7th Grade – Israel
To learn about Israel, we are...
- Looking at pictures of the Four Quarters in Old City Jerusalem and discussing how they differ from one another.
- Discussing diversity in level of observance amongst Jews, how that translates into diverse political opinions in Israel, and creating news skits on the religious versus secular opinions of public transportation on Shabbat in Israel.
- Exploring the cultures of five different ethnic groups that make up part of the Israeli demographic, and creating group posters to explain how they are similar and unique.
- Discussing immigration into Israel from different parts of the world and comparing it with immigration to America.
- Ask your student: How does public transportation work on Shabbat in Israel? Which ethnic group is your poster about and what is an interesting fact about that group of people?
6th grade – the holocaust
To learn about the Holocaust in the context of World War II, we are...
- Looking at photos of Jewish life in the ghetto before the Holocaust and defining anti-Semitism.
- Discussing Hitler’s propaganda techniques and creating visual analysis posters of historical Nazi anti-Jewish propaganda posters.
- Watching a video about Kristallnacht and the Warsaw Ghetto, and writing a “Blended Poem” to help us see from the perspective of the Jewish people during that time and in that place.
- Reading a comic about an interaction between a Holocaust survivor and a girl and reflecting on it in context with the rest of our lesson.
- Discussing the timeline leading up to the Holocaust, from the formation of concentration camps through the start of WWII and the “Final Solution.”
- Watching a video about the experience of Jews being sent to concentration camps and considering the travel conditions in the cattle cars before they even reached the camps.
- Ask your student: What is propaganda and how did Hitler use it during WW2? What is anti-Semitism? What is propaganda and how did Hitler use it during WW2? What was the “Final Solution?” Why is it important for us to remember the Holocaust?
5th grade – Yom Ha'atzmaut
To learn about Yom Ha'Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day, we are...
- Singing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, and playing freeze dance with Israeli folk music.
- Playing a game about going to Israel, and comparing Israel’s open-arms policy towards Jews of every nationality with America’s policies and attitudes.
- Discussing important leaders in Israeli History.
- Ask your student: What is Hatikvah, and what is it about? Who is one important historical figure from Israel, what did he/she do?
4th grade – Kibbutzim
To learn about Kibbutzim, cooperative living communities in Israel, we are...
- Looking at pictures and videos kibbutzim in Israel to understand what it is like to live on a kibbutzim about what it was like to live on a kibbutz.
- Experiencing communal living by turning our classroom into an kibbutz - assigning jobs, defining our roles, and living life as “kibbutzniks.”
- Discussing why the first settlers of Kibbutz Degania (the first Kibbutz) came to Israel – they wanted to build a new society based on the values of everyone working for the common good, and to establish a country where Jews could be safe and free.
- Ask your student: What’s the one item you own that they would have the most trouble sharing?What do you think would be the best part of living on a kibbutz?
3rd Grade – Founding of Israel
To learn about the founding of Israel and Kibbutzim, cooperative living communities in Israel, we are...
- Discussing the history of Israel from when our Jewish ancestors lived there thousands of years ago, through the Diaspora, and then the creation of Israel as a Jewish homeland inIsrael due to persecution in Europe.
- Reading The Language of Angels and playing a game of Balderdash to understand the challenges of reconstructing a language like Eliezer Ben Yehuda did with Modern Hebrew.
- Playing a game that requires us to cooperate in order to succeed and discussing the need to share in context of the communal lifestyle of kibbutzim in Israel.
- Ask your student: Why is Israel a special place for many Jews? Do you think you would like to live on a kibbutz?
2nd Grade – Kings of Israel
To learn about the first kings of Israel, we are...
- Telling stories about the great achievements of the first three kings of Israel – Saul, David, and Solomon.
- Drawing maps of our own imaginary kingdoms and brainstorming what sorts of laws we would make for them.
- Discussing what makes a good leader and what the responsibilities are of being a leader.
- Ask your student: Who was one of the first kings of Israel and what did he do? What rules did you come up with for your own kingdom and why? How would you be sure to treat everyone fairly?
1st grade – yom ha'atzmaut
To learn about Yom Ha'Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day, we are...
- Watching a short video shot in Israel and making mini-Israeli flags as in celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.
- Decorating a poster as a class for Israel’s 70th birthday this year and discussing different traditions for celebrating Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
- Reading a story about visiting Israel and playing a dancing game to learn the names of some Israeli cities.
- Ask your student: What is Yom Ha’Atzmaut, how do some people celebrate it? How old will Israel be this year?
Kindergarten – yom ha'atzmaut
To learn about Yom Ha'Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day, we are...
- Making our own Israeli flags and waving them while we sing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s independence day.
- Playing freeze dance to Israeli Folk Music and decorating our own maps of Israel.
- Watching a video about Israeli food and playing games related to different Israeli foods.
- Ask your student: What is Yom Ha’Atzmaut? How can we celebrate Israeli in America?
Pre-K – Yom ha'atzmaut
To learn about Yom Ha'Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day, we are...
- Making Israeli flag hats and playing with balloons while we listen to Israeli folk music to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s independence day.
- Going on an Israeli food scavenger hunt in our classroom and talking about different kinds of Israeli food.
- Reading a book about different places in Israel and going on a parade around JKG like the parades that happen in Israel to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
- Ask your student: How can we celebrate Israel’s birthday? What sort of Israeli food would you want to try?
PREschool – YOM HA'ATZMAUT
To learn about Yom Ha'Azmaut, Israeli Independence Day, we are...
- Making Israeli flag hats and playing with balloons while we listen to Israeli folk music to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s independence day.
- Going on an Israeli food scavenger hunt in our classroom and talking about different kinds of Israeli food.
- Reading a book about different places in Israel and going on a parade around JKG like the parades that happen in Israel to celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
- Ask your student: How can we celebrate Israel’s birthday? What sort of Israeli food would you want to try?
