SHABBAT DO 'N LEARN CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS Welcome to Shabbat Do 'N Learn...a new format for teaching longstanding

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1 SHABBAT DO 'N LEARN CURRICULUM DOCUMENTS Welcome to Shabbat Do 'N Learn...a new format for teaching longstanding traditions. Shabbat Do 'N Learn is a learning environment for preschool children (4 year olds) until their B'nai Mitzvah year (12 year olds). As the children grow through the program, the themes and content grow with them, expanding on themes they learn and introducing more sophisticated topics as they reach new developmental stages. Shabbat Do 'N Learn is a Shabbat morning program that appeals to the whole family. The youth are divided into 3 age groups for engaging learning geared to each group's developmental stage. Each group will be learning the same theme throughout the morning, adding more content and higher-level goals for the older groups. Simultaneously, there are learning sessions for the parents providing them with stimulating classes on both traditional and current Judaic topics. Both parents and children will be engaged in thought-provoking sessions throughout Shabbat morning. The family learning however continues beyond the morning and spills over to the home through discussion and suggested at-home creative projects or games that can develop the learning themes even more.

2 AGE GROUPS In an effort to create learning groups that promote community while maintaining educational materials that are geared directly to academic and developmental stages of the participants, no more than 3 years of students are grouped together. As such, the groups are broken down as follows: 4-6 year olds - Mini Champs 7-9 year olds - Champs year olds - Master Champs Participants join a group based on their age in September, not by grade level from school. The groups are fashioned as Religious School Clubs, and are assigned names accordingly, rather than grades, in order to disassociate the feeling of schooling and promote the feeling of communal learning. LEARNING BLOCKS There are 4 Learning Blocks each morning. Each teacher will cover one learning block and the students will have the benefit of moving from learning space to learning space to participate in the interactive activities that awaits them in each room. The Learning Blocks are: Judaic General Jewish knowledge themes such as Mitzvot, Shabbat, Judaic Calendar, Ethics etc., will provide the students with an appreciation for our traditions. By covering a wide range of topics, the participants will be well versed in the practical application and philosophical roots of our customs. Semester Learning for Judaic Block Semester #1: Shabbat Explore the various components of Shabbat while experiencing the beauty of this day in a practical way. Understand the source of Shabbat in the Torah and its connection to Creation. Gain confidence in the practical application of Shabbat customs and blessings. Explore the ins-and outs of synagogue

3 from the different roles played, the various items used and the traditional routine maintained. Semester #2: Mitzvot Delve into learning about daily and holiday mitzvot that are practical to living as an active Jew. Learn the meaning and sources behind these mitzvot to gain a deep perspective as to why we do them. This block will focus on interrelationship Mitzvot to develop responsible and caring citizens that are part of the local as well as the global Jewish community. Semester #3: Ethics Discover the social values found in Pirkei Avot giving Judaic source to common behaviour traits. Develop a strong Jewish identity by learning core ethical and moral concepts all with Judaic roots. Tefillah (Prayer)/Alef Bet By covering the key concepts in central Shabbat morning Tefillot, the students will gain an understanding of what it is that they are saying and hopefully thereby provide them with a more meaningful connection to prayer. During the Tefillah block, the Mini Champs group will be learning their Alef Bet including visual and sound recognition so that they are well prepared for Hebrew reading fluency. Parshanut (Torah Stories) The Torah stories are the backbone to many of our holidays and customs. This Learning Block will introduce the participants to the key figures and central plots in the Torah. By learning these Torah stories, the participants will have a clear comprehension of their place in Jewish history and connection to thousands of years of passing down traditions. Mini Champs Creation through Receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai Champs Condensed Version of Mini Champs Parshanut Curriculum Desert Life & Entering the Land of Israel Master Champs Life in Israel - the Nevi'im (Prophets), Kings and the Temple Period

4 Each parshanut unit will be taught in its entirety EACH year, in a similar fashion to learning parshat hashavuah. The repetition will ensure the lessons are memorable before moving onto the next Parshanut unit. This ensures that participants coming into the program after the first year are not behind and have not missed any part of the Parshanut stories. Israel The Shinshinim will prepare and facilitate this Learning Block. They will tie in the themes taught in the other Learning Blocks and relate them back to the land and culture in Israel. Holidays The Holidays throughout the year will be taught as they fall. The session, or two, prior to the holiday will focus on the customs, mitzvot, blessings, and historical/biblical basis for the holiday. The students will therefore anticipate each holiday with understanding and enthusiasm. [The Holidays will be taught alternating between the Judaic and Tefillah Blocks to ensure proper momentum in each block's learning] LEARNING STRUCTURE Each Learning Space that the participants enter will be facilitated by a different educator who focuses solely on that Learning Block throughout the morning. As well, each Learning Block will have its own particular facilitation style providing the participants with a variety of engaging activities appealing to different learners and diverse interests. The various Learning Blocks will maintain the following facilitation approaches: Judaic Themes Exciting content based games where the participants learn through sports, carnivals, and competitive/ cooperative team play.

5 Tefillah (Prayer)/Alef Bet Interactive puzzles, cards games and strategy activities in keeping the decorum of Tefillah, allowing the participants to contemplate the themes and meanings of the Shabbat prayers. Parshanut (Torah Stories) Active participatory dramatic based learning where participants use puppets, costumes and props to delve deep into the plot and characters of the Torah stories. Israel Shinshinim Activities THEMED TEACHING It is always beneficial to interconnect the learning themes as often as possible. The benefit with having a consistent theme for the day is that it provides the participants with a holistic scope of Judaic thought and practice. The repetition of the theme in different contexts as well will provide for a long lasting memorable learning experience. As such, the Tefillah Block will focus on prayers that directly connect to the Judaic Block by expounding upon the Judaic lesson in the lines of the prayer taught the same day. The Shinshinim will tie the themes into the Israel component as well. EDUCATOR PREP & EXPECTATIONS At the outset of each learning unit, we will be facilitating a training seminar for the teaching staff. At these sessions, we will cover a variety of leadership skills particular to an informal learning environment. Rabbi Elster will be on site for each Shabbat Do 'n Learn program for additional support. In addition to the training sessions, each activity comes with all the needed materials as well as a clear set of instructions for facilitation. When needed, there will be notes for suggested modification of the program with reference to group size and time allotted. As such, the teaching staff will not have to prep in advance beyond reading through the instructions to be sure they understand what to do. The Jewnior Games staff are always available throughout the week for teaching staff to contact us via phone, or video calls to answer any questions or talk through the programs as they wish.