First Day of School- FIELD TRIP!

First Day of School Photo

Our first day of school this year was celebrated with a field trip to SKIRBALL JEWISH CULTURAL CENTER.  I was intrigued with the write up on the Noah's Ark exhibit in Fun and Educational Places To Go With Kids in Southern California.  Not only did the exhibit and museum look education it was packed full of fun!  The kids played for hours in the giant Noah's Ark display.  The animals were made from repurposed materials.  If you look at the flamingo long enough you'd notice the fly swatter legs, the purse for a body, and the thread spool neck.  Other animals would sport whisks for legs, bamboo steamers for necks, noodles for quills, miniature Volkswagen cars for heads. 

In addition to the artistic displays, the kids found hours worth of playing to do.  They climbed rope ladders, pumped water creating the flood, made storm sounds, escorted the animals into the ark two by two, and finished with a little art project.

After the Ark play we grabbed a snack then toured through the displays of Jewish history.  Did you know that along with financing Columbus in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella also marked history by expelling all Jews from Spain?  Or that in 1881, Jewish people from Europe began immigrating to America.  Between 1881-1924 about 2.5 million Jews came to America seeking a better life. 

Along with history we learned about Jewish holidays, clothing, celebrations, persecution and some of the contributions Jewish people have made in science, music, art, medicine, and more.

It was a GREAT day!  What a wonderful way to begin the year!

See the Metal Blinds?  Or the Whisks?

Climbing through the Rope Tunnels

See the Purse?  Or the Thread?

This was a popular stripe on the first day of school

Welcome!