Learning Resources:
Let’s Discover the Alef-Bet
Let’s Discover the Holidays
Let’s Discover the Synagogue
PJ Library Jewish Values Curriculum

Curriculum: Gan has an experiential, interactive curriculum introducing Jewish concepts in a fun, engaging way to foster a love of Jewish learning. The major holidays are taught with an emphasis on symbols and rituals with an extended unit on Shabbat.  Other units of study are the Synagogue, age appropriate Jewish values and an introduction to Hebrew.  We focus on community-building within the class to encourage friendships and provide a caring, supportive atmosphere.

Jewish Studies (Shiur):
Holidays (Chagim)

• Students will learn about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover, Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Shavuot and Shabbat.
• Students will engage in hands-on activities including craft projects, games, puzzles and role-playing to learn about the holidays.
• Students sample foods associated with the various holidays, including weekly juice and challah for Shabbat.
• Students will hear and read stories about the festivals and learn related songs.
• Students will practice the Shabbat blessings with their weekly snack of juice and challah.
• Students will learn that Shabbat is a holy time that is separate from the rest of the week.
• Students will participate in the Shabbat Family Experience to develop skills for celebrating Shabbat 
• Students will design and create ritual objects to use at home.

Synagogue

• Students will tour the synagogue with one of our Rabbis and learn that it is a place to pray, learn and meet with friends.
• Students will identify ritual objects in the sanctuary.
• Students will create a sanctuary in their classrooms.
• Students will meet with our clergy in their classroom for story time and during Shira (music) and Tefilah (prayer) sessions.

Jewish Values (Middot)

Students will learn about the following Jewish values through stories, discussions and activities: Chesed (kindness), Reut (friendship), Mitzvot (commandments/good deeds), Tzedakah (righteous giving), Kibud Zekaynim (Honoring elders) and Tzaar Ba’alei Chayim (kindness to animals).

Bible Stories

Students will read and learn about Jonah and the Big Fish and Jacob’s Ladder, with the associated Jewish values. Related activities will reinforce the stories and values.

Hebrew (Ivrit)

• Students will be introduced to the names and sounds of the Hebrew letters in the Alef-Bet order through engaging experiential activities.
• Students will learn Hebrew words for numbers one through ten and for the members of the family.

KATAN/GAN SHABBAT FAMILY EXPERIENCE – 

Once a year we plan a special activity for students to celebrate Shabbat with Katan and Gan families. Then we will join the Primary Shabbat Service, which is age appropriate for grades Gan through Bet, followed by an Oneg.