Sukkahs, Lulavs, and Etrogs!

The traditional time to begin building a sukkah is right after Yom Kippur.  Thursday, we went out to see how the Temple sukkah was being constructed.

Greg showed us one of the panels used for the ceiling.  The children were very excited because we had just talked about how we can look up through the top of the sukkah and see the sky.

In Gan, the class was part of the construction crew.  The kids were either carrying the panel over or using zip ties to hold the panel in place.  Being able to do the same kind of "work" as the adults we'd just watched was very empowering!

Back in the class we learned about the etrog.  Some kids wanted to just look.....

while others took a deep  sniff!

The children could easily tell us how the etrog and a lemon were alike and different.

We learned about the luluv and its three parts.

Alex really got into shaking the luluv and said it was like the wind.

Briana gave a much more subdued shake!

Whatever method the children used, shaking the luluv and etrog together in all directions is a reminder of God's presence all around us.

The corn was being used as part of the walls for the sukkah.  The children thought that it would be fun to hide under the corn stalks.  Mission accomplished!!

The volunteers for sisterhood explained to the class that they had to twist wire around all the fruits and vegetables that they would be using to decorate the sukkah.

 The sisterhood volunteers invited us to  check out the very large pumpkins and fall gourds for decorating the sukkah. We are very happy that the children were able to see and experience the building of the sukkahs at Temple.  We know that these hands on explorations enriched the children's learning of this very fun fall holiday!