Temple Israel is known throughout our community for our
progressive Religious School curriculum which has been designed
to engage children in their Jewish learning throughout all grade
levels. Below are links to each grade level summary of the concepts,
values, prayers and texts around which the Temple Israel Religious
School curricula are built. All classes incorporate the study
of Israel, Tikkun Olam (taking care of the world) as
well as B’tzelem Elohim (in the image of G-d)
into their lessons.
Included in each summary are the topics and dates of the Family
Education programs held once a year for each grade level. Parents
are urged to attend these special events which involve a special
activity with their child and a study component. A Friday evening,
holiday or special worship service is part of the curriculum
for every grade.
Education Bridge, a Minneapolis Jewish Federation initiative
connecting Temple Israel students with students attending Afikey
Yarden School in Israel, is contained in many grades. In
the lower grades, Hebrew is informally integrated into the curriculum
in preparation for the beginning of formal Hebrew school education
in third grade.
Pre-Kindergarten Once a month, as part of Shabbat School on Saturday mornings,
parents, grandparents and students come together to study and
celebrate our holidays. Each session contains a variety of hands-on
projects including baking (challah to toffee matzah),
art (painting birdhouses to creating “tzedakah
to go” boxes), and story-time. Through these fun activities,
families experience the cycle of the Jewish year. Participants
in this highly interactive, fun-filled class are also integrated
into the full school experience via participation in Religious
School services, and music class. The text used in Pre-Kindergarten
is Let’s Discover the Holidays. Click here
for the 2008 - 2009 Pre-Kindergarten Calendar.
Kindergarten During Kindergarten students explore the Jewish
holidays and general Judaica, with a focus on rituals, the cycle
of the year and an introduction to the Ten Commandments. The
Kindergarten Values Curriculum focuses on Tzedakah
(righteousness), Tza’arBa’alei Chayim
(kindness to animals), and Bal Tash’hit
(keeping the earth). An extended study of tzedakah
and mitzvot (acts of human kindness or commandments)
emphasizes community and hands-on mitzvah activities such as
making cards for the sick and posters for the residents of Sholom
Home care facility. As part of their prayer curriculum, students
study the Shema; included in our Disability Awareness
Program, Kindergarten students teach the Shema, in
sign language, to the student body. During their in-depth study
of creation, each student designs and completes a creation book
which is shared with all students during services. In partnership
with JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council), students participate
in the Color Project as part of our Diversity Program, which
reinforces the idea that they cannot be placed in such simple
categories as black or white and that appearances should not
be the only way to describe a person. The text used in Kindergarten
is A Time to Celebrate. Consecration, which marks
the beginning of each child’s formal Jewish studies at
Temple Israel, will be held on Erev Sukkot, Monday
evening, October 13, 2008; more information will be mailed to
families. Family Education for Kindergarten students and parents,
held on December 13/14, 2008 will focus on the holiday of Hanukkah.
First
Grade In First Grade, the central focus is Shabbat.
During the course of the year, each class studies all aspects
of Shabbat, culminating in the creation of a Shabbat
kit by each student. Each kit contains all ritual objects needed
for the celebration of Shabbat, including Havdalah.
In April, the students and their families come together for
a special Friday evening Shabbat dinner during which
the children use the items they created. Other holidays are
also studied throughout the year, exploring their unique ritual
objects and blessings. As part of our expanding Disability Awareness
Program, students explore visual impairment via a variety of
experiences including prayers in Braille. The First Grade Values
Curriculum encompasses Derekh Eretz (respect), Mitzvot
(commandments), Mechabayd Zehet Zeh (loving and honoring
one another), Shabbat (Sabbath), Shalom (peace)
and Shalom Bayit (peace in the home). Yahrzeit
(the anniversary of a death) and remembrance are also included
in the curriculum. As part of the Prayer Curriculum, students
study the Barchu (the call to worship) and the Kedushat
Hayom (sanctification of the day). Let’s Discover
Shabbat is the text packet used to reinforce concepts taught
in class. Family Education for First Grade students
and parents is the Family Shabbat Dinner and story
on April 24th, 2009.
Second
Grade
The Second Grade curriculum explores the cycle of the weekly
Torah readings and the role of the synagogue in our lives. Through
use of the text, My Weekly Sidra, Chai (Torah
strand) as well as games, projects and stories, students explore
the meaning and lessons learned from each Torah portion. Building
Jewish Life: Synagogue is the multi-packet text used during
the study of the synagogue. Packets are sent home with students
at the end of each unit studied. Bible stories are used to reinforce
the course material. In second grade, the synagogue and Bible
curricula present the lens for holiday study. The Second Grade
Values Curriculum focuses on Emet (truthfulness), Kavod
(honor), and SeverPanimYafot (a
pleasant demeanor). The ChaiAvodah (spiritual
work our minds and hearts engage in to connect with G-d) component
includes MahTovu (how pleasant are your dwellings),
MiChamocha (who is like you?), ModehAni (giving thanks) and the Shema. The
Family Education program for Second Grade is Alef Round-Up
on Sunday, January 25, 2009. Second and Third Graders will lead
the congregation in song during the Family Hanukkah Service
and Dinner on Friday, December 19, 2008.
Third
Grade
Third Grade students study the concept that “the world
stands on three things: Torah, Avodah and GemilutHasadim.” These pursuits – study, worship
and deeds of loving kindness – provide the framework in
which Jews build their relationships with G-d, with one another
and with the world. The text used is the Chai Curriculum.
Jewish life cycle is explored using the text Building Jewish
Life: Life Cycle. In third grade, holidays are studied from
the perspective of life cycle and caring for our environment.
Students delve into Shehecheyanu, Yotzer (creation),
and NissimB’cholYom
(Blessings for Daily Miracles). The Values Curriculum for third
grade includes Brit (covenant), GemilutHasadim
(acts of loving kindness), Teva (protecting the environment),
LashonHa-Ra (gossip) and Kedushah
(holiness). The Third Grade Family Education Program,
the “Great G-d Hunt,” will take place on November
22/23, 2008. Second and Third Graders will lead the congregation
in song during the Family Hanukkah Service and Dinner on Friday,
December 19, 2008.
Fourth
Grade
The curriculum emphasis in Fourth Grade is the analysis of Jewish
text. Through the texts Being Torah and A Child’s
Bible: Lessons from the Prophets and Writings, students
become familiar with our Bible and come to understand
how the words of the Torah impact our lives and guide our decisions.
Students also explore the Tanach, Talmud and Midrash.
Holidays are studied via the connection to Jewish text and literature.
All sources help guide students to translate words and thought
into action. The ChaiAvodah (spiritual work
our minds and hearts engage in to connect with G-d) component
consists of the V’ahavata (love of G-d),
Mi Chamocha (who is like You?), Kiddush, and creating
silent prayers. The Values Curriculum for fourth grade covers
RodefShalom (seeking peace), Talmud
Torah (studying Torah), Vikuach (arguments), and V’ahavta
L’re’acha Kamocha (love one’s neighbor).
The Fourth Grade Family Education program on January
10/11, 2009 is an introduction to Talmud study. Fourth
graders take an active role in leading the Purim Service on
March 9, 2009.
Fifth
and Sixth Grade
Fifth and Sixth Grade study involves a sequential curriculum,
the focus of which is Jewish Peoplehood, History and the Holocaust.
Fifth Grade students cover a wide span of ancient history over
the course of the year, starting with the Matriarchs and Patriarchs
and continuing through the Golden Age of Spain. Students participate
in a study of personal family history through our Diversity
Program, coming to understand the diversity within our Jewish
community. Holidays, in fifth grade, are studied through the
lens of ancient history and Israel. Students are exposed to
a variety of resources including Babaganewz, a contemporary
literary magazine. An overnight retreat experience at Camp TEKO
is included for fifth grade, incorporating an academic component
and community building. History of the Jewish People, Vol.
1, Understanding Jewish History, I, and Welcome
to Israel are the texts used in Fifth Grade. The ChaiAvodah (spiritual work our minds and hearts engage
in to connect with G-d) component consists of the Amidah,
Aleinu and Kaddish. The Values Curriculum
topics include Brit (covenant), HachnasatOrchim (welcoming the stranger/hospitality), Nedivut
(generosity), and Yisrael (Israel). The overnight Fifth Grade Retreat takes place on October
11/12, 2008. The Family Education program for Fifth Grade will
take place on November 8/9, 2008. Fifth graders will take a
leading role in the congregational Simhat Torah Dinner
and Service beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2008.
Sixth Grade
history lessons cover Europe in the Middle Ages through WWII,
American Jewish History and the birth of Israel. Lessons are
linked to historical figures as well as occasional exploration
of current events. Personal stories and testimonials will be
part of the curriculum, particularly during the discussion of
the Shoah (Holocaust). History will be presented in
an interactive, cooperative-learning format. Students will journal
either in a notebook and/or with artwork to help them formulate
and express their thoughts and opinions on the material covered.
Holidays are studied from an historical perspective. An overnight
retreat experience at Camp TEKO is included for sixth grade,
incorporating an academic component and community building.
Sixth grade text books include History of the Jewish People,
Vol. 2, Understanding Jewish History, II, Atlas
of Great Jewish Communities, Challenge and Change
and Journey Through Jewish History. The ChaiAvodah
(spiritual work our minds and hearts engage in to connect with
G-d) component consists of the study of Revelation and the Torah
service. The Values Curriculum topics for sixth grade are Zachor
(remembrance), PikuachNefesh (saving a life),
Sameach B’chelko (contentment with your lot),
and Heshbon Ha-Nefesh (accounting of the soul) as they
pertain to the history, historical figures, values and holidays
that are studied. The overnight Sixth Grade Retreat is on September 20/21,
2008. Sixth Grade Family Education, taking place on April 18/19,
2009, will focus on YomHashoah (Holocaust
Remembrance Day). To honor the completion of each student’s
elementary education, sixth graders will be acknowledged during
our Sixth Grade Recognition and Hebrew School Dalet Graduation
Service and dinner on May 8, 2009.
Temple Israel Religious School is a beneficiary
of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.
