Hebrew | Jewish Studies | Notes | |
| Nursery 1/Week | Exposure to the Hebrew language and familiarity with the sounds of the language Friday - Shabbat Celebration | Holidays & Shabbat Tzedakah and other core Jewish values Blessings (Brachot) for candles, wine, challah, and holiday rituals | Lead Teacher in nursery is fluent in Hebrew and uses it at appropriate moments throughout the day |
| JK 2x (1/2 hour each) | Language acquisition through songs, games, pictures and conversation Vocabulary base developing | Holiday, Shabbat Mitzvot in the world around us Blessings (Brachot) for holiday table and food categories | Natural integration between general and Jewish studies which encourages students to see wholeness of their learning |
| SK - Gan Daily session + Friday Shabbat Celebration | Hebrew labels on items in classroom Ability to understand and follow directions Thematic Hebrew units with emphasis on oral expression and the building of fundamental Hebrew vocabulary Introduction of letters of the Hebrew alef-bet Hebrew sight words | Holidays & Shabbat Weekly Torah story day Brachot - Blessings Shema and other prayers such as Modeh Ani, Ma Tovu, and Adon Olam | General and Jewish studies integrated units which naturally incorporate Hebrew, holidays, and Israel Weekly Kabbalat Shabbat with story telling, blessings to welcome Shabbat, and community singing Bikurim Ceremony: Consecration celebrating the first fruits of our Jewish learning |
| First - Aleph 10 periods/weekly | Introduction of TaL AM, Hebrew language arts program Emphasis on meaningful language skills: oral expression, listening skills, letter recognition Reading/decoding begins Using Hebrew to create stories triggered by visual cues | Hebrew language units for each holiday Stories and songs, skits Basic information: what does the holiday celebrate? Israeli Dance - 1/week for 10 weeks. Drama units linked to holidays; Integrated Shabbat unit with art activities | Shabbat Tefila (prayer) Service - weekly Mi Ohev et Ha-Shabbat? A family program Parshat Ha-Shavua- weekly Torah portion presented through stories that concentrate on characters' actions and values Community Unit Mitzvah Project with Park Plaza Retirement Center |
| Second - Bet 10 periods/weekly | TaL AM program expands to second grade Skill building: reading, writing, listening, speaking Reading fluency and accuracy developing Emphasis on reading comprehension and vocabulary enrichment Cursive alphabet introduced | Hebrew used in holiday units. Stories about holidays and Israel Israeli Dance - 1/week for 10 weeks In addition, social studies units are reflected in JS through language units | Shabbat Tefila weekly Seeds, Soil and Song! A Family Tu B'Shevat celebration Exploration of Torah portion with an emphasis on Biblical characters and the values they reflect in their lives Mitzvah Project with the elderly |
| Third - Gimel 10 periods/weekly | Classes divided by skill level and learning needs Reading comprehension, new grammar forms, oral language expanded Songs as element of language curriculum Reading for Pleasure: Hebrew storybooks from classroom library Dramatic play | Mitzvah curriculum - "beyn adam le'havero": Commandments that describe how Judaism teaches us to treat each other Stories and activities in Hebrew and English to exemplify the values of each mitzvah Synagogue unit-with visit to Orthodox, Reform and Conservative community synagogues Holiday & Shabbat curriculum following scope and sequence Israeli dance-1/week-10 weeks | Shabbat Tefila weekly Shabbat unit: Kabbalat Shabbat L'cha Dodi, Let's Welcome Shabbat - A Friday evening family service and dinner Life in Israel unit, including map work Ten Commandments unit |
| Fourth - Dalet 10 periods/weekly | Continued language development More complex dialogues, vocabulary development, words in context, expression of ideas in writing Creative writing Reading for Pleasure: Hebrew storybooks from classroom library Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Develop skill in reading Biblical text | Bereisheet-Genesis Chapters 1-11 Emphasis on "Pshat"-simple reading of the text, plus students questions Introduction to "midrash" or commentary on the text Holiday and Shabbat curriculum following scope and sequence Israeli dance-1/week-10 weeks | Standing at Sinai Again -Bible Ceremony Shabbat Tefila-weekly Integration with U.S map unit-parallel with Israel map activities |
| Fifth - Hey 10 periods/weekly | Present and Past Tense Agreement of number and gender Dictionary use Reading for Pleasure: Hebrew storybooks from classroom library Creative and expository writing Using modern Hebrew skills to understand Biblical Hebrew forms Continued oral expression development | Bereisheet-Genesis - continue study with selected texts in Chapters 12 through 37 Develop interpretive skills Recognize levels of meaning in text Holiday and Shabbat curriculum following set scope and sequence Israeli dance-1/week-10 weeks | Study Shabbat morning service Become familiar with geography of Siddur and meaning of key tefilot. Lead Shabbat service Shabbat Retreat at Camp Chi Integration with social studies-Fertile crescent Service Learning: the Elderly-Dorot |
| Sixth - Vav 10 periods/weekly | Use of present and past tense forms Reading with and without vowels Applying grammar knowledge in writing Continued development of Hebrew oral language skills Reading for Pleasure: Hebrew storybooks from classroom library Creative and exository writing | Complete study of B'reisheet with Joseph saga; Begin study of Shemot/Exodus; Use of film as midrash Introduction to Mishna, historical context and texts Holiday and Shabbat curriculum following set scope and sequence Israeli dance-1/week-10 weeks | Shabbat Tefila-students lead service weekly Integration with social studies unit on Judaism, Christianity and Islam "Wholly Havdalah!" 6th grade Havdalah service "Yanshuf" Hebrew magazine and CD Service Learning: Hunger-Ra-av |
| Seventh - Zayin 10 periods/weekly | Past, present and future tenses. Reading comprehension Writing summaries Creative and expository writing Independent reading Continue development of oral expression | Introduction to the Prophets-bridge from Torah, brief texts from Joshua and Judges Book of Jonah Book of Samuel I Nature of Monarchy Changes in community structure Holiday and Shabbat curriculum following set scope and sequence | Seventh in the Sukkah: Keshet students visit and share a meal in the sukkah Exploration of meaning in the siddur Introduction to Reform and Orthodox siddur "Yanshuf" Hebrew magazine and CD Service Learning: Environment-Sviva |
| Eighth - Het 10 periods/weekly | Hebrew as language spoken in Israel-examination of simple Israeli newspapers, videos etc. New grammatical forms Creative and expository writing Independent reading
Project with Israeli peers-Partnership 2000 | Jewish History curriculum-from Monarchy to Modern Israel Zionism: Then and Now Jewish Identity and Moral Dilemmas Holiday and Shabbat curriculum following set scope and sequence; focus on historical context of holiday and Israel connection | Mifgash with Israeli students from Kiryat Gat Tiyul to Israel Service Learning: Immigration-Hagira |
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