Curriculum Goals for Grade: Kindergarten

Primary Focus is: Introduction to Temple community, Shabbat and early Torah stories.

• School Goal: Jews who affirm and re-affirm their Jewish identity and covenant with the Jewish people, and who publicly declare this covenant through ceremonies…

• • Implementation: Attending religious school for the first time, Kindergarten students are introduced to their Jewish community, the rhythms and activities associated with Temple life. At the start of their journey, students are introduced to the covenant with God. Students experience the weekly Shabbat ceremonies and prayers. They learn about the holiness of Shabbat and begin to connect rituals found in the Temple to their daily/home lives.

• School Goal: Jews who know Judaism’s foundational texts—Tanakh, Talmud, Mishnah, and so on…

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students begin the process of building and affirming their Jewish identity by listening and reading stories from the Torah. Through activities, art, and play, they will learn about the following stories: Creation, Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah’s Ark… Students will begin to understand the importance of these stories and learn about the Torah’s valuable lessons.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand how Reform Jewish belief and practice is similar and different…

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students will learn about the oneness of God, our customs and rituals as they relate to Shabbat and attending religious school. They will understand that they are a part of our Temple family, as well as the larger Jewish community.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish holidays…

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students will explore our Jewish holidays through art, activities, play, and music. The following holidays are covered: Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Yom HaAtzmaut and Shavuot.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish life cycle events and rituals.

• • Implementation: Students will learn how Jews observe Shabbat, the cycle of our Jewish year and our Jewish holidays is stressed, laying a strong foundation for knowing what is important to Jewish life, to our celebrations, our commandments and the lessons we learn from each event. Children are always encouraged to share their home celebrations and rituals at school. The concept of family is central to all of these. We practice and celebrate with our families in our home AND Jewish family community at Temple.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand the nature of Jewish worship and prayer, who participate fully in Reform synagogue services, and who can understand and appreciate other types of Jewish worship and prayer.

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students are introduced to the Jewish belief that there is only one God and the study of Shabbat, holidays and early Torah stories enhance this belief. In Kindergarten the focus is on the students’ introduction and participation of Reform Jewish life and prayer at TSTI. Prayers covered are: Shabbat blessings, Shema, Shehehianu and the Four Questions.

• School Goal: Jews who are familiar with the Hebrew language, who understand the importance of the Hebrew language to the Jewish people, who can read and write basic Hebrew as necessary…

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students will be acquainted with the Hebrew aleph/bet, vocabulary words associated with Shabbat, holidays and family members. Words to know are: ?

• School Goal: Jews are bound to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel and who know its history, geography and modern life.

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students are introduced to Israel by celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Students will be exposed to sights and tastes of Israel through dance, food, pictures of Israel and her flag, stories and song.

• School Goal: Jews who are bound to K’lal Yisrael, the community of worldwide Jewry, and who actively seek the welfare of Jews throughout the world.

• • Implementation: Kindergarten students are introduced to the term tzedakah and the idea of giving to our community and the world to make our “home” a better place to be, to be a support to our “family.” Kindergarten students will be made aware that we are commanded to take care and be a support to those less fortunate. Specifically, Kindergarten students participate in the “Leaves on Trees” Jewish National Fund project.

• Jews who know and understand the history of the Jewish Diaspora, particularly in the United States, the contributions of Jews in the Diaspora, and the struggles faced throughout Jewish history, including anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.

• • Implementation: This goal is not covered in Kindergarten, as it is not age appropriate.

• Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom and peace by pursuing tzedek, misphat, and chesed.

• • Implementation: Again, students become aware that they are tied to families—their own, their temple, their immediate community, country and world. They are acquainted with the idea that as Jews we have a job to better ourselves, to seek out goodness, to take care of others and our planet, to give tzedakah and so on. Shabbat, our holidays and the lessons found in Torah highlight these ideas and more.

• Books for families to read:

Curriculum Goals for Grade: 1st Grade

Primary Focus is: The Synagogue: House of Study, House of Worship, House of Community and Torah Stories

• School Goal: Jews who affirm and re-affirm their Jewish identity and covenant with the Jewish people, and who publicly declare this covenant through ceremonies…

• • Implementation: First Grade students, new and returning, say “I am a Jew” by exploring their Hebrew names and by being a part of the Temple welcome to study and community. Students learn the meaning of their naming and how that connects them to past generations, their Jewish families and the Jewish people. Students participate in the consecration ceremony that marks their entrance into Synagogue life and Torah study.

• School Goal: Jews who know Judaism’s foundational texts—Tanakh, Talmud, Mishnah, and so on…

• • Implementation: First grade students listen and learn the early stories from the Tanach. Special focus is paid to introducing our Matriarchs and Patriarchs. Torah study will include: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Esau, Jacob, Rachel and Leah, Joseph and Moses and the Burning Bush.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand how Reform Jewish belief and practice is similar and different…

• • Implementation: First grade students will be introduced, or reacquaint themselves, to/with the Jewish belief that there is only one God, to the concepts and practices of Mitzvot and Tzedakah. Through the study of the Synagogue, first grade students will understand the makings of the Temple in Reform Jewish life, see it as a symbol for action, family, tradition and worship.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish holidays…

• • Implementation: First Grade students observe the holidays through activity, art, games and music. Holidays are: Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach and Yom HaAtzmaut.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish life cycle events and rituals.

• • Implementation: The primary life cycle and ritual events for first grade students will be the naming project, consecration and attendance of religious school. Students will begin to understand that like our matriarchs and patriarchs we are on a path, we are on a journey. One’s name, identity, action and participation in Temple life connect us to our community and play a big role as we go on our way.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand the nature of Jewish worship and prayer, who participate fully in Reform synagogue services, and who can understand and appreciate other types of Jewish worship and prayer.

• • Implementation: First grade students will have the opportunity to learn music and prayer from one of our professional staff through a Learner’s Minyan developed for K-2, on Sunday mornings, (?) allowing them to begin their participation in weekly services. Some of the prayers covered are: Shabbat blessings, Shema, Shehehianu, Chanukah blessings and the Four Questions. Students are encouraged to attend the “Milk and Cookies” service or services designed for our Temple youth whenever possible. One of the primary focuses for first grade students is the study of the Synagogue. Students will learn about the Synagogue, the physical place, as well as it as a symbol for a place of community, study and worship—a home, a family… They take a tour of their Temple and learn about the sanctuary, the Torah, the Ner Tamid, and the people—Rabbi and Cantor.

• School Goal: Jews who are familiar with the Hebrew language, who understand the importance of the Hebrew language to the Jewish people, who can read and write basic Hebrew as necessary…

• • Implementation: First grade students study their Hebrew letters and vowels. They will be acquainted with Hebrew vocabulary words associated with the holidays, the synagogue, the Torah parts and body parts, and some classroom phrases and salutations.

• School Goal: Jews are bound to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel and who know its history, geography and modern life.

• • Implementation: First grade students will be exposed to the sights, sounds and tastes of Israel. Students will be introduced (or review) to the Israeli flag, the map of Israel, Israeli dance, food and music. Connections will be made in conjunction with first grade Torah study of Avot V’imahot, the stories of our mothers and fathers. Students will understand that we are tied to the land because of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel and Leah. Israel was their land and it is ours.

• School Goal: Jews who are bound to K’lal Yisrael, the community of worldwide Jewry, and who actively seek the welfare of Jews throughout the world.

• • Implementation: First grade students will explore how our matriarchs and patriarchs believed, lived and set up lasting traditions through God’s commandments that have endured generations. These generations have traveled the world, lived in communities and built synagogues to allow our faith lasting power. Students will see we are a people connected and as such are responsible to care for our community and others.

• Jews who know and understand the history of the Jewish Diaspora, particularly in the United States, the contributions of Jews in the Diaspora, and the struggles faced throughout Jewish history, including anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.

• • Implementation: These topics are covered in the upper grades. These topics will not be introduced and are not age appropriate for first grade.

• Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom and peace by pursuing tzedek, misphat, and chesed.

• • Implementation: As first grade students reflect on their connection to community, they are encouraged to share ways they can help others in the form of good deeds. First grade students will discuss what is important to them and ways they can support their “causes.” A Tzedakah project will be pursued. In addition, first grade students will study the ideas/concepts found in their Torah study, finding the lessons, and determine how best to “act” at home, at synagogue, in town and so on.

• Books for families to read:

Curriculum Goals for Grade: 2nd Grade

Primary Focus is: Gemilut Chasadim, Mitvot and God

• School Goal: Jews who affirm and re-affirm their Jewish identity and covenant with the Jewish people, and who publicly declare this covenant through ceremonies…

• • • Implementation: New Second Grade students participate in the consecration ceremony that marks their entrance into Synagogue life and Torah study. All students will begin to understand that Jewish education is a lifelong endeavor, one that involves a critical and inquiring approach whereby the process of questioning is as valued and important as the answers.

• School Goal: Jews who know Judaism’s foundational texts—Tanakh, Talmud, Mishnah, and so on…

• • Implementation: Students will study bible stories, focusing on the values and blessings which emanate from the story and how they relate to our present lives. Bible stories will include: Abraham and Sarah, Noah, Creation, and Naomi and Ruth. The stories are presented so that students will make a connection to a related mitzvah and then develop ways to act on the mitzvoth.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand how Reform Jewish belief and practice is similar and different…

• • Implementation: Second grade students will be introduced, or reacquaint themselves, to/with the Jewish belief that there is only one God, to the concepts and practices of Mitzvoth and Tzedakah. Students will explore the concept of each unique human being a creation of God and examine all of the ways in which we can relate to God and the world around us.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish holidays…

• • Implementation: Second Grade students examine the rituals and values associated with each holiday. Holidays are: Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha’Atzmaut and Shavuot. Second Grade students and their families will participate in a Family Education program entitled Calendar in A Day - where together they will explore the ways in which the Jewish calendar is a source of joy and celebration as well as a connection to both our past and future.

• School Goal: Jews who know, understand and participate in the observance of Jewish life cycle events and rituals.

• • Implementation: Second grade students will expand their understanding of blessings and rituals and the impact those blessings have on our everyday lives. Students will develop a vocabulary to acknowledge and express their appreciation of the blessings that occur in their lives.

• School Goal: Jews who know and understand the nature of Jewish worship and prayer, who participate fully in Reform synagogue services, and who can understand and appreciate other types of Jewish worship and prayer.

• • Implementation: Second grade students will have the opportunity to learn music and prayer from one of our professional staff through a Learner’s Minyan developed for K-2, on Sunday mornings, allowing them to begin their participation in weekly services. Some of the prayers covered are: Shabbat blessings, Shema, Shehehianu, Chanukah blessings and the Four Questions. Students are encouraged to attend the services designed for our Temple youth whenever possible.

• School Goal: Jews who are familiar with the Hebrew language, who understand the importance of the Hebrew language to the Jewish people, who can read and write basic Hebrew as necessary…

• • Implementation: Second Grade students, new and returning, will review letters and be introduced to vowels. They will begin “putting them together” to develop beginning reading skills. Vocabulary to include colors, numbers, and words associated with mitzvoth studied.

• School Goal: Jews are bound to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel and who know its history, geography and modern life.

• • Implementation: Second Grade students will continue to explore the land of Israel, the important cites in both Biblical and Modern Israel, preparing them for a more in-depth study of Israel in third grade. Students will connect with children of their own age in Israel in order to strengthen their personal connection to the people of Israel.

• School Goal: Jews who are bound to K’lal Yisrael, the community of worldwide Jewry, and who actively seek the welfare of Jews throughout the world.

• • Implementation: Second Grade students will learn about our responsibility to care for those in the world around us. They will study the following mitzvoth: Caring for the Sick, Feeding the Hungry, Caring for the Earth, and Welcoming Guests. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding by working together to implement what they have learned.

• Jews who know and understand the history of the Jewish Diaspora, particularly in the United States, the contributions of Jews in the Diaspora, and the struggles faced throughout Jewish history, including anti-Semitism and the Holocaust.

• • Implementation: These topics are covered in the upper grades. These topics will not be introduced and are not age appropriate for second grade.

• Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom and peace by pursuing tzedek, misphat, and chesed.

• • Implementation: As second grade students reflect on their connection to community, they are encouraged to share ways they can help others in the form of mitzvoth. Second grade students will discuss what is important to them and ways they can support their “causes.” Opportunities will be given for students to implement projects of importance to them.