Curriculum for HaCheder HaCheder is the part-time education centre for the United Synagogue communities of Stanmore & Canons Park, Belmont, Edgware and Kenton 1 HaCheder Curriculum Introduction Dear Parents, I am delighted to introduce our curriculum, which has been developed in order to ensure that your children are learning in the manner most appropriate to them. Cheder means different things to different people. Here at HaCheder, we are offering a learning experience that is up-to- date and modern, in both its focus and presentation, without losing any of the traditional values that we cherish. At HaCheder we utilise technology and workshops as well as traditional learning techniques in order to make cheder an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Alongside our traditional curriculum we have annual events such as our Purim Fair, Pesach Seder and Chanukah plays as well as exciting practical workshops where students learn not only about a Festival but actually get hands-on experience in creating something special for that festival. I would like to assure each and every parent that HaCheder will not only continue to grow in strength through this curriculum but that we will continually strive to meet the needs of your children. With very grateful thanks to Sorrel Fisher at the Agency for Jewish Education and our former Head Teacher, Mrs Taylor- Abt, for their input with regard to the development of this curriculum. Mr Alan Wilkinson Head Teacher, HaCheder 2 Welcome To Our Curriculum One of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences in life is watching a child develop and grow. First they crawl and then they stand. Very quickly the youngster will be both walking and talking. The earliest sounds soon develop into the spoken word. The world of surprise and wonder rapidly moves on to a world of communication, specifically with other human beings. As parents, we are the ones entrusted with the mission and responsibility of raising the next generation of adults, who will contribute towards society. As Jewish parents, we will also want to see our children hold the torch of our faith proudly and strongly. For centuries, we have always focused on education. We have survived and flourished because of it, and our future is dependent upon it. It is this need that has inspired generations to give up their Sunday mornings to come to cheder and discover their heritage. Invariably, our best memories – and our Jewish knowledge – can be traced to those hours spent in cheder. In line with current teaching methods and practice, a dynamic curriculum is offered. This excellent document explains all about planning from your child's first infant steps in the world of Judaism until his or her graduation. During this time, many concepts and ideas will be taught and reinforced, expanding your child's horizons. One crucial feature is the parents’ involvement, which can not be emphasised enough and which holds the key to the success and happiness of our children. Your encouragement and support, in its most subtle and gentle manner, will go a long way to guaranteeing that your child's experience at cheder is productive and pleasant. So, take a look at the curriculum. Identify its many strengths and its structure. Then watch your child grow and develop in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere, helping the transfer from shy, inquisitive youngster to a fully developed graduate! Rabbi Mendel Lew Senior Rabbi, Stanmore & Canon’s Park Synagogue 3 Curriculum Progression – What Next? We are very proud at Stanmore that we have in place a superb educational curriculum that supports our children from age 5 all the way through to AS level at age 17. After HaCheder finishes at the end of year 6, SMILE continues for years 7 and 8. SMILE stands for Sunday Morning Interactive Learning Experience and is currently in its 7th successful year. About 60 children gather every Sunday morning for innovative, dynamic and enjoyable Jewish education. We utilise movies, drama, weekends away, educational trips as well as a terrific young staff who relate to the children to get over our message that Judaism is relevant and meaningful to their young lives. After graduation from SMILE the children move onto FILE – a Further Interactive Learning Experience. This is for children in years 9 and 10 and takes the format of a GCSE course taught currently by the excellent Rabbi Jeremy Bruce who is Deputy Head at King Solomon High School. Several classes have now graduated with stunning success; so much so, that a number of students have continued to study for an AS level in Judaic Studies. Stanmore prides itself not only on its formal education but also informal programmes for all ages. Please do contact the Youth Department at any time if you wish to know more about any activities for your children. Rabbi Andrew Shaw Community Rabbi, Stanmore & Canon’s Park Synagogue 4 HaCheder Curriculum Overview Year 1 Year 2 Introduction to Tephilah Focus on Jewish Values & Mitzvot Hebrew Letters recognition and usage Hebrew Reading Rhythms of the Jewish Year Letter Sound Relationships Introduction to Festivals Sound Blends and word recognition Weekly Parasha Print Writing Israel Tzedakah Jewish Music Shabbat Festival Cycles Continuation of Tephillah Jewish Music Year 3 Year 4 613 Mitzvot Introduction to General Studies Curriculum Gematria/Numerical Values Bereshit and our Avot and Imahot Tephillah for selected Festivals The Five Books of the Torah The Synagogue Days of the Week The Sefer Torah The Jewish Calendar Reading from the Torah Emphasis on traditions of Festivals The Jewish Calendar/ 3 Pilgrim Festivals Specific Prayers and Prayer Structure Script Writing Key prayer concepts Kashrut/Mezuza Chagigat Hasiddur Kindness/Tzedakah Jewish Music 7 Mitzvot of the Shema Jewish Music Year 5 Year 6 Shabbat Project The Modern State of Israel Candlesticks/ Havdalah History of Israel Brachot/ Kiddush Private and Communal Prayer Sofer - writing a Sefer Torah Parashat Hashavuah with Commentaries Parashat Hashavua Tikkun Olam Introduction to Commentators Jewish Values Animal Welfare Tzedakah Projects Bikur Cholim (Visiting the Sick) Pesach Newspaper Tephillot for Rosh Chodesh Cheder Calendar Jewish Life Cycle Brit Milah/ Bar Mitzvah Jewish Music 5 Jewish Year Year 1 Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome Rosh Hashana is the Rosh Hashana Honey Pots To familiarise the children Rosh Jewish New Year with the concept of a sweet Hashana New Year Yom Kippur is the Day of Jonah and the Whale craft To teach the children that we all have consequences Yom Kippur Atonement which means activity for we say sorry our actions Succot is the festival where Decorations for the Shul This enables the children to we make temporary Succot Succot Succah decorate the Succah and in our gardens like when we feel part of the Shul were in the desert community The children will learn The Story of Chanukah Song: One little Candle about Chanukah lasts eight Chanukah days adding a candle each night The oil lasted eight days tying in with Numeracy Tu Bishvat is known as the Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit Tubishvat Birthday of the Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the children are enabling others to participate in the Mitzvah The Story of Purim Make Noisemakers This enables the children to have an active part in Purim listening to the Megillah We have a Seder and they Song: Mah Nishtana Children can participate in Pesach ask questions the Seder service Pesach is when we came out of Egypt 6 We count seven sad weeks Decorate an Omer Chart The children will be able to Omer from Pesach to Shavuot Count the Omer at home using their chart Shavuot Song: Ten Commandments This song will teach the basis of the The Ten Commandments commandments Shavuoth in a fun and positive manner 7 Jewish Year Year 2 Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Educational Outcome Jewish New Year Make Tzedakah Boxes Reinforce the importance Rosh Tzedakah/Charity of giving tzedakah, which Hashana is given in particular on Rosh Hashannah To reinforce the concept Saying Sorry Make a poster with things that we do not do on Yom on Yom Kippur we do Yom Kippur Fasting Kippur things differently ie: say shema and things we must do loud This enables the children History of Succot Decorations for the Shul to Succot Making a Succah Succah decorate the Succah and feel part of the Shul community The Eight days of Reinforces the concept Chanukah Make Sevivonim that Chanukah Sevivonim/Dreidles Learn the Game in order to practice our "Nes Gadol Haya Sham" religion we had to do it in The reason for Sevivonim secrecy Tu Bishvat is the New Year Make paper flowers and By taking the baskets to a bring in fruit for Fruit for Trees Baskets Jewish old age home the Tubishvat children are enabling others to participate in the Mitzvah This enables the children The Story of Purim Make mishloach manot to fulfil one of the Four Purim Mishloach Manot mitzvot of Purim The children will Pesach The Exodus of Egypt Song: Said the Father understand Four Questions and Answers the meanings of the Four 8 questions and the reason for them Counting the Omer Make an Omer Chart to The children will be able to Forbidden Activities count the days Count the Omer at home Omer using their chart To reinforce the Shavuot Song: Celebrate celebration Shavuoth Ten Commandments of Receiving the Torah Moses on Har Sinai 9 Jewish Year Year 3 Educational Festival Learning Objective Art / Activity Outcome Jewish New Year Make an Apple and Honey To understand