Grade K. Jewish Studies

Transcription

1 Grade K Unit One: Exploring the Jewish Year Students learn about the rhythm and flow of the year as they explore the Jewish calendar and experience the Jewish holidays and the cycle of seasons. Unit Two: An Overview of Mitzvot Students learn about the three different types of Mitzvot: ritual (saying blessings), gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) and tzedakah (performing one s righteous obligation to give charity). Each student will make a tzedakah box for use at home. The Jewish concept of being a mensch is introduced. Unit Three: Let s Explore God Students begin to develop a relationship with God by exploring the concepts of talking to God, thanking God, and understanding that God is one. They are introduced to the primary concept of Shema that God is one. They learn the Shema prayer and explore its meaning. Students will be able to identify a mezuzah and know that the Shema prayer is contained in a mezuzah. Unit Four: Welcome to the Synagogue An Exploration of Synagogue Life Our students visit the sanctuary to learn about the Torah and ritual objects used in prayer. They are taught that Torah is very special to the Jewish people and that to show respect we dress a Torah in a special way. They are also taught to identify a kippah, tallit, and siddur. Students begin to understand the different roles of professionals who work in a synagogue. Unit Five: Israel Throughout the year, Kindergarten students learn about Israel. They will learn that the same prayers we say at Temple Shir Tikva are said in Israel. They will discuss the similarities/differences of Shabbat and holidays in Israel and in Wayland. The goals for Kindergarten are letter recognition, and the association of sounds with the letters. Students develop a basic comfort and familiarity with the Hebrew alphabet, learning that Hebrew is written from right to left. They start to build a vocabulary of Hebrew words from listening to their teachers, using picture aids, and through our Hebrew through Movement program, in which they respond to simple Hebrew verbs through various fun actions. Students are introduced to the Shabbat blessings in a developmentally appropriate manner. They will be exposed to the blessings for lighting the Chanukah candles, the Shema,

2 the Kiddush and Motzi (blessings for wine and bread), the blessing we say before eating a snack, and Oseh Shalom (a prayer for peace). Sunday Program: The Shema and Jewish Bedtime Rituals Parents will study together with Cantor Schachner about the concept God is One; discuss how to speak with children about God; and how to make bedtime a Jewish moment. Children working with their parents will make Shema Pillowcases and will study the Shema prayer. Grade 1 Unit One: Exploring the Jewish Year Students are taught to understand the rhythm and flow of the year as they learn about the Jewish calendar and experience the Jewish holidays, the cycle of the seasons and growing a year older. Unit Two Consecration Consecration is a Grade 1 milestone event at Temple Shir Tikva that marks the beginning and the importance of a child s Jewish education. The process of preparing for Consecration and the celebration itself not only recognizes the child, but honors parents as well. Students will prepare for Consecration in class with their teachers, while parents will participate in a family education program to prepare for this event. Students will participate in the Simchat Torah service by leading the Barchu and the Shema from the bima( synagogue platform). Students are publicly blessed and honored by the clergy and educators, and will receive personalized name plaques created by their parents. Unit Three: A Focus on Shabbat Students learn that Shabbat is the Hebrew name for our day of rest, a day that celebrates God s creation of the world nature and people. Our Grade 1 students will study the meaning of

3 Shabbat and the rituals that surround it. Students will create Shabbat kits which include candlesticks, a challah cover, a Kiddush cup and a havdalah set (spice box, cup and candle). Unit Four: A More Intense Focus on Passover Students spend time learning about the holiday of Pesach (Passover) through an in-depth exploration of the holiday s traditions. They are introduced to the concepts of eating matzah, the order of the seder and the symbols of the seder plate, the haggadah, the afikomen, and the four questions. Students will make seder plates, as a way to demonstrate their learning and participate in the festivities of the holiday. Students continue to build comfort and familiarity with the Hebrew alphabet, working on visual recognition of Hebrew letters and auditory discrimination of letter sounds. They will learn to sound out letters, form their bodies into Hebrew letters through alef-bet Yoga, and sing Hebrew songs. In our Hebrew through Movement program, they will respond to simple Hebrew verbs through various fun actions. Students will learn the order of the Shabbat blessings. They will be able to recite and understand the meaning of each blessing in a developmentally appropriate manner. During Consecration, students will lead the community in the prayers from the bima. Sunday Program: What s My Name? Consecration Preparation Parents and children spend the morning talking about their Hebrew names and the relevance and meaning behind them. Children also learn how to write their Hebrew names and use them in class. Parents discuss the importance of a Hebrew name in the Jewish tradition, receive background information on the Consecration program, and help students prepare for this milestone event.

4 Grade 2 Unit One: Examining Mitzvot Children learn about and experience ethical Mitzvot between people. Unit Two: Reviewing Our Jewish Year Students continue to deepen their understanding of the rhythm and flow of the year as they learn about the Jewish calendar and experience the Jewish holidays, the cycle of seasons and growing a year older. Unit Three: Israel Students will learn why Israel is called the Jewish homeland, learn about where Israel is located, major cities, bodies of water and regions, the size of Israel relative to other places with which they are familiar, countries that surround Israel, weather, food, language and a bit of history. During second grade, students will be learn to name each letter, and to be introduced to the vowels, They will combine letters and vowels to make syllable sounds. Students continue to learn vocabulary words and their meanings, as well as how to write Hebrew. In our Hebrew through Movement program, they will respond to simple Hebrew verbs through various fun actions. Students review the blessings they have learned in prior years and are also introduced to specific blessings for the holidays of Sukkot and Passover. They will also learn the blessing for the study of Torah and practice singing Hatikvah during music. Once a month, they participate in our Sababa Sunday community tefilah for grades 2-6. Parents are encouraged to join us.

5 Grade 2 and 5 Buddy Days Several times during the year, we pair our fifth graders up with our second graders to play Hebrew games, do holiday activities and to share what they are each studying about Israel. Sunday Program: Doing Mitzvot: and Gemilut Chasadim Parents are introduced to the overall themes of the Grade 2 mitzvah curriculum, learning the difference between tzedakah (doing righteous acts) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) and how and why they are both important. Grade 3 Unit One: Welcome to Torah: Let s Start with Genesis and Exodus! Students learn how to read the Torah textand understand how the Torah conveys its messages both through the story and the manner in which the stories are told. Students begin to master the plot the p shat (the plain meaning of the text or plot). They will know the characters, places and dramatic happenings in each segment studied. Students learn to understand that the Torah holds important values and meanings for their own lives. They learn about the Biblical stories from creation through the Exodus from Egypt. Unit Two: Reviewing Our Jewish Year Students will review the rhythm and flow of the year, through the use of a spiral curriculum. In Grade 3, students continue to refine their letter and vowel recognition. Syllables will be sounded out to pronounce words. They also learn to write Hebrew in block letters. Children learn to read Hebrew prayers in Grades 3. In our Hebrew through Movement program, they will respond to Hebrew verbs through various fun actions. This is the exciting year in which students apply their developing Hebrew reading skills to begin to read prayers. Every Wednesday, Grades 3-6 students attend Tefillah in our beautiful sanctuary where they will have time for engaging and reflective, personal and communal prayer. Students sit by Tefillah teams, which consist of a blend of students from each grade; siblings are always on the same team. Throughout the year, they will review sanctuary etiquette. By the end of the school year, students will understand the choreography of the

6 prayers they are learning. The focus is on the Shema and her blessings. Once a month, they participate in our Sababa Sunday community tefilah for grades 2-6. Parents are encouraged to join us. At Siyum Hasefer our Grade 3 milestone event students lead the community in prayer! They have learned to read the Sh ma (Hear O Israel), the Barchu (Praise God), and the first line or two of many prayers in our service. Grade 3 students also learn to sing Israel s national anthem, recite the Chanukah blessings, and chant the Four Questions for Passover. Sunday Program: Preparing for Siyum Hasefer Parents learn about the Siyum Hasefer service and this special milestone program at Shir Tikva. They explore the purpose of tefillah and spend time talking about God and how to talk to God to your children by participating in Godshopping. What is Godshopping? Come find out!. At this session, parents also receive instructions about the inscription project. This project involves the creation of a special tribute which is pasted into each child s siddur (prayer book). The inscription and the siddur are presented to the Grade 3 children at the Siyum Hasefer service. Grade 4 Unit One: Lifecycle The Circle of Jewish Life Students are taught that life is cyclical. They learn how Jewish life cycle events fit into the natural circle of life. Students explore the rituals surrounding birth, naming, b'nai mitzvah, marriage and death. Grade 4 lifecycle studies includes two field trips. The first to Mayyim Hayyim mikveh in Newton and the seccond is an age appropriate tour of a Jewish cemetary with JCAM. Parents are invited to both trips. Unit Two: Reviewing Our Jewish Year Students review the rhythm and flow of the year, through the use of a spiral curriculum.

7 In Grade 4, the focus is on reviewing letter, vowel and syllable reading and block writing skills, and applying those skills to learning to read prayers. In our Hebrew through Movement program, they will increase their understanding of modern Hebrew, through responding to Hebrew verbs through various fun actions. Students in Grade 4 focus on four prayers in the prayer service the Barchu (call to prayer), the Shema (statement that God is one and God is blessed), The V ahavta (how we show our love for God) and the Mi Chamocha (acknowledges that God exists forever). They will have the opportunity to practice these during our weekly Wednesday Tefilah service for grades 3-6, in our beautiful sanctuary. where they will have time for engaging and reflective, personal and communal prayer. Students sit by by Tefillah team. Tefillah teams consist of a blend of students from each grade; siblings are always on the same team. Throughout the year, they will review sanctuary etiquette. By the end of the school year, students will understand the choreography of the prayers they are learning. Once a month, they participate in our Sababa Sunday community tefilah for grades 2-6. Parents are encouraged to join us. In class, they will also learn to read the Yotzer Or (thanking God for creating light and darkness, and renewing creation), review the Shabbat blessings and the Mah Nishtana (4 Questions), along with learning other Passover blessings. Our fourth graders are invited to play a special role in leading one of our Simhat Shabbat Friday evening services, followed by a communal Shabbat dinner and celebration. Grade 5 Unit One: Getting to Know Israel Through Interactions With Our Friends Our School-to-School Israel-Diaspora Virtual Mifgash Program aims to cultivate meaningful connections between Jewish fifth grade students in Israel and in the Diaspora. The basis of

8 these connections is getting both groups in touch, through a mutual learning experience, with what they have in common Jewish content and values while at the same time, giving them the opportunity to explore each group s unique identity as citizens of different cultures and countries. This program includes video conferences with the students Israeli counterparts. Parent are encouraged to join us for these moving and meaningful video conferences. Unit Two: Reviewing Our Jewish Year Students review the rhythm and flow of the year, through the use of a spiral curriculum. Students continue to work on understanding key words and phrases and explaining the meaning of each blessing and prayer. As the year progresses, reading fluency improves. Students continue to review the prayer service, with a special focus on the Amidah (the central prayer in the service) ~ in particular, the Avot/v Imahot (Thanking God of our fathers and mothers)and the G vurot (Praising Awesome God). They will have the opportunity to practice these, and the prayers they have learned in previous years during our weekly Wednesday Tefilah service for grades 3-6, in our beautiful sanctuary. where they will have time for engaging and reflective, personal and communal prayer. Students sit by by Tefillah team. Tefillah teams consist of a blend of students from each grade; siblings are always on the same team. Throughout the year, they will review sanctuary etiquette and learn the choreography of the prayers they are learning. Once a month, they participate in our Sababa Sunday community tefilah for grades 2-6. Parents are encouraged to join us. Our fifth graders are invited to play a special role in leading one of our Simhat Shabbat Friday evening services, followed by a communal Shabbat dinner and celebration. Grade 2 and 5 Buddy Days Several times during the year, we pair our fifth graders up with our second graders to play Hebrew games, do holiday activities and to share what they are each studying about Israel.

9 Sunday Program: Introduction to Bar/Bat Mitzvah This meeting marks the beginning of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process for the family. All elements of the process are introduced to parents and children. Our Rabbi speaks to the families and shares his philosophy about becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Students will create a significant piece of Judaica that they will use during their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and beyond. Grade 6 The focus of Grade 6 is on building Jewish life skills, understanding prayer, learning Torah and its connection of Jewish values, continuing to explore Jewish identity, and preparing to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Specific elements of the curriculum include: Studying about tzedakah and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) through a hands on service learning curriculum Studying Torah (Genesis- Deuteronomy) through the lens of Middot (Jewish values) which students examine in their own lives Learning Trope (Torah cantillation) Exploring the student s relationship with God and prayer Leading the Jewish community in tefillah (weekday afternoon and Shabbat morning worship) Understanding the history and meaning of becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Understanding how to choose an appropriate Mitzvah project by learning about and exploring Mitzvot in which they find meaning Building a community of peers The grade 6 curriculum includes 6 site visits to agencies which help the poor, the hungry, those with special needs, the ecology, and seniors, to enable our students to engage in different forms mitzvot and develop the habits of mind and heart to do so all their lives. / As students near the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they study all elements of the Torah service, and other key prayers such as the Ashrei (How fortunate are we). the blessing for the Tallit, and the Elu D varim (these are the obligations). Students learn to achieving prayer fluency, as well as to understand the meaning of the prayers they are studying. They participate, and play a leadership role in our weekly Wednesday Tefilah service for grades 3-6, in our beautiful sanctuary. where they will have time for engaging and reflective, personal and communal prayer. Students sit by by Tefillah team. Tefillah teams consist of a blend of students from each grade; siblings are always on the same team. Our sixth graders play the important role of helping our beginner readers during the service. Once a month, they participate in our Sababa Sunday community tefilah for grades 2-6. Parents are encouraged to join us.

10 Grade 6 students participate in the Shabbat morning service at the Grade 6 Shabbaton. It is expected that Grade 6 students will be decoding Hebrew fluidly. Students will also attend a community Bar/Bat Mitzvah, in order to experience this beautiful ritual in the Shir Tikva community. Moving Traditions Once a month, our students in Grade 6 participate in Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! and Shevet Achim: the Brotherhood. These groups use Jewish teachings and practices to create a place for middle schoolers to feel safe, articulate their deepest concerns, consider the impact of gender on their daily lives, have fun, and be real with their peers. Groups develop their own rituals, shared sacred space, and social connections. You can visit the Moving Traditions website ( to learn more about the research and programmatic aspects of this transformational program. Moving Traditions groups meet on Sababa Sundays from 9:30-11 a.m. following tefillah (community prayer). The Grade 6 Initiative focuses on the theme of hunger and feeding the hungry. All tzedakah collected in class will be donated to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger (mazon.org). In addition, all Grade 6 students and their teachers will participate in Project Bread s Walk for Hunger in Boston on the first Sunday in May to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger in the Boston area. Sunday Program: Journey to the Bima The family education program for Grade 6 is comprised of a series of four sessions that focus on becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This program is an integrated component of the Grade 6 year and the B nai Mitzvah preparation process. Students and parents study the three basic categories of Mitzvot (commandments): Torah, worship, and acts of love and kindness toward others. The sessions take place throughout the year outside of the regular school schedule, on Sundays, after religious school. For more information regarding B nai Mitzvah at Temple Shir Tikva, visit our web pages. Shabbaton The Shabbaton is an opportunity for our Grade 6 students to articulate their own personal

11 Jewish identity as they begin the process of Bat/Bar Mitzvah. Through the course of a winter weekend, students will have the occasion to participate in a variety of fun and interactive Jewish learning experiences and explore what it means to be part of a sacred community celebrating the beauty of Shabbat. As part of the Shabbaton, students will learn from and with our rabbis, cantor, and professional educators, as well as their teachers and some of our talented madrichim. The Shabbaton takes place at URJ Union for Reform Judaism s Eisner Camp in the Berkshires and runs from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. If we're lucky, we'll have plenty of time for sledding!