At the “Beit Tzindlicht” children’s educational center, a leading preschool institution of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, a thematic week took place dedicated to autumn and the changes that occur in nature with the onset of this season of the year. The children of various age groups became acquainted with autumn phenomena, observed the world around them, and learned how people adapt to changes in the weather, and how birds and animals prepare for the approach of winter.
For the youngest children, becoming acquainted with autumn took place first and foremost through observation, games, and direct communication with nature. The children examined multicolored leaves, learned why they change color and fall from the trees, and became acquainted with chestnuts and other autumn gifts of nature. The little ones could touch the leaves and chestnuts, compare their appearance and characteristics, and in active games depicted the little leaves that whirl in the air and descend to the ground.
Another important theme was the changes in the weather and their influence on a person’s everyday life. The educators explained to the children why it becomes cooler in autumn, why rains fall more often, and why one has to dress more warmly. The children compared summer and autumn clothing, recalled the light T-shirts and sun hats that they wore in the warm season, and learned why hats, warm clothing, and umbrellas are now needed. Thus the familiar everyday actions helped the children understand the connection between natural phenomena and human life.
In the older groups, the study of autumn was more detailed. The children became acquainted with the life of migratory birds, learned why, with the onset of cold weather, they set off for warm lands, and also discussed how animals prepare for winter. Special attention was given to the seasonal changes in nature and to how plants, birds, animals, and people adapt in different ways to the change of seasons.
Thus, the shared theme of the week was revealed taking into account the age of the children: the younger children came to know autumn through their senses, observation, and games, while the older ones learned to notice the interconnections between natural phenomena and to understand the patterns of the surrounding world. An important component of these classes was the cultivation of an attentive and caring attitude toward nature, and the perception of its diversity and wondrous order as a manifestation of the wisdom of the Almighty, who created the world.
“For a small child, every season of the year opens up a multitude of wondrous things, and our task is to help them not merely see these changes but also learn to understand the world around them,” noted preschool teacher Malka Averbukh. “When children observe how the leaves change color, how the birds set off for warm lands, and how the animals prepare for winter, they gradually discover for themselves the patterns of nature and learn to see the wisdom of the Almighty in all His creation. It is precisely such a combination of learning about the world with Jewish education that we consider especially important, and for the opportunity to give our children such an education, to develop their curiosity, and to raise them in an atmosphere of Yiddishkeit, we sincerely thank the united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
