Silverstein Hebrew Academy recently hosted interactive, educational activities for students to learn about and celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim in the days leading up to the holiday. Educators at SHA focused heavily on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) lessons incorporating the theme of the holiday, and held a celebratory carnival to teach students about their Jewish customs.
To commemorate the holiday, SHA held its annual Purim carnival for early childhood and kindergarten students. During the event, students walked the runway in a costume fashion show, played on a children’s fun bus, made Purim-theme crafts, and participated in story time.
“We find that our students benefit from learning through interactive lessons,” said Associate Head of School Chanie Geisinsky. “By following the custom of dressing up in costumes, singing, and making noise, students first-hand experience how Purim was described in the Book of Esther.”
In addition to the carnival, students in grades 1-4 participated in activities focused around encouraging STEAM learning, such as a baking room that allowed students to explore the science behind mixing ingredients and baking hamantashan; a technology-focused room hosted a Purim-themed game show, testing facts about the holiday; an engineering room focused on students constructing a durable throne for Queen Esther; an art room led students through constructing origami Mishloach manot baskets; and a music room was home to encouraging students to share their knowledge of Purim through song-writing and participating against classmates in a rap battle.
“It was important for us to incorporate STEAM-related learning into the Purim carnival,” said Head of School Shireen Butman. “The goal was to engage students in a way that enhances their everyday classroom learning by touching on each STEAM subject during the carnival.”
Purim, which is celebrated from the evening of March 20 through March 21, is an annual Jewish holiday held in the spring to commemorate the defeat of Haman’s plot to massacre the Jews as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther. Purim is often celebrated with lavish carnivals and costumes to denote this special time on the Jewish calendar.
For more information about the Silverstein Hebrew Academy, visit www.shagn.org or call 516-466-8522.
