Introduction:
The period of the counting of the omer is sometimes thought of as a spiritual journey from the time we leave Egypt until the time we receive and accept the Torah and it's teachings.
Children understand the concept of counting down toward a special day, such as their birthday or a particular excursion.
They will also enjoy counting down to Shavuot with these fun omer counters. This can be done at your regular calendar or circle time.
Materials:
The materials vary according to the type of counter you wish to create. We have listed seven different types of counters to choose from.
Counters:
- Rainbow Counter
Make a poster board with 7 stripes of the rainbow either with paint or colored paper. Paste or tape black vertical lines, marking off the weeks and days. Use pictures of wheat to count off days.
- Scrolling Counter
Use a colored poster board with a frame cut out of the center. Make an extra vertical cut over and under this frame to enable paper to be threaded through. Make a long vertical strip of paper with numbers on it to pull through the frame.
- Horizontal Counter
Make a long horizontal banner with numbers. Each week may be backed by a different color. Cross off the days as you go.
- Egg carton Counter
Glue egg cartons together, each week painted a different color. Put the numbers of the days inside the egg cups. Mark off days with walnuts, cotton balls, etc.
- Wheat Counter 1
Draw 7 large wheat berries on a poster. Add thin craft sticks with numbers of the days added on to look like the filaments at the end of the wheat stalk.
- Wheat Counter 2
Glue 7 stems of wheat made out of card stock onto a poster. Punch seven holes in each stalk. Mark off the days with yellow pipe cleaners.
- Spool Counter
String gimp along part of your classroom, with wooden spools threaded through color-coordinated weeks. Use clothes pins and poster squares to separate the days and weeks.
