Curriculum

Tree of Life Religious School’s Nursery- 2nd grade program is designed to introduce our children to the basic elements of Jewish religion, its traditions and practices. Through hands-on activities, experiential learning, music, art and literature- Jewish holidays, Shabbat observances, Bible stories, Jewish values, life cycle events, Israel, Synagogue ritual, Hebrew and prayers come to life for the young student. The Hebrew language is introduced gently through prayer, blessings, vocabulary and song with more standardized classroom teaching of Hebrew beginning in Grade 2. Shabbat service attendance is encouraged and reinforced through meaningful prayer introduction on Sunday mornings.

Tree of Life Religious School’s 3rd -10th grade educational program builds on the basic elements of Jewish life taught and experienced during the earlier years. By reinforcing this core knowledge we are able to prepare our students to become B’nai Mitzvah, Confirmands and active, enthusiastic participants in the Jewish community. At TOL, the Hebrew language and prayer skills continue to be studied through the B’nai Mitzvah years. Advanced Hebrew, leadership training and an assistant teachers program are all integral parts of the upper grade curriculum.

Tree of Life is committed to every student’s success. Newly enrolled children of congregants at any age are welcome and support will be provided to ensure the students’ easy transition to our school.

Pre K and Kindergarten

Text: Look At Me

I Can Learn and Do in the Synagogue

I Can Do a Mitzvah

These 16 page workbooks introduce core Jewish concepts and values while teaching essential pre K and developmental skills.

Text: Drops of Honey

Year round holiday lessons for joint home and classroom learning: Shabbat, Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, TuB’Shvat, Purim, Passover, Yom Haatzmaut, Lag B’Omer and Shavuot.

Text: What’s Jewish about Butterflies?

This text focuses on lessons and activities that encourage exploration of the world through “Jewish eyes”. Themes and units typical in the early childhood classroom are taught while weaving God, Torah, Israel, Mitzvot and values through the curriculum.

Students Will Become Familiar With:

  1. Concept of God and creation
  2. Bible stories including: Noah and Jonah and the Whale
  3. Shabbat traditions and rituals
  4. Holiday traditions and rituals
  5. The Temple environment including familiarity with the Rabbi and Temple and Religious School staff
  6. Shabbat and holiday blessings
  7. The Shema prayer as well as our morning prayer service ( assemblies)
  8. Jewish symbols and ceremonial objects: Magen David, Mezuzah, Kippah, Tallit, Kiddush Cup, Shabbat Candles, Shofar, Chanukiyah, Torah, Seder plate, Megillat Esther
  9. The prayer book-siddur
  10. Their Hebrew name

Children in Kindergarten and those students who have never been formally consecrated will participate in a consecration ceremony at the beginning of the year after the High Holidays.

First Grade

Text: Let’s Discover The Jewish Holidays and Shabbat

This set includes a simple easy to read retelling of each holiday story, as well as reinforcement of key holiday objects, Shabbat rituals and vocabulary.

Text: Let’s Discover The Synagogue

A hands – on introduction to synagogue life including: How and why we pray, the Torah and the Rabbi.

Text: Let’s Discover God

This text helps the early reader explore basic concepts about God, how and why we perform mitzvoth and God’s gifts.

Text: Let’s Explore Israel

This workbook provides an introduction to the land, people and places of Israel.

Text: Let’s Discover The Bible

Early Bible stories will be the focus, including: Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah , Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Esau and Joseph.

Text: My Own Jewish Calendar

This booklet introduces the young learner to the cycle of the Jewish year in months and seasons.

Students Will Become Familiar With and Review:

  1. The concepts of God and creation.
  2. Shabbat and holidays and all associated traditions and rituals.
  3. Mitzvot- putting good deeds into action.
  4. Israel- sights, sounds and smells.
  5. Beginning Bible Stories ( Genesis ).
  6. Jewish symbols and ceremonial objects.
  7. The prayer book, sanctuary and Temple environment.
  8. Brachot including: HaMotzi, wine and Shabbat candle blessings, Holiday candle blessing and the Shehechiyanu for all new “things”.
  9. Their Hebrew name.
  10. The Jewish year in calendar form.

Second Grade

Text: Let’s Explore Being Jewish

-         The Bible, an introduction to the Torah

-         Mitzvot

-         Jewish Symbols

Text: Bible Stories: Moses, Samson, Ruth and Naomi, David and Goliath, Solomon, Jonah

Text: Let’s Celebrate Shabbat and Holidays ( Behrman House )

Text: Let’s Discover Mitzvot: Tzedakah, Visiting the Ill, Feeding the Hungry, Saving the Earth, Making Good Choices, Welcoming Guests and Guarding Your Tongue

Text: The 10 Commandments – an activity workbook

Students Will Become Familiar With , Review and Reinforce:

  1. All previous Shabbat and holiday concepts including brachot specific for affixing a mezuzah, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, Chanukah and Passover.
  2. Develop better Bible understanding through a continued exploration of Bible stories, heroes and heroines.
  3. Understanding Mitzvot through experiences and action. Examining the different kinds of Mitzvot and learning how to incorporate and express these commandments day to day. This class will encourage each student to gain a deeper sense of connection between Jewish values, ritual, traditions and prayer.

Third Grade

Text: Journey of a Lifetime- a contemporary, interactive text that takes the child on a journey through the Jewish life cycle.

Text: Being Torah- a thoughtful workbook/text that encourages each student to develop a more personal connection with Torah.

Text: Here I Am, is a fun Jewish journal workbook that helps the student explore their Jewish identity.

Students will become familiar with, review and expand upon:

  1. All previously learned and experienced Shabbat and holiday concepts.
  2. Students will explore the Torah- relating in a more meaningful way to its teaching in our daily life.
  3. Jewish Identity- looking at themselves and others in an ever changing world.
  4. Jewish life cycle happenings and events- birth through death.

Fourth Grade

Text: The Gift of Wisdom – The Books of Prophets and Writings

Text: Mah La’asot (What Should I Do?)

Text: You Be the Judge

Text: Be a Mensch (Good Person) Campaign

In the 4th grade, these texts and workbooks help the student to forge a connection with their Jewish heritage through the cultural and moral lessons we learn from the Torah, the writings of the Prophets and Jewish law. The “Be a Mensch” series encourages each person to explore the concept of “mitzvah” and the obligation to be a “good person”. The holidays and Shabbat will be studied through hands on activities, music and literature. As part of the 4th grade experience a play will be presented in conjunction with a holiday celebration.

Fifth Grade

Text: The Atlas of Jewish Communities-A Voyage through Jewish History

Text: The Book of Jewish Holidays

The 5th grade will focus on an exploration of our Jewish Heritage through the study of history and cultural artifacts.   We shall take a trip through time, touching on the diverse and rich elements of our past, beginning with the post biblical era and culminating with enlightenment of the modern era.  At the same time, through several projects, we shall use all of our senses to connect our history to the lives we lead today.   Each child will leave the year with an appreciation for the similarities and differences of each others background and a greater appreciation for his or her own heritage. Each chapter of our text takes us through a part of the time line of Jewish experience through the eyes of a different Jewish community, establishing links to the roots of our heritage.   This book will only go home with the student if he/she misses class and must catch up. Holidays and Shabbat education will be woven through the curriculum throughout the year.

Sixth Grade

Grade 6 will concentrate on studying the Holocaust and the State of Israel.

For the first half of the year, we will use primary and secondary sources to explore anti-Semitism, the onset of Nazism in Germany, genocide, resistance and survival, children of the holocaust and post war justice.  We shall be following the “Echoes and Reflections”  curriculum adapted from a program by the ADL and Yad Va Shem.  Students will keep personal journals and we shall read Diary of Anne Frank together.

The second half of year, we shall explore Zionism,  the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel, the Arab-Israeli conflict and examine a wide variety of social, cultural and political institutions and issues that make up the fabric of Israeli society.  We shall use several primary and secondary texts, on-line resources as well as involve the class in hands on activities (such as cooking).  The year will culminate with a class prepared presentation on Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day).  Each class will also include a review of current events that link directly to our focus on Anti-Semitism and Israel.

Seventh Grade

Text: Challenge and Change- the History of Jews in America

Text: Jewish Heroes-Jewish Values, Living Mitzvot in Today’s World

Text: In Pursuit of the Tree of Life

During the seventh grade year, the focus is on American Jewish history from 1600 to the present. Examining the rise of our own Jewish community here in Columbia is a very special part of this curriculum. Our students will have the opportunity to develop a more mature relationship with Jewish values and ethics by looking at the lives of prominent men and woman and learning how these people chose to live meaningful Jewish lives. Part of the 7th grade experience as well will include a group mitzvah project focusing on the needs of the Columbia area Jewish community.

Eighth Grade

Text: Judaism and World Religions

Text: Making A Difference, Commandments and Community

Text: The Tanach

The eighth grade is devoted to 3 areas of study. The first is the study of Judaism in its relation to 4 other “world” religions- Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. The second area is a brief overview of the organizations of the Jewish community, nationally, internationally and in Israel. The focus of these groups, their necessity and function will be explored. The third area focuses on selected readings from the Tanach (Torah, prophets and writings). These readings will help our students become more comfortable with these sacred Jewish writings.

Ninth Grade

Primary Text: Learn Mishna

The 9th grade is treated to an in-depth look at some of our great Rabbinic and philosophical texts and prayer books. Students will learn to evaluate and appreciate these writings and their relevancy in our lives today. The development of oral and written Jewish law and that connection to Jewish life today is addressed as well. A “teacher assistant” component is an essential aspect of the 9th grade curriculum. All students in this grade are given the opportunity to work as teaching assistants-madrichim in our Hebrew language program.

Tenth Grade – Confirmation Year

Primary Texts: Gates of the Seasons- A Guide to the Jewish Year, CCAR

Gates of Mitzvah – A Guide to the Jewish Life Cycle, CCAR

In the tenth grade, the curriculum focuses on Confirmation studies and the blending of Judaism into a teen lifestyle. As a class, students participate on a trip to New York to explore Jewish religious and cultural life and develop a service of Confirmation at years end. A “teacher assistant” component is an essential aspect of the 10th grade curriculum. All students in this grade are given the opportunity to work as teaching assistants-madrichim in our morning Judaic program.

© Tree Of Life Congregation 2012 | Tree of Life Congregation is a Reform congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism