every Friday, singing, preparing challot (a slightly sweeter bread, wound in various ways). Every Friday children will craft little presents for their colleagues, plying a game called “Giants and Dwarfs”. This game helps them know each other better and establish more personal relationships with all the children in the kindergarten. Shabbat is a palace in time, when children draw the line after a week spent in class, and charges them with enough energy and high spirits for the following week.
Technology
Our teaching methods are easily the best balanced . Technology will be used as an educational support during class or during optional activities, without letting technological support overrule other methods.
