“Jewish Life Happens Here”

It all starts here…

The classroom door is the child and family’s first view of your classroom. Deliver a Jewish message here.

Don’t miss a good opportunity! What’s missing here? There’s no challah! Also, there’s no children’s work. How long will children notice this board?

Notice the leaves on this mitzvah tree are made by the children (that’s good). But be careful with the mitzvah tree concept – mitzvah means commandment, and most of the time these trees are about gimilut chasadim or chesed, acts of loving kindness.

Lots of Jewish ritual objects on display like in the breakfront at home (but don’t worry, all these things get used too)

The joy of being able to choose a good Jewish book!

Children should be able to play Shabbat in the dramatic play area all week long

Label it in Hebrew If you label things in your room in English, label them in Hebrew too. Also using transliteration is debatable – not necessary, perhaps even detrimental, for the creation of a print rich environment in Hebrew, but helpful for non-Hebrew speakers to use the terms in Hebrew too. Decide which is your goal.

English and Hebrew side by side is actually preferred by second language advocates.

Teach the parents too.

The Hertz School in Sharon, MA has a sister city relationship w/Haifa. This wall is the children’s representation of themselves visiting the kotel in Jerusalem (suggested by the Haifa teachers for Yom Yerushalyim). Supplemented by photos of people at the Kotel

Blessing over Bread Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz. Blessed are you, Eternal God, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Snack Blessing (over anything made with wheat, oats, or barley) Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, Borei Minei Mizonot. Blessed are you, Eternal God, Creator of all types of sustenance. Blessing over things which grow on Trees Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, Borei P’re Ha-Eitz. Blessed are you, Eternal God, Who creates the fruit of the tree. Snack Blessing (over other foods and drinks – juice, cheese, etc.) Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, She-ha-kol n’hi’eh Bid’va-ro. Blessed are you, Eternal God, through whose word everything came to be. Blessing after meals (a very short version) Baruch Atah Adonai, Ha-zan et Ha-kol. Blessed are you, Eternal God, Who nourishes all.

In Boston they have an active partnership with Haifa, so they do the weather in Boston and Haifa. The four year olds also learn and use weather phrases in Hebrew.

This tzedakah box is accessible as the box of tissues!

What’s Jewish about this kitchen? What could be?

Try using artwork from Jewish calendars to brighten up the house corner

Jewish life happens everywhere

Jewish content still needs to be age appropriate.

Kotel made by teachers How invested were children in this experience?

Kotel made by children It doesn’t look as grand, but how invested were the children in this experience?

Kotel made by four year olds And this experience?

How do you make play dough Jewish?

Hanukah comes to the light table

Every classroom needs rules. Here, they’re put into a Jewish context.

A pre-K class in San Diego studied the Ten Commandments one by one and posted their reflections.

Displays to look at, displays to touch. Important to have both. The items in the display case have been donated by the graduating classes over the years, and get used in the classrooms at holiday times.

From Parashat haShavuah to the Classroom Abraham’s Tent This class studied about Abraham and his hospitality at his tent. Their block area became Abraham’s tent, and continued to develop. The children added an Ark and Torah.

Make the learning visible!!

Integrate the teachers’ options as well!