JKG Sunday Experiences Shabbat
2nd Year B’nei Mitzvah
To learn about Shabbat & Havdalah, we are…
Playing group word association games with Shabbat-themed words to jog our memory about Shabbat.
Discussing what it means for us to rest, and what we would like to take a break from on a weekly basis.
Debating what relaxation looks like to us and other Shabbat questions.
Going on a scavenger hunt to learn about how havdalah celebrates separating the divine from the ordinary.
Discussing different Jewish quotes and relating them back to Havdalah and Shabbat.
Hearing the Havdalah blessings and holding a mock Havdalah ceremony
Ask your student...
What is Shabbat about?
What are different ways that people can experience Shabbat?
Why do we smell the spices during Havdalah?
Why do we celebrate Havdalah when Shabbat ends?
Hebrew
Students are completing a Hebrew packet and doing some Hebrew alphabet games to see where they should be placed for their leveled Hebrew groups. If you have any questions about the specifics of JKG’s 4th-7th grade Hebrew curriculum, please contact Neshama at neshama@jewishkidsgroups.com
1st Year B’nei Mitzvah
To learn about Shabbat & Havdalah, we are...
Roleplaying inviting a queen into our home, in order to represent the idea that Shabbat is queen or bride who we welcome in once a week.
Discussing the three moments in Jewish history that Shabbat helps us remember – Creation, the Exodus from Egypt, and the future.
Making a Shabbat book with prayers and reflections, that we can use to celebrate Shabbat at home.
Watching a video of a havdalah ceremony, and performing one ourselves.
Playing group games, like a “rock, paper, scissors” game with Havdalah words substituted in, to learn about the different components and customs of Havdalah.
Creating our own b’samim – havdalah spices – to use at home.
Ask your student...
Why do we celebrate Shabbat?
How important is Shabbat to the Jewish people?
What is the point of havdalah, and how do we know when it’s time for havdalah?
What are the three main elements of havdalah?
Hebrew
Students are completing a Hebrew packet and doing some Hebrew alphabet games to see where they should be placed for their leveled Hebrew groups. If you have any questions about the specifics of JKG’s 4th-7th grade Hebrew curriculum, please contact Neshama at neshama@jewishkidsgroups.com
5th Grade: Welcoming Others during Shabbat
To learn about Shabbat, Havdalah and Welcoming Guests, we are…
Roleplaying different ways to greet guests, to demonstrate the importance of being hospitable.
Connecting the idea of welcoming guests to welcoming Shabbat, the day of rest, into our lives, and connecting it to the precedent that our patriarch, Abraham, set when he welcomed people into his tent in the desert.
Reviewing five steps of welcoming guests.
Watching a video that shows a Havdalah service, and then performing a mock one of our own.
Making a brochure that explains Shabbat, Havdalah, and Hachnasat Orchim to someone who might not know about them.
Ask your student...
How should we welcome a friend when they come over, say goodbye when they leave, and act while they are in our home?
What are ways to be a good host?
What is the difference between Shabbat and Havdalah?
Hebrew
Students are completing a Hebrew packet and doing some Hebrew alphabet games to see where they should be placed for their leveled Hebrew groups. If you have any questions about the specifics of JKG’s 4th-7th grade Hebrew curriculum, please contact Neshama at neshama@jewishkidsgroups.com
4th Grade: Caring for Ourselves
To learn about Shabbat and “Shmirat Ha’Guf” (caring for our bodies), we are…
Practicing meditation and discussing how it relates to caring for our minds and bodies.
Connecting the idea of resting one day a week to the Jewish value of “Shmirat Ha’Guf”, or caring for the body.
Brainstorming ways that we can be more mindful of our health each week.
Making our own havdalah kits consisting of a braided havdalah candle, candle holder, and spice bag.
Ask your student...
What is “Shmirat Ha’Guf?”
Why is resting each week important to our well-being (physical, emotional, and spiritual)?
What do each of the Shabbat/ havdalah ritual items teach us?
How can we rest more?
Hebrew
Students are completing a Hebrew packet and doing some Hebrew alphabet games to see where they should be placed for their leveled Hebrew groups. If you have any questions about the specifics of JKG’s 4th-7th grade Hebrew curriculum, please contact Neshama at neshama@jewishkidsgroups.com
3rd Grade: Exploring Shabbat
To learn about Shabbat, we are...
Starting our day with a relaxing zen counting game to simulate the rest we feel on Shabbat.
Doing a Shabbat Traditions scavenger hunt around the classroom, then coming together to share the traditions each person found and sharing some of our own family Shabbat Traditions.
Practicing Shabbat evening and Havdallah blessings, simulating a full evening, complete with prayers, grape juice and Challah, and singing our favorite Shabbat songs.
Ask your student...
What are some different ways that people celebrate Shabbat?
Do we have any family traditions for Shabbat?
Are there any new ones you learned about you want to try as a family?
Hebrew Vocabulary
Table - shool-chah-n - שׁוּלְחָן
Chair - kee-seh - כִּסֵא
Board - loo-ach - לוּחַ
Book - se-fer - ספר
Friends - cha-var-eem - חברים
2nd Grade: Experiencing the Shabbat Candles
To learn about Shabbat, we are...
Experiencing a mock Shabbat dinner and saying the blessing over challah, grape juice, and candles.
Reading a book about Shabbat and discussing the meaning of different Shabbat items, as well as our personal experiences with Shabbat.
Making our own candlestick holders to use for Shabbat evening and learning how to braid challah using playdough.
Ask your student...
What is one way that we can celebrate Shabbat at home?
What is your favorite part of the Shabbat meal?
Hebrew Vocabulary
Table - shool-chah-n - שׁוּלְחָן
Chair - kee-seh - כִּסֵא
Board - loo-ach - לוּחַ
Book - se-fer - ספר
1st Grade: What is Shabbat?
To learn about the significance of Shabbat, we are...
Brainstorming what we know about Shabbat and discussing our own family Shabbat traditions.
Reading Shabbat Shnoodle, and learning about important symbols of Shabbat – candlesticks, the wine cup (Kiddish cup), and Challah.
Decorating our own set of Shabbat candle holders and playing a calming counting game because Shabbat is the day of rest.
Ask your students...
What are some symbols of Shabbat?
If we do, how do we celebrate Shabbat in our family?
Why is it nice to take time out of our busy lives and “rest” on Shabbat?
Hebrew Vocabulary
Table - shool-chah-n - שׁוּלְחָן
Chair - kee-seh - כִּסֵא
Board - loo-ach - לוּחַ
Kindergarten: Experiencing Shabbat
To learn about Shabbat, we are...
Celebrating our own JKG mock Shabbat ceremony
Creating our own unique challah covers
Reading about the Shabbat Box, and talking about Shabbat traditions in our families
Ask your student...
What do we say to our friends and family on Shabbat?
What kind of bread to we eat on Shabbat?
Preschool/Pre-K: Shabbat Discovery
To learn about Shabbat, we are...
Learning about what Shabbat is
Doing our own Shabbat “dinner”
Ask your student...
Why do we celebrate Shabbat?
What are some foods we eat on Shabbat?
JKG Jr. : Eating with Friends
To learn about friendships & food, we are…
Hosting a friendship meal.
Creating friendship bracelets together.
Making our own colorful friendship chain!
Keep exploring friendship & food with your kids by…
Making matzah ball soup for your family and friends to enjoy together.