The Nursery and JK students have been diving deeper into the key concepts and elements of Purim by investigating what a Megillah (scroll) is and what we notice about it. Some students shared how the Megillah looks like a Torah because it unrolls or how it is different from a book. We even explored the length of the Purim story by unrolling a Megillah from the beginning to the end, while also identifying the major characters mentioned. These discussions continued throughout the week and we continued to give praise to Esther and Mordechai, our brave heroes in the story. This also fostered opportunities for sharing how we might relate to these characters and how we’ve encountered our own moments of strength and bravery. 

Early childhood students naturally connect to stories through dramatic play, both inside and outside the classroom. Dramatic play and the use of imagination are valued as one of The Hundred Languages that children use to make sense of their world, especially when trying to understand some of the foundations of the Jewish holidays. Through dramatic play, children explore perspectives and roles of others and act out what they experience or observe in their lives. The development and exploration of problem solving, creative thinking and collaboration are evident in the rich dramatic play environment. These concepts have been embedded in our students' everyday learning by taking on the different characters and roles from the Purim story. They demonstrated bravery by acting as Mordechai and Esther, exercised their forceful voice as Haman, and were draped in royalty garments as King Achashverosh. 

On Purim, the students told the story of the Megillah by putting on a Purim play and sharing their perspective of the story. We discussed the requirements for putting together a play and the different roles involved. Each child had a role or contribution to the play by acting as the characters, assisting in the creation of the castle and Shushan scenery, and being a part of a listening audience. We explored how to act out the Megillah story and the different characters with costumes and props.

The students were very excited to create this together and it was so much fun seeing the Judaic Atelier transform into Shushan!