KINDERGARTEN
Grade: K
Theme/Topic: Jewish People, Places, and Things
Synthesis Project: Portfolio– a collection of work that represents a student’s individual experience throughout the year
Special Events: CBI Tot Shabbat Services, 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings of each month, 9:30am
Our kindergarten class is very busy with many activities and discussions. Our students learn by doing. Kindergarteners create a number of art projects that help them illustrate the meaning of Jewish holidays and many Jewish rituals, such as welcoming Shabbat, parading with the Torah scroll, and more.
Sample Vocabulary:
Ark – the place in the Sanctuary where the Torah sits
Sanctuary – the place where we pray here at the synagogue
Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world.
Shabbat is a Jewish holiday that comes once a week
Shalom means “Peace”
Todah means “Thank You”
Kavod means “Respect”
Questions Our Students Might Ask:
Why do Jews have a special calendar?
Why do Jews eat special foods on different holidays? For example: latkes on Chanukah; challah on Shabbat; matzah on Passover, etc.
What is tzedakah and why should I bring money for it?
Sample Objectives:
By the end of this course, all students will be able to…
- Explain the connection between at least one Jewish food and a Jewish holiday
- Describe at least two ‘events’ that happen during Shabbat
- Explain at least two ‘events’ that happen during tefillah – prayer services
- Explain why we bring tzedakah to class
Sample Classroom Texts:
- The Ugly Menorah, by Marissa Moss (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
- Matzah Ball, written by Mindy Avra Portnoy and illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn (Kar-Ben Publishing)
- Grandpa and Me on Tu B’Shvat, written by Marji E. Gold-Yukson and illustrated by Leslie Evans (Kar-Ben Publishing)
- Jewish Symbols published by Behrman House
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