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3rd Grade Curriculum

While 3rd graders continue to attend only once per week, it is in this year that students begin the formal Hebrew program. Over the course of the year, students will master the Hebrew alphabet and be able to read basic Hebrew words. Watching their excitement as they gain new skills and increase their Jewish knowledge is a highlight of the year! In addition to their Hebrew studies, 3rd grade is also about exploring Torah. Students will examine Torah stories with a new lens as they seek to understand Torah’s moral and ethical lessons. Our goal is for students to understand how Torah and Jewish learning can be important parts of their everyday lives. 

Books/Materials

  • Explorer’s Bible, volume 1
  • Shalom Uvrachah
  • Shalom Uvrachah interactive CD

*Teachers’ Guides for all books are located in the office.  Please consult these guides when planning lessons as they contain specific teaching objectives and a variety of suggested learning activities.

Also available for teacher use is the “Shalom Uvrachah Funbook,” a series of supplemental worksheets and activities that work in conjunction with the textbook to reinforce Hebrew lessons.  Specific pages can be photocopied to distribute to students.

Essential, Guiding Questions

1)    What is the Torah, and what is the Jewish people’s relationship to Torah?

2)    How is the Torah relevant to my life today?

3)    Why is it important to learn Hebrew?

4)    How can knowing Hebrew help enrich my experience of Judaism? 

Evidences of Understanding/Experiencing

Upon completion of the year, students will be able to:

  • Articulate why the Torah is special to the Jewish people and why it is special to them personally
  • Express multiple reasons for studying Torah and how Torah can relate to our lives today
  • Know all major Torah personalities from Genesis stories (Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, Rachel, Leah, Joseph, Moses) and explain at least one story related to that character
  • Be familiar with the concept of midrash as a tradition of interpretation in which we participate today
  • Associate each Biblical story with a particular moral/ethical lesson
  • Articulate why it is important to learn Hebrew
  • Recognize each letter of the Aleph-Bet and know both the sound of the letter and its name
  • Recognize all major Hebrew vowels and know the sound that each makes
  • Know the main idea of each major holiday in our Jewish calendar as well as the ritual objects and customs associated with celebrating that holiday
  • Sing the Shabbat blessings over candles, wine, and challah
  • Participate comfortably in tefila

Bible Scope and Sequence

(taken from Explorer’s Bible Teacher’s Guide)

Chapter Title

Core Concept

The Birth of the World

Human beings, the last of God’s physical creations, are special because we are created b’tzelem Elohim – in God’s image.

Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden

Growing up requires that we make tough choices concerning our behavior.

My Brother’s Keeper

We are all “our brother’s keepers;” we are all responsible for one another.

The Man Who Walked with God

We should remain true to our values and ideals despite the behavior of those around us.

The Impossible Tower

We should remain mindful of what is within our control and what is not.

Abraham Finds His Way

Each of us should follow our moral compass to help us choose the course that is honest, fair, and kind.

Abraham Speaks Up

It is important to stand up for what is rights and to do so in an appropriate way.

The Sacrifice (Akedah)

We all face tests and challenges that help us to better understand our relationship with God, with other people, and with ourselves.

Rebecca’s Kindness

Kindness is an important quality to develop in ourselves and to look for in our friends and partners.

Twins, Tricks, and Trouble

We should learn to get along with those we don’t agree with and work toward settling our disputes peacefully.

Jacob’s Discovery

When we are dishonest, we lose people’s trust.  Dishonesty leads to more dishonesty.

Jacob’s Struggle

When we learn to work out our differences with members of our family, we bring peace into our homes.

The Dreamer

It is important to find ways to practice humility, as opposed to boasting about oneself.

Joseph’s Gift

We all have gifts and talents that we can use to make the world a better place.

Joseph’s Forgiveness

It takes courage to rise above our anger and forgive people who have hurt us.

Baby Moses

Each of us must do our part and work with others to make sure that others are treated fairly and justly.

Moses Stands Before God

Each of us must learn to rise to great challenges that enrich our communities.

Freedom and the Future

A community is stronger when it shares its dreams and works together to make those dreams come true.