Noach is an incredibly interesting parasha to teach, as there as so many fun topics to explore. Several years ago we looked into some
scientific aspects here. In my classroom one year we
focused on math. Today my class enjoyed hammering like Noach did and made a rainstick, like we did
here.
They also began working on a matching game. Color two pages of animals (on cardstock), cut out, and play! Help Noach find matching pairs of animals to load onto the teyva. Ruti made a sample set.
Everyone enjoyed playing. I reviewed each animal's Hebrew name when it was flipped over and Tova quickly learned almost all of them.
חיות–chayot– animals
חתול–chatul –cat
אריה–aryeh– lion
זברה–zebra –zebra
נחש–nachash– snake
דוֹב–dov– bear
פיל – peel– elephant
ג 'ירפה –jirafa– giraffe
גָמָל–gamal –camel
צְפַרְדֵעַ–tzfardeya– frog
נָמֵר–nahmare– tiger
קוֹף-kofe– monkey
כֶּלֶב–kelev– dog
סוּס–suse– horse
חֲזִיר-chazeer– pig
עַכְבָּר-achbar– mouse
יונה–yonah –dove
Then Gabi had a great idea! Hyped up on fitness from sports practice, she said, "Let's exercise like we are on the Teyvah!" She explained that in pairs, they would work on different yoga animal poses. Cohava helped work out the details and they got to work.
Snakes
Cats
Birds?
Crazy baby monkey!
Ruti excitedly called me into the bathroom when she was finishing her shower.
"Yes?"
She pointed up at the shower head, "Geshem [rain]!" She pointed to the water pooled beneath her, as the plug in the tub was in. "Mabool [flood]! I thought of it with my own brain!" she gushed excitedly.
We should all stop to appreciate the Torah and joy all around us, which often masquerades as the mundane.
