3rd Grade Curriculum

Overview The third grade curriculum will build strong Hebrew reading skills and prayer vocabulary. Students will learn to read certain tefilot and will develop a deeper familiarity with the Jewish holidays. Students will also begin to explore the early books of the Bible.

Total number of sessions: 57

Texts * Denotes abbreviations used to refer to texts later in this curriculum

 Derech Binah – *DB  The Explorer’s Bible - *EB  I Can Celebrate the Jewish Holidays - *CJH

Total Units: 19

1 Unit 1: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 1-11; EB 8-15; CJH 4-6

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write the letters Vet, Daled, &  Students will be able to read/write the , & Tzere  Students will become familiar with the biblical story of Creation  Students will become familiar with the months of the Hebrew calendar  Students will be given the opportunity to think about God

Key Words:  Daber  Rav  Bar  Shamayim  Aretz  Baruch Atah

Key Concepts:  Human beings were created in the image of God  Shabbat as a time of rest  Human beings as God’s partners in the ongoing process of Creation  The Jewish year is divided into twelve months with unique Hebrew names  The Jewish year is different from the secular calendar year  Prophet  God’s footprints are all around us  Not everything real can be seen

Key Terms:  Breshit  Tishre  Heshvan  Kislev  Tevet  Shevat  Adar  Nisan  Iyar  Sivan  Tammuz  Av  Elul

2 Unit 2: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Rosh HaShanah

Texts/Pages: DB 12-23; CJH 7-14

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters from Unit 1  Students will be able to read/write the letters , Sin and Tav  Students will be able to explain the significance of Rosh HaShanah  Students will be able to list four names for Rosh Hashanah  Students will be asked to contemplate where we can find God

Key Words:  Shabbat  Basar  Rosh HaShanah  Yom HaZikaron  Yom Hadin  Yom Teruah  Shanah Tovah  Shofar  Teki-ah  Shevarim  Teru’ah  Mahzor

Key Concepts:  Rosh HaShanah is the birthday of the world (the New Year)  The Book of Life  Teshuvah  Noticing little miracles in our day to day lives can help us feel closer to God

Key Terms:  Taschlich  High Holy Days  Jonah

Unit 3: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Yom Kippur

Texts/Pages: DB 24-31; CJH 15-20; EB 17-23

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-2  Students will be able to read/write the letters Lamed and  Students will be able to explain the significance of Yom Kippur  Students will be asked to reflect upon one way they can be kinder next year and one way they can give tzedakah  Students will be able to recount the story of Adam & Eve’s fall.

3 Key Words:  Shamash, Tamar, Latet, Lave,  Aron Hakodesh  Midrash  Adam  Eve

Key Concepts:  Teshuvah  Ten Days of Repentance  Fasting  Tzedakah  God created human beings to care for the world

Key Terms:  High Holy Days  Kol Nidre  Al Khet  Avinu Malkaynu

Unit 4: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Sukkot

Texts/Pages: DB 32-39; EB 25-29; CJH 21-25

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-3  Students will be able to read/write the letters Mem Sofit and Cholom , Shurek  Students will be able to explain the significance of Sukkot  Students will be able to list the three names of Sukkot  Students will be able to recount the story of Cain and Abel  Students will be asked to contemplate God’s role in Creation

Key Words:  Shalom, Maror, Shalame  Dode  Sukkah  Lulav  Etrog  Hag Sameach  Cain  Abel  Torah

Key Concepts:  Pilgrim / Pilgrimage  Hallel / Blessings

4  Importance of caring for others  Each of us is a partner with God in caring for the world  Creation as an ongoing process

Key Terms:  Sukkot  Zeman Simhataynu  Hag Ha’asif  Shemini Atzeret

Hebrew Activities for Units 1, 2, 3 and 4:  Hebrew Tic-Tac-Toe  Hebrew Baseball  Think Quick and general reading practice  Use text kept at home for review

Bible Stories and Holiday Activities for Units 1, 2, 3 and 4:  Reading aloud as a class  Crossword puzzles  Word searches  Worksheets  Word scrambles  Coloring and drawing  Making Sukkot decorations using small water bottles to look like terrarium  Making a collage to illustrate the Garden of Eden story

Formal Assessments for Units 1, 2, 3 and 4: Individual oral readings in Hebrew to measure proficiency Student retells of stories Successful completion of worksheets Successful completion of homework assignments

Informal Assessments for Units 1, 2, 3 and 4: Ability and willingness to successfully participate in Hebrew games Ability to answer questions about biblical stories or general Judaic knowledge during games

Unit 5: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Simchat Torah

Texts/Pages: DB 40-48; EB 31-37; CJH 27-32

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-4  Students will be able to read/write the letters Yud, Vav and Sofit  Students will be able to explain the significance of Simchat Torah  Students will be able to list the five books of the Torah  Students will be able to recount the story of Noah and the Ark

5 Key Words:  Ben, Matai  Bait, Matan, Yoter  Sofer  Rimonim  Hakafot  Noah

Key Concepts:  Mitzvot  Walk with God  Covenant  Courage / Trusting in God

Key Terms:  Torah  Breshit  Shemot  Vayikra  B’Midbar  D’varim

Unit 6: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 49-56; EB 39-43

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-5  Students will be able to read/write the vowel shiva (concept of silent vowel)  Students will be able to read/write the letters and (silent letters)  Students will be able to recount the story of the Tower of Babel  Students will be asked to contemplate how we were all created b’tzelem Elohim

Key Words:  Arba, Aba, Tasha, Shma  Madooah  Ladaat  Shoel

Key Concepts:  Making a name for ourselves through thoughtful actions  The importance of community  Connecting with God through other people  Importance of following God’s ways

Key Terms:  B’Tzelem Elohim

6 Hebrew Activities for Units 5 and 6:  Hebrew Tic-Tac-Toe  Hebrew Baseball  Think Quick and general reading practice (whole class or in pairs)  Take-home workbook activities

Biblical Stories and Holiday Activities for Units 5 and 6:  Crossword puzzles  Word searches  Worksheets  Word scrambles  Coloring and drawing  Constructing a giant collage of the Tower of Babel

Formal Assessments for Units 5 and 6: Individual retell of story details when called upon in class Successful completion of worksheets Successful completion of homework assignments

Informal Assessments for Units 5 and 6: Ability and willingness to successfully participate in Hebrew games Ability and willingness to answer questions about biblical stories or general Judaic knowledge during games

Unit 7: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 57-64; EB 45-51; CJH 32-46

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-6  Students will be able to read/write the letter Nun,  Students will be able to explain the significance of Shabbat  Students will be able to describe the various parts of Shabbat  Students will be able to recount the story of Abraham’s journey towards Judaism and the birth of Isaac

Key Words:  Gomal  Gadol  Kiddush  Motzi  L’hadlik ner  Shabbat Shalom  Abraham  Sarah  Isaac

7 Key Concepts:  Shabbat  Lecha Dodi / Kabbalat Shabbat  Hachnasat Orhim  Doing what is right and listening to your moral compass

Key Terms:  Birkat HaMazon  L’hadlik Ner, Kiddush, HaMotzi & Havdalah

Unit 8: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 65-72; EB 53-59

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-7  Students will be able to read/write the letters Hay, Chet  Students will be able to read/write the vowel  Students will be able to recount the story of Sodom and Gomorrah

Key Words:  Nodeh  Modeh  Lehem  Achat  Narot  Yayin  Challah  B’samin  Havdalah

Key Concepts:  We should not listen to hearsay but find out the truth for ourselves  Importance of standing up for what is right  The Torah as a gift from God  Shabbat is a day of rest  Separation between sacred and weekday

Key Terms:  Aron Ha Kodesh  Sefer Torah  Parashat HaShavuah  Aliyah  Mitzvah

Hebrew Activities for Units 7 and 8:  Reading challenges between students

8  Hebrew Tic-Tac-Toe  Hebrew Baseball  Make additional flashcards  Think Quick and general reading practice (as a class and in pairs)

Biblical Stories and Holiday Activities for Units 7 and 8:  Reading aloud as a class  Crossword puzzles  Word searches  Worksheets  Word scrambles  Coloring and drawing  Making Havdalah candles after learning the Havdalah Blessings, Bake challah, and Make challah board and cover to prepare for mock Shabbat dinner. (This unit on Shabbat continues up to Chanukah)

Formal Assessments for Units 7 and 8: Successful individual student read aloud in Hebrew Successful completion of worksheets Successful completion of homework assignments Successful completion of all Shabbat meal b’rachot

Informal Assessments for Units 7 and 8 Ability and willingness to successfully participate in Hebrew games Ability and willingness to answer questions about biblical stories or general Judaic knowledge during games Ability and willingness to participate in Shabbat meal preparations

Unit 9: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 73-79; EB 61-67

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-8  Students will be able to read/write the letters Kaf, Chaf, Chaf sofit  Students will be able to recount the Akedah  Students will be able to explain the evolution of monotheism

Key Words:  Mitzvah  Akedah  Sacrifice

Key Concepts:  Hineni  Importance of trying to understand our relationship with God  Importance of valuing people above things

9 Key Terms:  Shema  Ani Ma’amin

Unit 10: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Hanukkah

Texts/Pages: DB 80-88; EB 69-75 CJH 47-56

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-9  Students will be able to read/write the vowels chirik and chirik yud  Students will begin to read first tefilot—Torah Blessings and Ayn Kelohenu  Students will be able to explain the story of Hanukkah  Students will be able to explain how (and why) we light the Hannukkiah  Students will be able to recount the story of Rebecca meeting Isaac

Key Words:  Ba’richu  Baruch  Latkes  Nes Gadol Haya Sham/Po  Ner Tamid  Menorah  Shamash  Hannukiah  Sufganiyot

Key Concepts:  Jewish Freedom  Miracle of the Hanukkah oil  Candle light as a reminder of God’s presence

Key Terms:  Syrians  Hag Ha’urim  Festival of Lights  Maccabes

Unit 11: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 88-97; EB 77-85

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-10  Students will be able to read/write the letters Pay, Fay  Students will be able to read/write the vowels Kibutz and Shuruk  Students will be able to recount the story of Jacob tricking his brother

10 Key Words:  Purim  Chanukah  Shavuot  Birthright

Key Concepts:  Importance of settling disagreement peacefully and honestly

Key Terms:  Shema  B’rachot

Unit 12: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Tu B’Shevat

Texts/Pages: DB98-105; EB 87-93; CJH 57-60

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-11  Students will be able to read/write the letters Tet, Koof  Students will be able to explain the significance of Tu B’Shevat  Students will be able to recount the story of Jacob’s Ladder  Students will be introduced to the concept of a neshama  Students will be able to read blessings after Torah reading  Students will be able to read and learn to sing 2 Hebrew songs

Key Words:  Tu B’Shevat  Halluyah  Challah  Bracha  Melech  HaMakom  Bamakom HaZeh  Bedeken

Key Concepts:  Tu B’Shevat as the birthday for the trees  Tu B’Shevat seder  God is in every place  Importance of being honest in our dealings with other people  We are each unique beings created b’tzelem Elohim  Just as we care for our bodies we must also care for our souls

Key Terms:  Seder  Seven Species

11  Neshamah

Hebrew Activities for Units 9, 10, 11 and 12:  Hebrew Bingo  Hebrew Tic-Tac-Toe  Hebrew Baseball  General reading practice (as a class or in pairs)  Take-home workbook activities

Biblical Stories and Holiday Activities for Units 9, 10, 11 and 12:  Reading aloud as a class  Crossword puzzles  Word searches  Work sheets  Word scrambles  Coloring and drawing  Art project relating to Jacob’s dream

Formal Assessments for Units 9, 10, 11 and 12: Student’s ability to individually read Hebrew or re-tell a story Successful completion of worksheets Successful completion of homework assignments

Informal Assessments for Units 9, 10, 11 and 12: Ability and willingness to successfully participate in Hebrew games Ability and willingness to answer questions about biblical stories or general Judaic knowledge during games

Unit 13: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 106-111; EB 95-101

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-12  Students will continue to learn about the letters , Tsadee & Tsadee sofit  Students will be able read all vowels in Units 1-12  Students will be able to recount the story of Jacob’s Struggle

Key Words:  Challah  Bracha  Melech  Narot  Mishpacha  Israel/Yisrael  Mitzvah  Shalom

12 Key Concepts:  Wrestling with God  Importance of family and setting aside differences

Key Terms:  Shalom Bayit  Kiddush  Tzedakah  Challah / Ha Motzi  Havdalah

Unit 14: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 112-115; EB 102-109

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-13  Students will be able to read Blessings before Haftarah, Shehecheyanu  Students will be able to recount the story of Joseph the Dreamer  Students will be asked to contemplate prayer as a way of speaking with God

Key Words:  Siddur  Kavannah  Tefillah  Tanach

Key Concepts:  Humility  Praying with others reminds us we are part of a community

Key Terms:  Prayer  Blessing  Shehecheyanu

Unit 15: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Purim

Texts/Pages: DB 116-121; EB 110-119; CJH 61-70

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-14  Students will be able to read/write Samech and Fay sofit  Students will be able to describe the story of Purim  Students will be able to recount the story of Joseph in Egypt

13 Key Words:  Hag Sameach  Mitzvot  Mishloach Manot  Shalach Manot  Hamentaschen  Esther  Hamen  Mordechai  King Ahasuerus  Megillat Esther  Graggers  Pharaoh

Key Concepts:  God was with Joseph / Can be with us  Sharing our personal gifts with others

Key Terms:  Communal responsibility

Unit 16: 3 sessions, 1 hour each

Texts/Pages: DB 122-123; EB 120-129

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-15  Students will be able to read and chant the 4 Questions  Students will be able to recount the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers  Students will be able to recount the story of baby Moses  Students will be asked to contemplate the connection between responsibility/courage and seeking forgiveness

Key Words  Matzah  Maror  Yirakot  Misubin  Midwife  Tevah

Key Concepts:  Forgiveness  Relationship between forgiveness and courage  We are each responsible for seeing that justice is done in the world  It takes courage to admit a mistake but we must take responsibility for our actions  God welcomes us when we ask for forgiveness

14  Thinking about a mitzvah is not the same as doing a mitzvah

Key Terms:  Israelites/Hebrews  4 Questions

Unit 17: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Pesach

Texts/Pages: DB 122-123; EB 139-157; CJH 71-88

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-16  Students will be able to explain the significance of Passover  Students will be able to name the Ten Plagues and the Four Questions  Students will be able to recite the 4 Questions from memory  Students will be able to recount the story of Moses from leaving Pharaoh’s court to the Exodus from Egypt

Key Words:  Moshe  Hametz  Matzah  Haggadah  Afikomen  Pharoah

Key Concepts:  Hineni  Slavery  Freedom

Key Terms:  Ten Plagues  Four Questions  Karpas  Roasted Egg  Maror  Zeroa  Haroset  Passover seder  Israelites  Slavery  Elijah’s Cup  Miriam’s Cup

15 Unit 18: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holidays: Yom HaShoah & Yom Ha’atzmaut

Texts/Pages: DB 127-128; EB 158-159 CJH 83-88

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read/write letters & words from Units 1-17  Students will be able to explain the meaning of Yom HaShoah  Students will be able to explain the meaning of Yom Ha’atzmaut  Students will be able to read the words and sing the Hatikvah  Students will be able to explain who each of the Jewish characters on EB 158-159 are

Key Words:  Theodor Herzl  Zionism  Medinat Yisrael  Ha Tikvah

Key Concepts:  Eretz Yisrael  How Eliezer Ben Yehuda created

Key Terms:  Kaddish

Unit 19: 3 sessions, 1 hour each // (Estimated) Holiday: Shavuot

Texts/Pages: DB 126--127; CJH 89-96

Goals and Objectives:  Students will be able to read V’zot Hatorah, Aitz Chayim, Aleinu  Students will be able to explain the meaning of Shavuot  Students will be asked to contemplate how faith can make us stronger

Key Words:  Zeman Matan Torataynu  Hag Hakatzir  Hag Habikkurim

Key Concepts:  Counting the Omer  Land of Milk and Honey

Key Terms:  10 Commandments

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