Description: JFS Side Yard Seedlings is a garden-based early childhood program launching in spring of 2018 and engaging children ages 2-6 and their caregivers through Jewish garden-based education. Children and their caregivers will gather at the Jewish Farm School garden for a 90 minute experience which includes caring for plants, nature-based crafts, song sessions, stories, and age-appropriate games and activities connected to the cycles of the seasons and the themes of the Hebrew calendar. Garden-based snacks will be served.
Location: Jewish Farm School Garden / 50th and Cedar / Philadelphia, PA
Dates and Times/Session Descriptions:
Fall Session 1:
Noah’s Ark
Gather your favorite animals and climb on board the ark! We’ll be making our own arks with found materials, exploring rainbows, and making our best animal noises. We’ll learn about the original story of Noah (from the current parsha, the weekly Torah
reading), as well as reading traditional and modern midrash (spin-off stories).
Sunday, October 21st from 10:00am-11:30am
Fall Session 2:
Shabbat Soup
Planting Seeds What can you do if you’re hungry, but you only have a rock? Call your friends and make stone soup! We’ll explore the traditional story of Stone Soup, the Jewish value of welcoming guests (hachnasat orchim), and our fall garden harvest. We’ll help to make real matzoh ball soup to eat for snack, and get messy making “nature soup” with mud, water, and leaves.
Sunday, November 4th from 10:00am-11:30am
Fall Session 3:
Chanukah is Coming!
Let your Chanukah lights shine! We’ll get ready for Chanukah by exploring traditions, singing songs, and dipping our own candles for the first night. We’ll also help put the garden to sleep for the winter and enjoy the late autumn harvest by making applesauce, a popular Chanukah condiment.
Sunday, November 18th from 10:00am-11:30am
Cost: Tickets are $10 for families with one child and $15 for families with two or more children. Our doors are open to everyone, so if finances are a barrier for you, please email Rowan.
For more information: contact Rowan Machalow