Preparation for Yom Kippur

We learnt about the special Holiday of Yom Kippur, how it is a day to say we say i'm sorry for what we did in the past. We learnt about the things we are not allowed to do on Yom Kippur such as wear leather shoes, and wash our hands. We made a pair of foam slippers to wear on Yom Kippur. 
There is also a custom to eat honey cake before Yom Kippur as if to request from Hashem to give us a sweet new year just as the honey cake is sweet. The Yeladim(children) each got to make their own honey cake to be eaten before Yom Kippur. 
Many have the custom to take a chicken and swing it over their heads before Yom Kippur while reciting some blessings. The chicken is then slaughtered and its monetary worth is given to poor people. By doing this we ask of Hashem that if we are suppose to have bad decrees come upon us this year, may it be transferred to the chicken in the merit of the Mitzvah of Tzedakah(Charity). On Thursday, Rabbi Okonov came to school with chickens and the children had the opportunity to do the Mitzva of Kapporos- swinging the chicken over their heads.