Curated OER
Passover Seder Place Cards
Students explore and study the festive holiday of the Jewish calendar, Passover. They assess their customs, rituals, foods and history. Each student becomes aware that this holiday reminds Jews about the time when their people were...
Curated OER
"The Gambler" and "The Journey": A Comparison of Worlds in Two Short Stories
“The Gambler” and “The Journey” offer readers an opportunity to experience two very different views of Jewish life in Poland between WWI and WWII. Whether used as a part of a study of the Holocaust, or as a compare/contrast exercise, the...
Curated OER
Chanukah Cards With Quilling
Students research the story of Chanukah and learn the traditional art of paper curling. In this Chanukah card-making lesson, students examine Jewish customs in order to create one-of-a-kind quilling on personalized holiday cards.
Curated OER
"Children of Loneliness": Understanding the Immigrant Experience
Students research and enhance the Jewish immigrant experience to that of contemporary immigrants to sustain a connection to their personal family stories. A story is shared with the class and then a discussion follows on the possible...
Curated OER
Passover
Fifth graders examine the history of the Passover holiday and the Seder traditions. They read and discuss a handout, answer discussion questions, read the book "Matzoh Mouse," identify the fourteen steps of the Seder, and take a quiz.
Curated OER
Hanukkah - ESL
Reinforce vocabulary and reading comprehension with a Hanukkah-themed collection of worksheets. Scholars first read a two-paragraph informational text, then apply their new-found-knowledge to match phrases, fill in blanks with...
Curated OER
Let My People Go: An Instant Lesson on World Slavery
Students study historical facts about slavery and investigate slavery in the world today. They study the holiday of Passover and about organizations that help enslaved people in the world.
Curated OER
Committing to Respect: Lessons for Students to Address Bias
Here's a guide designed to build safe, respectful learning environments, and to build understanding of the value of diversity through lessons packed with activities for specific grade levels.
Novelinks
The Devil’s Arithmetic: Concept Analysis
A helpful guide to Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic for your literature unit. Use the sections on point-of-view, dramatic irony, and background knowledge, among others, to frame your lessons in an engaging and educational way.
Curated OER
Immigration Unit
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
Curated OER
Becoming American: Immigration Experiences
Eleventh graders explore the process of becoming American. In this US History instructional activity, 11th graders examine the challenges that immigrants face in the United States. Students create a mini phrase book that would help...
Curated OER
ESL Holiday Lessons: Hanukkah
In this language skills worksheet, students read an article about Hanukkah. Students respond to 6 matching questions, 29 fill in the blank questions, 30 multiple choice questions, 12 word scramble questions, 30 short answer...
Curated OER
Probability and Spinning the Dreidel
Seventh graders study the term probability. In this Math lesson, 7th graders practice their probability skills by spinning a dreidel. Students complete a worksheet on probability.
Curated OER
Personal Heritage
Fourth graders investigate their personal heritage. In this personal heritage instructional activity, 4th graders fill in an outline with information about their personal heritage. They create a poster about themselves. This...
Curated OER
The Big Lie
Fifth graders create poems and other forms of writing.Then working in groups they share writing with each other. The opinions would be gathered and students would revise writing according to the comments.
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Federations of North America: About Bar/bat Mitzvah
Learn comprehensive details about the history and religious significance behind the Jewish ceremony known as the 'bar/bat mitzvah.' This ceremony marks a Jewish child's coming of age or maturity.
Other
Jewish News Weekly: Evil Eye and Other Superstitions
This resource provides information about Jewish traditions and customs.
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Federations of North America: Funeral Customs: Say Goodbye to a Loved One
Learn about Jewish traditional death rituals and how "to die and be buried as a Jew" in this guide to Jewish living. Jewish law and customs differ between traditional Jews and Reform Jews.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Jewish Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Jewish Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
Jewish Virtual Library: Yom Kippur
Discusses meaning and customs of Yom Kippur. Provides detailed information about the actual service. Also provides list of dates of the holiday.
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
Jewish Virtual Library: The First American Bat Mitzvah
Enlightening story of the first Bat Mitzvah to take place in America in 1922.
Other
Why Christmas: Hanukkah: The Jewish Festival of Lights
Learn all about the history and traditions of the Jewish Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah.
Judaism 101
Judaism 101: Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
This site does a nice job in explaining how the Bar & Bat Mitzvah have evolved. It also contains information on Jewish Confirmation, and includes many links to related topics.
Other
Torah Tots: Shavout
Defines Shavuot and applies it to modern day. Also lists the Ten Commandments (in English and Hebrew). Discusses customs of the holiday.