Unit: The Importance of the Home in Judaism
About this unit; this unit is likely to be the first encounter children will have with the Jewish faith. The idea is to introduce the importance of the home and then the synagogue to the Jewish Community and to their personal and cultural identity.
Prior learning / Technical Vocabulary / ResourcesIt would be helpful if:
Had thought about ‘Our Homes’
Heard stories about Moses / In this unit children will have an opportunity to use words and phrases related to: -
Menorah
Mezuzah
The Shema
Tallit
Kippah
Shabbat
Challot
Kiddush
Havdallah
Spice Box
The Synagogue
Bimah
Ark
Ner Tamid / · ‘My Jewish Faith’ Rainbows big books
· ‘The Jewish Experience’ by Liz Aylett, Seeking Religion series (For teacher background)
· ‘The Lion Storyteller Bible by Bob Hartman (Lion)
· ‘Jewish Artefacts, Learning About and Learning from’ by Jan Thompson, TTS Group
· ‘Oliver’s Fruit Bowl’ By Vivian French. Hodder www.madaboutbooks.com
· Jane Silver Corren – recommended visitor 01308-459320
· ‘Pause for Reflection’ packs available through the Stapleford Centre or Diocese of Gloucester 01452 385217
· Places of Worship-Judaism CD ROM Birchfield, Available through REMP.
Expectations
At the end of this unit
Most children will:
(Level 1) / · Use some religious words to recognise and name some features of Judaism
· Recall some religious stories
· Recognise some symbols connected with Judaism
· Talk about own experiences and feelings
Some children will not have made so much progress and will: / By achieving in line with the Early Learning Goals
Some children will have progressed further and will: / · Use religious words to identify some features of Judaism
· Retell some Jewish stories
· Suggest meanings to Jewish symbols
· Ask and respond sensitively to questions about their own and others’ experiences and feelings
Learning Objectives / Possible Teaching Activities / Learning outcomes / Contribution to other Curriculum Areas
Pupils will learn about:
· Consider what is special about home
· Respecting our own and others’ possessions
· Understand that some people have special things in their homes which remind them of what they believe in / What makes a home special?
-Make a class list of a) things that are found in everyone’s homes and b) things that only they have
-How do we treat the things that are special in our homes? (Respect)
-Is there anything in your home that reminds you of what you believe in? / Pupils will be able to:
· Talk about what makes home different/the same
· Recognise that some people have special objects in their homes which remind them of what they believe in
· Respond sensitively to those things that are special to other people / · PHSE
· Opportunity for social/ moral development
Pupils will learn about:
· The features of a Jewish home
· The Importance of the Mezuzah and the Shema / What makes a Jewish home special?
-Menorah, Mezuzah, Shema, Tallit & Kippah – show artefacts, children in groups ask two good questions about each item
-Teacher tells or children using Big Books find the answer to these questions (For teachers Jewish Artefacts packs contain this info!)
-Possible worksheet labelling task
-Make a small case like a Mezuzah; decorate with your own favourite or special pictures (signs and symbols) e.g. Football clubs, School Badge, picture of your cat. etc On a piece of paper, write a sentence or two that says something about something that is important to you, (the teacher will need to provide a writing frame for this) Write it out as neatly and as carefully as you can, roll this up and keep it inside the case / Pupils will be able to:
· Recognise and name/ identify the key features of a Jewish home
· Ask questions about the significance of the key features of a Jewish home
· Talk about/ recognise what is of value to them and other people / · DT
· Cultural Development
· Research skills
Pupils will learn about:
· The importance of sharing
· The importance of Shabbat to a Jewish family
· The features of Shabbat
· The story of Moses and the Jews in the desert
· The importance of a day of rest
· Being still and reflective / Why is The Shabbat – a Family Celebration so important to the Jews
-What does your Family do as a whole group? (Church / Family meals etc)
-Story about sharing a meal together as a family (Oliver’s Fruit Bowl)
-How do Jewish families celebrate the Shabbat? Make a Time line of Shabbat: Friday afternoon clean the house, set table with best dishes, challot bread, and blessings over Shabbat candles, Kiddush cups, Friday night meal, (Introduce attending Synagogue on the Saturday) Havdalah Candle and spice boxes.
-Read story of the Israelites in the desert from escaping Egypt to 10 commandments. God providing Manna from Heaven (Exodus 16: 14-15, The Lion Storyteller Bible pages 32-37covers this but you may need to build it up a bit!) It will also introduce Moses
Use a fortune line to think about how the Jews were feeling in the desert. Write one-line prayers that the Jews might have said at different times in the story.
Think about the people who provide food for you, how do you thank them?
-Light a candle and have a time of peaceful reflection. You could use a selection of different types of bread as a focus. Think about why bread is the most important food. Talk about the different shapes and colours and sizes and textures, Think about the importance of yeast. Think about all those who help provide bread to use.farmers..millers..bakers..shopkeepers..etc
‘Blessed are you, O lord our God, Eternal King, Who feeds the whole world with your goodness, with grace, with loving kindness and with tender mercy.’ Ancient Jewish Blessing.
Create a class display/focus based on the approach in ‘Pause for Reflection’ packs. / Pupils will be able to:
· Recall/ retell the events of a Jewish Shabbat
· Recognise/ identify the features of Shabbat
· Respond sensitively to the Jewish concept of the day of rest
· Be still and reflective / · PHSE
· Literacy
Pupils will learn about:
· The importance of the Synagogue to the Jewish community
· Features of a Synagogue / What Happens in a Synagogue?
Recap on going to the Synagogue – Why would it be important to go?
Who would you see there? (Friends, other Jews, idea of community)
-Look at the key features of the Synagogue (‘Places of Worship – Judaism’ CD Rom is a useful resource or artefacts or poster pack)
-What do you think is the most important feature in the Synagogue?
-What is your favourite feature in the Synagogue?
-Draw and label features for a class display (class map of Synagogue)
-Ideally, visit a Synagogue (Bournemouth) / Pupils will be able to:
· Recognise/ identify the features of Synagogue
· Respond sensitively to the Jewish concept of the day of rest / Opportunity for Cultural development
ICT
Suggested Assessment Task:
Sequence the events of the Shabbat. Use drawings or pictures of the key artefacts concerned with Shabbat to do this. This could be done on a simple timeline of the festival.
Children chose what they think would be the most important event of Shabbat and say why.