Bringing the Outdoors into the Celebration of Rosh Hashanah

 In the summer of 2021, Jessica White (Kindergarten Judaics & PS 3/4 Teacher) participated in a program through the Paradigm Project in Chicago to learn about ways to integrate outdoor education and Jewish values. Her training helped her to see beyond traditional playground equipment and utilize any outdoor resource no matter the size, from sticks to garden beds and beyond. The natural world provides our students with an opportunity for sensory exploration, imaginative play, and problem solving, while imbuing them with a sense of responsibility for caring and protecting it. 

 As we celebrate the world’s birthday at Rosh Hashanah, what better way to honor our world than enjoy all of the beauty it has to offer. It’s fortunate that in North Carolina Rosh Hashanah comes while we are  enjoying the beginning of beautiful fall weather. At B’nai Shalom, we take advantage of this and try to incorporate the outdoors into our celebration of the holiday as much as we can. Going beyond the sweetness of honey, PS 3/4 students explored bees and the miraculous way they make honey. Pre-K students took their science journals outdoors to observe the trees, documenting early signs of fall.

Our Kindergarten had lots of fun with these outdoor Rosh Hashanah games! We hope you enjoy them and incorporate them into your own celebrations at home. 

Apple Toss

Supplies: (2)Buckets, (2-6)Apples, Water

Fill up both buckets with water and have participants stand 2-3 feet away from the tub and toss the apples into the bucket.  Make it challenging by moving further away from the tub each time.

Nectar Relay

Supplies: (2) Basters, (2) Empty ice cube trays, (2) Empty bowls, Yellow food coloring, Water

Fill up both bowls with water and yellow food coloring (imitating nectar) and set a baster beside it. Place the empty ice cube trays approximately 6 feet away. Fill up the basters with the “nectar” from the bowl and run as fast as you can to fill up the ice cube tray! 

Apple Bowling

Supplies: (2) Apples, (4-7) Empty plastic juice bottles

Set up all the bottles like bowling pins and “bowl” or underhand toss your apple(s) to try to knock down as many bottles as you can on the first try!