Currriculum Book 21

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Kindergarten - Getting acquainted with Jewish life

1  Holiday Observances

Goal - Enable the child to understand and be comfortable with holiday celebrations that take place in the Temple.

Methodology - Make the most of every holiday to enrich the curriculum. Example: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - Children can create holiday cards with the appropriate greetings.

Sukkot/Simchat Torah: Create a Sukkah in the class - decorate the school - march with flags and Torahs.

Chanukah: Make latkes - have a party with music and lighting of candles.

Tu B'Shevat: Plant seeds, cut from plants to grow smaller plant - make a nursery in the classroom. Plant parsley to have in time for Passover.

Purim: Have the children wear costumes/masks - Hold a school-wide Purim Carnival.

Passover: Learn symbols, hold model Seder - read Passover story.

Lag B'Omer: Take a hike and have a picnic

Shavuot: Summer harvest.

Holidays to be worked on in detail: Students need to be familiar with the symbols of Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Tu B'Shevat and Shabbat.

2  Mitzvah & Tzedakah Projects: To be discussed each year with Teacher and Director. Students need to know the meaning of Mitzvah and Tzedakah.

Goal: to foster in the child a sense of responsibility to his fellowman.

Methology : Discuss the good deeds the children do at home for family, friends, etc. Collect tzedakah on a regular basis. On Purim, make Shelach Manot for the elderly.

3. Bible Stories : Creation, In the Beginning, Moses, Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel

Goal : to begin to learn some history of important people in our Jewish life.

4. Unit on Shabbat, G-d, the Temple and what items are called . Positive Hebrew language awareness.

Goal : To enable child to experience and understand specific traditional ceremonial practices.

5. Hebrew

a)  Blessings should be taught in preparation for a monthly model Shabbat experience. A short service with singing and storytelling, Shabbat symbols, Challah cover, making of a small Challah.

b)  Teach the students their Hebrew names.

c)  Study and recognition of the Hebrew letters.

d) Use words in Hebrew that the student can remember.

**Most important - Not many coloring pages or handouts.

Projects need to be completed while the students are in class. Music and movement are

also important for this age.

6. Learn-A-Thon : Kindergarten will do a puppet show or play about a bible story to be enjoyed by other  students.

Grade I - Living in the Jewish Family

1. Hebrew :   

....a) A quick review of the Hebrew alphabet

    b) Add vowels and small words

    c) Put words to the Hebrew letters

    d) Decoding and practice on a small level

   Goal : Putting short words together and reading a few short prayers.

   Methology : Children will learn Aleph Bet. The goal is to give the children the basic reading skills.

Holidays to be Studied In Detail          Prayers to be Studied

2.  Bible Stories :   

....a) Review Creation

    b) Noah's Ark

    c) Tower of Babel       

....d) Moses

Most children of this age think in concrete, specific terms and are eager to learn but have little concept of time and space. Their attention is drawn to the Jewish life celebrations experienced by the family unit. They will respond to biblical heroes and Jewish values.

3.  Family Holiday Observances :

Goal : To enable the child to understand, be comfortable with, and enjoy holiday celebrations at home.

Methodology : Teachers should work with parents to stress the importance of a family meal for Rosh Hashanah, building or decorating someone else's Sukkah, lighting Chanukah candles, and participating in a Passover Seder. All holidays need to be mentioned in class. Family holidays should be emphasized. Learn about each holiday through music, dance (movement), and art.

4. Unit on Home, Torah, Shabbat, Israel :

Goal: To enable the child to understand and experience specific activities and practices that are involved in the creation of the Jewish home, Torah, Shabbat and Israel.

Torah : It should be explained that the Torah is a scroll which we have in our Sanctuary. It is read on Shabbat and holidays. Torah should be understood as a learning of Judaism, acting in a just manner toward families, neighbors, and friends. At this time, they should learn or begin to learn how the Torah begins with the story of Creation.

Shabbat : Shabbat should be taught through songs, stories, movement, and crafts. Learn prayers for wine (grape juice) and Challah. Hands-on activities are a must. Use few handouts throughout the year.

Israel: The land of Israel can be taught through videos, dance, and stories. It should be taught as a land that Jews should cherish and care for. The students should learn about Jacob, that his real name was Yisrael and that he was the father of the people of Israel.

G-d: Let's Begin to Discover G-d . G-d's creation reminds us of his presence in the world. Teach the students that we are all G-d's partners when we create new things.

5. Shema program : begin in the early part of the New Year.

Grade 2 - Living Within the Jewish People

1. Hebrew

  a) putting letters together with vowels and reading words

  b) decoding skills need to be worked on

The average 2 nd grader can discuss, reason, and think about G-d. They can identify with Biblical heroes and a larger community outside thehome. Our goal is to introduce growing Jews to the people of Israel and the values of our religious heritage.

2. History of the holidays :

  Goal: To enable the child to know the source and background of the holidays, how they were   celebrated in the past, and how they are celebrated now in Israel and the United States.

Holidays to be Studied

2 nd graders and their families should be encouraged to attend Family Services at the Synagogue so that they may take part in the worship of the Jewish people.

Prayers to be Studied

3. Tzedakah : Will be collected weekly. Students should understand the meanings of Tzedakah and of   doing mitzvot

Second grade will put together a Tot Shabbat program. This will be the Learn-A-Thon program. Teacher and director will work together to organize this program.

4. Bible Stories : The second grade class will be studying at least 4 bible stories for this year:

..Creation of the World in reference to the New Year/Adam and Eve

  Abraham

  Rebecca

  Ruth

  King David

5. G-d: The feeling of good and what is done for us by G-d. This is a thought process that cannot be right or wrong. Students will need guidance in forming a foundation for their spiritual feelings.

Grade 3 - The Bible in Our Lives

Most 3 rd graders communicate well, have a better sense of who they are, and are interested in other lands and cultures. Time and space take on meaning for the children, and they enjoy discussion.

1. Celebrate Holidays :

  Goal: To enable the children to experience the holidays through class celebrations.

  Methodology : History may be reviewed while engaging children in each holiday using activities such   as: helping to build a Sukkah for the ..school; learning a lesson in the Torah for Simchat Torah; having a   latke party on Chanukah; planting bulbs outside the school for Tu ..B'Shevat; acting out the Purim story   and making hamantashen on Purim; actively participating in the school Seder on Passover; going on   a ..hike and a picnic for Lag B'Omer; and having a Shavuot party at the end of the year. There are just

 .some suggestions of ways that you can actively engage the children on each Jewish holiday.

Holidays to be studied

* New holidays that will be introduced.

2. Torah & Bible :

  Goal : To acquaint the students with additional Biblical heroes, enable them to learn about Jewish   values through these heroes' action, and ..to incorporate these values into their daily lives.

  Methodology : By studying the foundation of Judaism through such personalities as Abraham, Isaac,   Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, and ..through the wanderings of the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land,   students can begin to uncover and appreciate their own Jewish roots. ..Students at this age love   stories and can begin to discuss what meaning each lesson has for them and their lives. They should   be made to ..understand that they are connected with this history.

3. Hebrew :   

a) continue the Hebrew letters, larger words, and begin using silent vowels. Maintain decoding skills

b) Tefillah, learning for Shabbat morning

c) Get the students ready for Consecration

  Goal: The major goal of this Hebrew class is to produce students who read fluently and accurately.

4. G-d and the Jewish Identity with G-d -- use text that will be given to you (the teacher).

5. Israel - This will be the topic for a learn-a-thon at the end of the school year.

6. Consecration Service : will occur towards the end of the school year. This will be during a Shabbat   Morning Service.

7.Tzedakah :

  Goals : To guide the children in the selection of their recipients and to create projects to carry out their

  responsibilities to their fellow man.

8. Journal Writing : This will be the first year of this 4-year project.

Crafts are needed to make learning enjoyable.

Grade 4

1. Holidays & Symbols - The children will study all of the holidays and symbols that come up during the

  school year. These are a few of the prayers and holidays that need to be mastered:

2. Bible studies will include:

3. Hebrew:

..  1) Reading prayers from prayer book

    2) Basic Hebrew roots - prefix/ suffix

    3) Learn the Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Havdalah

.  4) Emphasize decoding and reading Hebrew

4. Service to be done : Havdalah service

.....................................Make wine cups & Besamine (spice) boxes

NOTE: Please build on the previous curriculum as well as introducing the new curriculum for this year.

Crafts are most enjoyable for this age group. Plan to have at least one craft project monthly.

5. G-d : Open discussion using the textbook "I have some questions about G-d"

6.  Passover Seder : stress the 4 questions and the order of the Seder

7. Journal writing : Journals need to be done weekly and completed in class. All writing needs to stay in class and passed on to the next year's teacher in May.

8. Learn-a-thon project - Famous Jewish people and their contributions to our world today.

Grade 5

1. Hebrew   

a) begin cursive writing

b) Siddur reading

c) work hard on decoding skills for fluent reading skills

d) prepare a service including D'Var Torah

e) learn and review grace after meals and Hatikvah

2.Life cycle - Taught on the student's level with hands on activities

3. Bible Stories : Ruth & Naomi, Ruth & Boaz, Joseph (more detail), Daniel - Lions Den and Naaman, and   Saul and David. (use Gift of Wisdom)

4. Famous Jews and their contributions to history - At least 4 during the school year.

5. Work on all the holidays including Yoms

6.Discuss current events pertaining to Jews all over the world

7.Review Havdalah Service with students (a review from 4 th grade)

8.Torah:   

  a) introduction to Torah study

  b) many ways of interpreting the Torah

  c) do at least 1 Parsha per month in detail--work on writing thoughts about today and the Torah   portion.

9. Service to be done in the synagogue will be a Friday night service

10. G-d: Living as partners with G-d, understanding the covenant, with G-d and honoring it.

11.Journal writing : continue where 4 th grade left off

Learn-a-thon topic will be Shtetl and how life was for Jews when they came to America.

Grade 6

1.Study of Israel : Create a feeling of Klal Yisrael

2.Work on debating current event issues

3.Bible Stories .   

  Commandments

  Golden calf

  Moses (complete)

  Ten plagues

  Kings

  David and Goliath

  Samson

  Solomon

4. Work on writing D'var Torah to be done at a Shabbat Service

5.Holocaust

  a) teach history at the beginning of this period

  b) do a timeline

6.Hebrew

  a) emphasis on reading and decoding/root Hebrew words   b) practice Torah skills

  c) go from block to script writing

  d) teach Mourner's Kaddish/ Service will be Shabbat AM

7.Jewish ethics :   

  a) panel discussions

  b) use questions from the Book of Why

8. Prayer :

  a) Prayer Book #4 text

  b) work on prayers for the class service

9.Talmud Zot ha Torah : a guided exploration of the mitzvot found in the weekly Torah portion

  Rules of Judaism- what is wrong or right

Learn-A-Thon---Jewish Calendar

Grade 7

General Topics: (#1-4 will be taught on Wednesday; #5, 6, 8, and Learn-A-Thon will be done on Sunday)

1. Study about "Be a Mensch ": do this with comparative religion

2. Jewish Ethics

3. Read a Holocaust book and do a presentation

4. History including the holocaust

5.Torah Studies : continue to teach D'var Torah writing. Make sure students understand by putting this

  into context of today's world.

6.Hebrew :

  a) reading for comprehension

  b) work on decoding with the Torah readings and everyday prayers   

  c) teach the Shacharit service (from the Siddur)

Learn-A-Thon project :   Jewish concept of G-d

      Who is G-d (to students)?

7. Saturday class :

  a) learn the ins and outs of the Shabbat service and the Shabbat feelings

  b) discuss the Parsha of the week

8. Work with students on Bar/Bat Mitzvah projects or community service project . All students need to be   working on a project even if ...their Bar/Bat Mitzvah is past.