Berkeley, CA
Gan Shalom

Gan Shalom is dedicated to providing a warm, nurturing environment within which each child may feel secure to explore and learn.

Our goals are to foster each child's emotional, social, and cognitive development; Build positive self-esteem; and Promote positive Jewish identity.

Our curriculum is purposely designed to offer a balanced diversity of activities in music, dramatic play, arts and crafts, movement, science, and language arts.

We believe that children learn best through concrete, 'hands on' experiences by testing concepts, manipulating materials, and engaging their natural curiosity and creativity to explore the world around them.

Children's interactions with their peers provide them with an opportunity to learn cooperation, problem-solving skills, and appropriate ways of expressing feelings.

Our Jewish identification enriches our curriculum with the study and celebration of Jewish holidays, Shabbat, readings from the Bible, daily prayers and blessings.

Hebrew is introduced through songs, stories, and creative dramatics. Jewish values such as Tzedakah (charity), Mitzvot (good deeds), and Refu'ah Shlema (healing) are explored through stories, art, rituals, discussion, and special projects.

Gan Shalom is a preschool for Congregation Beth Israel. We observe Shabbat and all Jewish holidays. The kitchen is kosher and children are expected to bring dairy or parve lunches. Boys wear Kipot or caps.

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8:30-9:00 Socio-dramatic play, art, manipulatives, reading

9:30-9:45 Clean-up, wash hands, transition to circle

9:45-10:00 Circle, tiffilah

10-11:30 Snack, small group time, outdoor play

11:30 Lunch, play

12:15 Closing Circle

12:30 Pick up for some

1-2 Rest time

2-3:30 Snack, play, books

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